When reading the Gothic genre, it is crucial to understand the architecture that it is named after since the narratives will often refer to a specifically detailed setting. In a way, these references are a nod to the architecture, whether or not the author realizes it.
I would like to start with some basic models:
In these images, you can see how the rounded arches turn into pointed arches with ribbed vaults. This is something that can be seen in Gothic cathedrals and castles.
Some more examples:
Just look at how exaggerated this architecture feels when you rest your eyes upon it. Doesn’t it feel like it goes on forever? It is almost as if your own imagination is able to process and grow inside of it. What if you imagined some people living here? What if you decided to use this same concept for a house? Now, you can slightly see how a haunted house might have evolved from this concept. Or, even a haunted forest could have replicated this same feeling for the same purpose. Now, imagine how authors and poets felt during the Gothic Revival period in the 19th Century. It is due to the wonders of nature, as well as the wonders of man’s inventive imagination, that allow such concepts to exist.
So, when you read a Gothic/Horror novel, pay attention to the setting. The descriptions might seem even more relevant now. Then again, the devil is in the details. Heh-heh. Get it?
An Exploration of the Uncanny 