The writer’s intentions are what they hope to achieve through writing the text.

To be irresponsible means not behaving in a sensible or responsible manner

This is anything a writer does intentionally.

A convincing response is well-evidenced, with a clear line of argument and a formal, academic tone.

A written analysis of 'Frankenstein'

English

Context for Gothic literature: science and religion in the 19th century

Identifying features of the Gothic genre in the plot of ‘Frankenstein’

Exploring the character of Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’

Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night

Frankenstein's reaction to his creation

'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context

Regret in Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein'

Frankenstein's regret and the scientific revolution

Planning a written analysis of 'Frankenstein'

An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract

Reading an extract from Charlotte Brontë’s ‘Jane Eyre’

Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre'

Analysing the atmosphere at Thornfield Hall in ‘Jane Eyre’

Using ‘Jane Eyre’ to inspire our use of gothic vocabulary

Using semantic fields to create a gothic atmosphere

Using figurative language to create a gothic atmosphere

Planning a Gothic description inspired by 'A monster within'

Organising our gothic writing to build tension

Writing a gothic description

Editing descriptive writing based on ‘A monster within’

Reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

The creation of suspense in 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

Symbolism in 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

Planning a cohesive argument about 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

A written analysis of 'The Tell-Tale Heart'

Analysing effective opinion articles

Using description in functional writing

The structure of an opinion article

Planning an opinion article about Gothic literature

Writing an opinion article on Gothic literature

Improving your opinion article on Gothic literature

In 'A Monster Within', pupils explore extracts from Gothic fiction. In 'Gothic Poetry', pupils apply this learning to the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe.

In 'The Twisted Tree', pupils are introduced to the Gothic genre. In 'A Monster Within', pupils explore Gothic motifs in a range of more challenging texts.

In this unit, pupils explore the Gothic. They start by learning what the Gothic is, before reading extracts from 'Frankenstein' and 'Jane Eyre', practising descriptive writing and reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart'. They finally learn how to write opinion articles and then write their own.

A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Which question forces you to focus on the writer's intentions?

Why did the writer create this character?

Why did the writer choose to use this specific word and not another?

Why did the writer make this happen at this moment?

Why did the writer choose to have a particular text size?

Why did the writer publish the book in the first place?

Which of these would not be a useful question to ask yourself when thinking about the writer's intentions? 

The Creature's lips are "straight [and] black".

The Creatures states: "misery made me a fiend".

Victor tells Walton: "there is nothing so dangerous..."

Victor scolds his "wretch" by reminding him...

Which of the following is an embedded quotation?

It wasn't Victor's ambition to create two Creatures.

The second Creature might mate with the first and create a line of Creatures.

Victor did not have the time to create a second Creature.

Victor had to break his promise to the Creature, which enraged him more.

Victor had run out of money and so couldn't actually afford to make her.

Why was Victor agreeing to create a second female Creature in 'Frankenstein' an irresponsible decision?

to warn about the potential dangers of scientific advancement

to show that scientific progress was not something to aspire to

to warn about the consequences of being a parent

to show the consequences of moral transgression

Why might Shelley have characterised Victor in 'Frankenstein' as careless and irresponsible?

Which of the following makes a convincing analytical essay?

In which year was 'Frankenstein' published? 

the Victorian population did not support civil progress

the discoveries contradicted the teachings of the Bible

the Victorians were very nervous and superstitious people

the discoveries were not well-researched enough to be credible

Why did some people fear new discoveries made in the Scientific Revolution? 

he is unsuccessful in his scientific experiment

he suffers psychological torment and trauma

In what way is Victor Frankenstein punished for his irresponsible actions in 'Frankenstein'?

What made the Creature in 'Frankenstein' turn to violence and aggression? 

When planning an essay, what does the supporting detail in a paragraph outline not need to contain? 

Mary Shelley uses a simile in the novel 'Frankenstein' because..

In her novel 'Frankenstein', Mary Shelley....

Which is the best opening to an analytical response? 

This lesson was made for home learning during the pandemic.

A written analysis of 'Frankenstein'

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson was made for home learning during the pandemic.