I really enjoyed "The Castle of Otranto" among many of the stories we've read. I loved the setting and the dark mystery of the plot really kept my attention. This story is classified as a Gothic Novel, meaning it is characterized by magic, mystery and chivalry. The prophecy of an unknown usurper of the crown at the opening of the novel immediately sparks mystery. The crushing of Conrad by the massive helmet is assumed by Manfred to have been performed by magic. One of the moments of this story that made it most obvious to me as a Gothic novel was the scene when Isabella is running from Manfred. She escapes from his demands to marry her when they both hear the portrait of his deceased grandfather utter "a deep sigh, and [heave] its breast" (Ch.1). This distraction gives her the chance to run from Manfred and search for an escape from the castle. More mystery appears when Isabella remembers an underground secret passageway that leads to the church of St. Nicholas (which also made me curious as to how she knew about it!). Walpole then portrays a very chilling journey through the underground passage. "An awful silence reigned throughout those subterraneous regions, except now and then some blasts of wind that shook the doors she had passed, and which, grating on the rusty hinges, were re-echoed through that long labyrinth of darkness. Every murmur struck her with new terror...Every suggestion that horror could inspire rushed into her mind." (Ch.1) In the end of this scene, the final characteristic of the gothic novel, chivalry, is introduced. Isabella comes into contact with a unknown man (Theodore) and is terrified. He responds kindly, promising not to hurt her and she begs him to help her escape. He responds, "Alas!...what can I do to assist you? I will die in your defense". The story certainly continues to show these three characteristics repeatedly throughout the rest of the novel but I loved how this part showed all of them within the same scene.