Year 8 - English
Identifying features of the Gothic genre in the plot of 'Frankenstein'
A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
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.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify features of the Gothic genre in the plot of 'Frankenstein' in 'Frankenstein'.
Key Notes
- Gothic literature is literature that evokes feelings of mystery, fear and terror.
- The horrifying events narrated in Gothic texts are often metaphors for characters' psychological struggles.
- Gothic atmospheres are often tense, created by a fear of the unknown.
- The supernatural is also an important element of Gothic literature.
- Frankenstein tells the story of a scientist who pushes knowledge to its limit by creating a creature out of human parts.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Gothic literature: literature that evokes feelings of mystery, fear and terror
- convention: a recognised way of doing things - a standard expectation of something
- supernatural: something that cannot be explained by the laws of science or nature
- unsettled: unnerved or uneasy - anxious
- isolated: alone - removed from others
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students think that Frankenstein is the name of the creature.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Gothic literature is literature that evokes feelings of mystery, fear and terror. The horrifying events narrated in Gothic texts are often metaphors for characters' psychological struggles.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Gothic literature'
literature that evokes feelings of mystery, fear and terror.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students think that Frankenstein is the name of the creature. Correction: Frankenstein is the name of the scientist who created the hideous creature that students are often familiar with.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context Study Guide
- A written analysis of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- A written analysis of 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract Study Guide
- Analysing effective opinion articles Study Guide
- Analysing the atmosphere at Thornfield Hall in 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Context for Gothic literature: science and religion in the 19th century Study Guide
- Editing descriptive writing based on 'A monster within' Study Guide
- Exploring the character of Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Frankenstein's reaction to his creation Study Guide
- Frankenstein's regret and the scientific revolution Study Guide
- Improving your opinion article on Gothic literature Study Guide
- Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Organising our gothic writing to build tension Study Guide
- Planning a cohesive argument about 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- Planning a Gothic description inspired by 'A monster within' Study Guide
- Planning a written analysis of 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Planning an opinion article about Gothic literature Study Guide
- Reading 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night Study Guide
- Reading an extract from Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre' Study Guide
- Regret in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' Study Guide
- Symbolism in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- The creation of suspense in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' Study Guide
- The structure of an opinion article Study Guide
- Using 'Jane Eyre' to inspire our use of gothic vocabulary Study Guide
- Using description in functional writing Study Guide
- Using figurative language to create a gothic atmosphere Study Guide
- Using semantic fields to create a gothic atmosphere Study Guide
- Writing a gothic description Study Guide
- Writing an opinion article on Gothic literature Study Guide
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