This article analyzes some specific features of Gothic elements in Belyaev's prose. The authors establish that Gothic elements in A. Belyaev's works are never expressed in a straightforward and naturalistic manner: the combination of otherworldly and everyday creates a special atmosphere in his «Fear» and «The island of lost ships». Belyaev, by choosing the place of action both as fictional (the island of lost ships in the eponymous novel) and everyday space («Fear»), and by saturating realistic topography with the Gothic surroundings, seeks to go beyond the Gothic tradition, imparts verisimilitude to his works. The contrast between Gothic horror and commonness is reflected in quite realistic motivation of fantastic events, which is achieved by means of traditional Gothic devices (dreams, rumors, etc.).
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