to study the writer’s methods in detail, to learn more about the text

to position two opposite things close to one another to draw attention to their difference

a group of words that all share similar connotations

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

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'

A written analysis of 'Frankenstein'

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

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

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

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Which of the following is a synonym for 'grand'?

"...an ample cushioned easy-chair near the head of the bed"

"the room was...solemn, because it was known to be so seldom entered"

"the chairs were of darkly polished old mahogany"

Which quotation portrayed the 'red-room' from 'Jane Eyre' as mysterious?

"This room was chill, because it seldom had a fire;"

"The house-maid alone came here on Saturdays"

"it was one of the largest and stateliest chambers in the mansion"

"it was silent, because remote from the nursery and kitchen"

Which quotations portrayed the 'red-room' from 'Jane Eyre' as isolated?

He was such an eerie man - she loved him.

The eerie dog barked as I walked past it.

The bedspread was eerie, as were the cushions.

Which sentence uses the word 'eerie' correctly?

As a child, Jane lives with her abusive Aunt Reed.

Jane meets a friend, who dies of tuberculosis.

Jane gets a job at Thornfield, working for Mr Rochester.

Jane meets Mr Rochester. She slowly falls in love with him.

Bertha (Mr Rochester's wife) acts out violently towards Jane and Rochester.

Jane returns to Thornfield to discover that it has been set alight by Bertha.

Starting with the first, put the plot points from 'Jane Eyre' in chronological order.

Jane hears strange noises coming from Rochester's attic.

Bertha tears up Jane's wedding veil and sets Thornfield on fire.

Jane always felt lonely and neglected as a child.

Jane works at Thornfield Hall and attended Lowood School.

Jane constantly fights against injustice throughout the novel.

Match the Gothic convention up to where we see it in the plot of 'Jane Eyre'.

The {{ }} is a genre that aims to unsettle its readers by making them feel fearful, appalled or mystified. 

Which of the following combinations of words would make the most Gothic description?

What do we know about Gothic protagonists? 

Which of the following is not a Gothic convention?

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

Lesson outcome

Content guidance