What does SS stand for? The abbreviation SS S.S. in front of the name of a ship stands for Steamship.SS is often used in the US as an abbreviation for social security.SS in the context of the Holocaust and World War 2 stands for Schutzstaffel which, translated literally, means Protective Squad.
Gothic authors are also often really into concepts like the sublime. No, not the '90s band. In literature, the term refers to a kind of out of this world experience that someone has in nature. And in gothic literature, it's closely linked with, well, sheer terrorâall because the sublime is so awe-inspiring.
Gothic Novels: Background and Origin. 'It was a dark and stormy nightâ¦' We all love a good ghost story or horror film, and these forms of entertainment share some characteristics with the Gothic literature genre, like ghosts, ghouls, and headless spirits that may haunt the main characters. The Gothic novel is a genre associated with the mystery and intrigue surrounding the supernatural and the unknown. 2  Characteristics of the Gothic include: death and decay, haunted homes/castles, family curses, madness, powerful love/romance, ghosts, and vampires.