1. Features of Gothic Stories. L.O. – To be able to identify the main features of Gothic stories.

2. Scary films and characters. Make a list of all the scary films or characters you have seen or heard of: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

3. Scary films and characters. Think about why these films or characters where scary. Write down at least one reason for each film or character: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

4. Gothic

5. Have you heard this word before?

6. Gothic Have you heard this word before? Have you seen any films that have been described as Gothic?

7. Gothic Have you heard this word before? Have you seen any films that have been described as Gothic? Have you read any Gothic books?

8. Gothic Have you heard this word before? Have you seen any films that have been described as Gothic? Have you read any Gothic books? Where might the word have come from?

9. Definition of the word Gothic: A style of writing, architecture and art that was popular in the 18 th and 19 th centuries (1700s-1800s).

10. Complete the table below: Features of Gothic stories:Stories or films with this feature: Wild and remote places Dark and gloomy settings Graveyards, tombs and corpses Family curses and dark secrets Supernatural powers Mysterious and frightening creatures, people or ghosts Old, ruined, isolated castles and mansions Nightmares, madness and mental torment Science used for evil or disastrous purposes Worrying and unusual natural events (storms, full moons etc)

11. In pairs, read each of the 4 story openings through. Decide the dramatic style that is appropriate for each one and read it using the right tone of voice and emphasis on certain words. (romantic, serious, excited, frightening etc) Which story opening do you think is the most Gothic and why?

12. Read the following passage from ‘Frankenstein’ and think about the Gothic conventions we discussed in our table. How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! – Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were wet, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.

13. Read the following passage from ‘Frankenstein’ and think about the Gothic conventions we discussed in our table. The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bedchamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep.

14. Re-write the first sentence of the extract in modern English: How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how can I delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? How is it different?

15. Explain how the narrator feels about the monster he has created. Narrator’s feelingsWords from the passage Thinks it was a disastercatastrophe

16. Homework: Find out about gothic books (at least 5 examples) and gothic architecture (what kind of buildings is it?) Write your answers in your exercise book. Printed pages from the internet will not be accepted. Due – next lesson.