unnerving - makes you feel anxious and uncomfortable

when the weather reflects the mood of the character(s)

the sense that something ominous or bad might happen imminently

Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night

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’

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

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

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

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

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

In which month did Frankenstein create his monster in the novel 'Frankenstein'?

Which adjective was used to describe the night that the Creature was brought to life in 'Frankenstein'? 

In 'Frankenstein', what method does Shelley use in the quotation: "the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out."?

How does Victor respond to his Creature in 'Frankenstein'?

"I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited"

"The different accidents of life are not so changeable"

"His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath"

"How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe..?"

"With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony...."

Which of the following methods does Shelley use to build tension in Chapter 5 of 'Frankenstein'?

it reflects the tears of happiness Victor cries in the chapter

it creates an unsettling and ominous atmosphere 

it reflects the elation and excitement that the Creature feels at being alive

it foreshadows the heartache and loss both characters will experience later on

it reflects the love the Creature has for his creator, Victor

What is the effect of the following quotation from 'Frankenstein': “the rain pattered dismally against the panes"?

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

Which of the following is often true of Gothic protagonists? 

Which of the following is not true of Gothic settings? 

using words that begin with the same sound

using words that reflect the sound something makes

when the weather reflects the mood of the piece

when the writer hints at events yet to come

It contains several flash-forwards to a future time.

What is interesting about the narrative structure of 'Frankenstein?'

dissecting a dead body to create a new life

running an electrical current through the body to try induce life

Reading an extract from 'Frankenstein': A fateful night

Lesson outcome

Content guidance