[originaltext]W: Thank you for joining our program, Professor Smith. Today’s to

W: Thank you for joining our program, Professor Smith. Today’s topic is Gothic literature, which seems reviving nowadays all over the world. And I know that you have been studying it for more than two decades. And I would like you to share your views with our audience.
M: Yes. I have been interested in Gothic literature ever since I was a kid. When I was only six years old, I was deeply impressed by a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe.
W: Poe is the father of Gothic literature in America.
M: Indeed. But do you happen to know what the origin of Gothic literature is?
W: I have no idea. But I guess it has something to do with Gothic architecture, all those magnificent and strange cathedrals.
M: You are partially right. The word "Gothic" means quite a number of things by this day. It could mean a particular style of art, be it in the form of novels, paintings, or architecture. It could even refer to a certain type of music and its fans. What it originally meant, of course, is of the Goths, their civilization, or their language.
W: The Goths were a German tribe, I remember. But what are the common themes of Gothic literature. Are they always related to blood and violence or twisted characters?
M: Not always. Gothic themes cover a wide range though. For example, demons, devils, witches and angels often appear in Gothic stories. Moreover, the Faust subject is another popular theme.
W: What does that mean?
M: It means since men are forever in pursuit of forbidden knowledge or power, they are doomed to fail in the end.
W: I see. I have also noticed that Gothic literature has a special way of narration.
M: Yes. The story is frequently told through aperies of secret manuscripts or multiple tales, each revealing a deeper secret, so the narrative gradually spirals inward towards the hidden truth. The narrator is often a first-person narrator forced to tell the story to a fascinated listener. By revealing to us their own souls’ secrets, these narrators reveal the secrets of humankind’s soul.
Questions 5 to 8 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
5. What do we learn about the origin of Gothic literature?
6. Which theme will appear in Gothic literature?
7. Why is Faust subject a popular theme in Gothic literature?
8. What is special about the narrative technique of Gothic literature?