Timeline: Castle of Otranto

Saint Nicholas:March 15, 270 AD - December 6, 343 AD

Nicholas was born in 270 AD to wealthy parents in the village of Patara, which is now located on the southern coast of Turkey. Nicholas was raised by his parents as a devout Christian. Later in his life, Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. As a young man, Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra. He was known for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. Bishop Nicholas died on December 6th, 343 AD in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church. A unique relic, called manna, formed his grave. This relic is said to have healing powers and is what fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of Nicholas’s death became known as the day of celebration called St. Nicholas Day. Saint Nicholas is, also, where we get the Santa Claus tradition. Learning about Saint Nicholas is helpful to understanding his presence in the novel. According to the explanatory notes at the back of the book, the remains of Nicholas are kept at Bari, not far from Otranto, and there are many legends of his power as a miracle-worker. There could be a connection between his healing power and the characters, such as Jerome, Isabella, and Hippolita, which go to Saint Nicholas for help.

William Shakespeare: 1564-April 23, 1616

In 1564, the great English poet, playwright, and actor, William Shakespeare was born to John and Mary Shakespeare in Stratford-on-Avon. At 18, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. They had 3 children; Susanna born in 1583 and twins, Hamnet and Judith in 1585, but Hamnet died as a young boy. In 1594, Shakespeare became a part of the Lord Chamberlain’s company of actors. In 1599, Shakespeare and a group of Chamberlain’s men got together to build the Globe theatre, which would become the most famous theatre of its time. 1593-1601, Shakespeare composed his well-known sonnets, although they were not published until 1609. Shakespeare wrote around 154 sonnets and 38 plays, among a few other works that did not turn out as popular. Hamlet, written around 1599, and Macbeth, written in 1606, are two of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies that, also, had an impact on Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto. Understanding the life and works of William Shakespeare is significant to The Castle of Otranto because Walpole seemed to be greatly influenced by Shakespeare. There are multiple references to Shakespeare’s plays, mainly the tragedies Hamlet and Macbeth. Walpole may have referenced Shakespeare’s tragedies because there could be a connection between these tragic plays and the gothic genre.

The Grand Tour (Walpole and Gray): March 29, 1739 — September 12, 1741

The Grand Tour was known for being a trip that many upper class men took in their younger years, when they or their family had the means to do so. Although the tradition began in the 1660's, Horace Walpole and his friend Thomas Gray took their trip beginning in 1739 when Walpole was about twenty-two years old. The primary value of the Grand Tour, society believed, was in the exposure both to the cultural experiences and education of the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionable society that lived throughout Europe. Typically, the tour began in Dover, England and led the travelers to France, then briefly stopping in Switzerland and then heading into Italy for the larger part of the trip. When Walpole took this trip with Gray, the two quarreled a bit, but this is where Walpole met up with many aristocrats and government members, educating himself and becoming familiar with the areas and all there was to learn. This is also where Walpole began writing more. Upon meeting Horace Mann an assistant to the British Minister, he wrote "Epistle from Florence to Thomas Ashton, Esq., Tutor to the Earl of Plymouth" which was a mixture of Whig history and teachings. This tour throughout Europe occurred about twenty years or so before The Castle of Otranto was published. This tour could be said to be a great influence on Walpole's setting and possible criticisms on government, as Italian serves as the "original manuscript's" language, and Italy is the location in which this story takes place. Italy could have been the vehicle which he learned to criticize his government through, and tell his story without judgement or speculation.

Walpole buys Strawberry Hill: 1749

In 1749 Walpole bought Strawberry Hill and, according to the timeline of Walpole in the book, started to remodel it in a gothic manner. This is highlighted through the novel's own Gothic manner and through the descriptions of the castle. Clearly Strawberry Hill had a large impact on Walpole, obvious through his various projects centered around Strawberry Hill, including creating a private printing press there. Through its impact on Walpole, Strawberry Hill consequently had an impact on The Castle of Otranto. Likewise, Strawberry Hill's new Gothic look might have influenced Walpole while writing Otranto. Though he says the novel and the castle came from a dream, it seems easy to connect the gothic castle of Otranto and his own gothic Strawberry Hill.

The Bard: A Pindaric Ode (Thomas Gray): August 8, 1757

"The Bard: A Pindaric Ode" was a poem published in 1757 by Thomas Gray, Horace Walpole's close friend. According to the introduction within The Castle of Otranto, Gray's work was one of the few works before Otranto to even come close to the Gothic style or, "defying contemporary expectations." This poem is very similar to The Castle of Otranto in many ways: it has a "tyrant, a prophecy, and ghosts demanding vengeance" (xiii). We can see through this alone that this work influenced Walpole whilst writing Otranto, but even more so when we consider that Walpole and Gray were friends. Also, according to the book, Gray's poem received negative criticism which may "have been in Walpole's mind when he wrote his polemical second preface" (xiii). Through this we are able to understand the influence Gray's poem had on Walpole's novel. Also in addition to this, Gray's Ode was one of the first publications to come of the Strawberry Hill Printing Press, run by Walpole himself inside of his home.