University of Isfahan Journal of Researches in Linguistics 2322-3413 17 2 2025 09 23 Manner-of-Motion Verbs and Their Narrative Functions in Gothic Fiction: A Case Study of Poe and Jackson Manner-of-Motion Verbs and Their Narrative Functions in Gothic Fiction: A Case Study of Poe and Jackson 79 88 29899 10.22108/jrl.2025.146113.1912 FA Huda Abd Ali Hattab Makassees Ph.D. candidate of Linguistics, Department of Linguistics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Rezvan Motavallian Associate professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran Journal Article 2025 07 26 This study adopted Talmy's (1985, 2000) typological framework of motion events to systematically analyze manner-of-motion verbs in three representative Gothic texts: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843) and "The Black Cat" (1843) and Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" (1948).  The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods, including corpus analysis, to identify key narrative functions of motion verbs (e.g., indicating physical or mental resistance, violence, and deception). It then showed how these verbs built tension, horror, and dread. Findings revealed that fundamental movement verbs dominated (45.6%), establishing an atmosphere of false normalcy, while sudden eruptions of violent motion and physical resistance created a pressure-release dynamic central to Gothic aesthetics. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated significant stylistic divergences in the authors' employment of motion verbs, reflecting the dual nature of Gothic aesthetics: Jackson’s use of ritualistic motion highlighted communal horror contrasting with Poe’s focus on psychological disintegration. The paper concluded that Gothic fiction transformed mundane actions into kinetic terror, with motion verbs functioning as both narrative catalysts and psychological markers. These insights advance the understanding of how linguistic structures shape genre-specific emotional effects, offering a quantitative and narrative-functional framework for analyzing Gothic literature. This study adopted Talmy's (1985, 2000) typological framework of motion events to systematically analyze manner-of-motion verbs in three representative Gothic texts: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843) and "The Black Cat" (1843) and Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" (1948).  The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods, including corpus analysis, to identify key narrative functions of motion verbs (e.g., indicating physical or mental resistance, violence, and deception). It then showed how these verbs built tension, horror, and dread. Findings revealed that fundamental movement verbs dominated (45.6%), establishing an atmosphere of false normalcy, while sudden eruptions of violent motion and physical resistance created a pressure-release dynamic central to Gothic aesthetics. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated significant stylistic divergences in the authors' employment of motion verbs, reflecting the dual nature of Gothic aesthetics: Jackson’s use of ritualistic motion highlighted communal horror contrasting with Poe’s focus on psychological disintegration. The paper concluded that Gothic fiction transformed mundane actions into kinetic terror, with motion verbs functioning as both narrative catalysts and psychological markers. These insights advance the understanding of how linguistic structures shape genre-specific emotional effects, offering a quantitative and narrative-functional framework for analyzing Gothic literature. https://jrl.ui.ac.ir/article_29899_b3fecc6d1cafa4fc7cecc53920e0c546.pdf