literature that evokes feelings of mystery, fear and terror

when something reminds us of something else

to utterly bewilder or shock someone - to make someone confused

Planning a Gothic description inspired by 'A monster within'

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'

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

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

It is reflective of night time, which is a dislikeable time of day.

It is reminiscent of light, purity and good.

It is reminiscent of death, decay and evil.

Why is black often considered a Gothic colour?

It's a very distinct and memorable colour.

It can represent purity that has been, or will be, corrupted.

It reminds us of human bones, which is a Gothic image.

It can represent light or good in the battle between good and evil.

It's reminiscent of peace, which Gothic writers aim to achieve in their writing.

Why is white often considered a Gothic colour?

If something is {{}} of something else, it reminds us of it.

to reflect the different events in the plot

to reflect both night and day as time passes

to reflect the conflict between good and evil

to reflect the different characters in the text

Why are Gothic colours often contrasted with one another? 

ancient, renewed, vintage, modern, sustainable

ancient, antiquity, elderly, history, past

ancient, kindred, respectable, vast, impressive

ancient, elderly, sparkling, lucid, gleaming, shiny

Which of the following semantic fields would help you to characterise a setting as old?

Which of the following are common Gothic themes?

Gothic {{}} are usually isolated or egotistical males.

What is Gothic literature interested in exploring?

to make the reader feel very sad or angry

to confuse the reader and make them feel unsure

comparing two or more things using 'like' or 'as'

comparing two things by saying one 'is' the other

giving human features to something that is not human

giving animal attributes to something that is not an animal

Match the language methods up to their definition.

Starter Quiz

Which of the following are common Gothic themes?