'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context
I can recognise and explore Shelley’s use of Gothic conventions in ‘Frankenstein’.
'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context
I can recognise and explore Shelley’s use of Gothic conventions in ‘Frankenstein’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Liminality describes the physical process of crossing across boundaries and borders.
- The Creature is a liminal creature because it is characterised as a living corpse.
- Victor has committed a moral transgression against nature, God and science in creating the Creature.
- Shelley uses the Gothic genre to explore the darker side of humanity and consuming ambition.
- Shelley arguably presents us with the idea that real monsters are not born, but shaped by society or those around them.
Keywords
Liminality - Liminality is the physical process of transitioning across boundaries and borders.
Transgression - A violation of a boundary, rule or law.
Vitality - The state of being strong and full of life.
To violate - To break or act against something.
Vengeance - When a person inflicts harm on another because they, themselves have been harmed by that person previously.
Common misconception
Students tend to think of humans as being good and monsters as being evil.
In this novel, the line between good and evil is blurred. Shelley forces us to question who the real monster is in the novel.
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: 'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: 'Frankenstein' and the Gothic context, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 english lessons from the A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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