In additon to deliciously horrid terms of the gothic novel--
blasts of wind, tyrants, speaking portraits, trapdoors. etc-
Many gothic novels contain elements of romance.
Otranto includes these :

1.) Powerful love- Heart stirring, often sudden emotions creating a life or death commitment.

Theodore to Matilda in the black tower, 'Let us fly together: the life thou bestowest shall be dedicated to thy defence'. (ch.3)

2.) Uncertainty of reciprocation.- What is the beloved thinking ? Is the lover's love returned or not ? This tumbled my gown. ;)

Matilda- 'His eyes, it was true, had been fixed on her in Frederic's bedchamber; but that may have been to disguise his passion for Isabella from the fathers of both'. (ch.4)

3.) Unreturned love.-Someone loves in vain (maybe temporarily).

Theodore to Isabella in caves, 'Besides lady...be known my soul is dedicated to another;' (ch.3)

Frederic was struck by the lovely form of Matilda. Yet when Hippolita tells Matilda of the plan to engage her to Frederic Matilda fell at her feet in a flood of speechless tears. She declares 'I will not marry Frederic until thou commandest it.
(ch.4)

Hippolita is grieved when Isabella tells her that husband Manfred plans to divorce her. (ch.4)

4.) Tension between true love and father's control.
(or father knows best ?)

-Manfred to Fredric suggests double marriage :

Frederic 'who had been struck by the charms of Matilda, listened all too eagerly to the offer.' (ch.4)

-For Isabella to wed Manfred, he made only faint opposition to the proposal- Hippolita must consent to divorce. (ch. 4)

- 'Father Jerome was heartily grieved at discovering his son's inclination for that princess [Matilda]'. (ch.4)

5) Lovers Parted- Some obstacles arises and seperates the lovers by distance or some other way.

-Matilda tells Theodore to go to the sea-coast and wait for some vessel to come on shore to take him away. Theodore flings himself at her feet. Matilda asks he sometimes remember her in his prayers. (ch. 3)

-'The princesses then revealed to Hippolita their mutual inclination for Theodore, and the purpose of Isabella to resign him to Matilda. Hippolita blamed their imprudence , and shewed them the impossibility that either father would consent to bestow his heiress on so poor a man, though nobly born.' (ch.4)

Any others ?

Like a soapie isn't it ? I don't know if Henry would call the Otranto a dance- everyone keeps tripping each other up !

Oh, did anyone else spot the black veil ? 'I will advise her on taking the veil.'
So cheesy, but I had to throw it in !