In the early gothic romance, The Castle of Otranto, many examples of the primary features of magic, mystery, and chivalry are exhibited. A prime example of magic in the early chapters of the book is when a giant helmet falls from the sky and crushes Conrad, Manfred's only son. "But what a sight for a father's eyes!-He beheld his child dashed to pieces, and almost buried under an enormous helmet, an hundred times more large than any casque ever made for human being..."(19). This is obviously an illustration of magic in the book because there is no other logical explanation for a giant helmet to fall from the sky. An example of mystery in the novel is when two of the kings men are scared to death at the sight of a giant trapped inside the castle but then cannot prove what they have seen because upon a second investigation of the room, it is empty. "Hippolita had visited the gallery and great chamber: and now, with more serenity of soul than she had felt fore many hourse, she met her lord, and assued him that the vision of the gigantic leg and foot was all a fable"(37). After the toehr strange happenings around the castle, a vision of a giant was not altogether out of the question, the mystery lies in the fact that such an enormous creature could simply appear and disappear unnoticed, and that the giants armor matched that of the helmet which killed Conrad. Although both examples listed for magic and mystery seem like negative ones the book has uplifting parts as well, such as when the young peasant who was blamed and imprisoned for the helmet held no grudge against the family gladly helped Isabella escape. "I will never quit you, said the stranger eagerly, till I have placed you in safety-nor think me, princess, more generous than I am..." (30). Here the young peasant boy risks life and limb to help Isabella escape to safety.
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