Year 8 - English
Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night
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 explain how Shelley crafts an unsettling atmosphere on the night of the birth of the Creature.
Key Notes
- On a dreary night in November, Frankenstein brings his creation to life.
- He despises his creation because it is hideous and ugly; he shuns the Creature and runs away from it.
- Shelley uses pathetic fallacy and setting to create an ominous atmosphere.
- Shelley cleverly builds tension in the lead up to the reveal of Frankenstein's monster.
Vocabulary To Learn
- unsettling: unnerving - makes you feel anxious and uncomfortable
- atmosphere: the tone or mood of a place or scene
- pathetic fallacy: when the weather reflects the mood of the character(s)
- tension: the sense that something ominous or bad might happen imminently
- summary: a short account of the events of a text
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students often think that the Creature did something to terrify/hurt Victor.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
On a dreary night in November, Frankenstein brings his creation to life. He despises his creation because it is hideous and ugly; he shuns the Creature and runs away from it.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'unsettling'
unnerving - makes you feel anxious and uncomfortable.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students often think that the Creature did something to terrify/hurt Victor. Correction: Victor takes an instant dislike to the Creature because of its ugliness. Victor shuns the Creature immediately, purely because of its looks.
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
- Identifying features of the Gothic genre in the plot of 'Frankenstein' 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 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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