Liminality is the physical process of transitioning across boundaries and borders.

The state of being strong and full of life.

When a person inflicts harm on another because they, themselves have been harmed by that person previously.

'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context

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

Regret in Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein'

Frankenstein's regret and the scientific revolution

Planning a written analysis of 'Frankenstein'

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

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

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of distress or humiliation e.g. bullying.

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

{{ }} is the boundary between two opposing states. 

it represents purgatory - the state between heaven and hell.

it represents actions and consequences and what lies between.

it is almost half dead and half alive - it is like a living corpse.

it represents Victor's scientific success - he is on the cusp of discovery.

The Creature in 'Frankenstein' represents liminality because...

{{ }} is the violation of a rule, law or boundary.

wishing for the destruction of his creation

Which of the following are Victor's acts of transgression in 'Frankenstein'?

the line between good and evil is clearly-defined

it is easy to be a good person in an evil world

the line between good and evil is blurry 

evil people are often not born that way - they are shaped by their experiences

people are always good, monsters are always bad

What does Shelley try to teach us about good and evil in 'Frankenstein'?

"shrivelled complexion and straight black lips"

Which quotation from 'Frankenstein' best portrays the Creature as a liminal being? 

Complete the sentence: Mary {{ }} wrote the novel 'Frankenstein'.

Which of the following Gothic conventions do we see in the narrative of 'Frankenstein'?

Which of the following themes do we often see in Gothic literature?

How does Victor Frankenstein reject his creation in 'Frankenstein'?

Which of the following words does Victor use in his narrative to describe the Creature in 'Frankenstein'?

he means that the Creature was so beautiful he looked sculpted

he means that the Creature was so amusing that he could have been in a comedy

he means that the Creature was so ugly it could have been in a circus

he means that the Creature was so frightful it looked like it belonged in hell

he means that the Creature was so divine it could belong in heaven

In 'Frankenstein', what does Victor Frankenstein mean when he states that the Creature "became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived"?

Starter Quiz