Question

Which novel, published in 1796, caused a scandal for its depiction of religious hypocrisy and supernatural occurrences?

• A. The Mysteries of Udolpho
• B. The Castle of Otranto
• C. The Monk
• D. The Vampyre

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The Monk

It caused a huge scandal because:

• It portrayed religious hypocrisy through the character of Ambrosio, a supposedly pious monk who falls into corruption and sin.

• It included sensational supernatural elements—ghosts, demons, sorcery, and the Devil himself.

• Its open treatment of lust, violence, and taboo subjects shocked contemporary readers, though it also made the novel wildly popular.

📖 The Monk is a prime example of the Gothic novel, alongside works like Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794).