Smart English: Gothic Horror
The figure in
the graveyard
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
Learning objective:
To choose words carefully for a desired effect (WAF2, WAF7)
Learning outcome:
To rewrite a short text to create an effective atmosphere
Success criteria:
AF
Level 5 / All students can …
Level 6 / Most students can …
Level 7 / Some students can …
WAF2
Establish and keep up the main
purpose
Use and often vary the features of
the chosen form to suit purpose
and reader
Clearly match style and form to
purpose and reader
WAF7
Choose words for particular effect
Mostly choose words carefully so
that they are right for the desired
effect, purpose and audience or
reader
Consistently choose words that are
just right for the reader and the
desired effect
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
Activity:
1.
Work with a partner. Complete the activities below as quickly as possible.
Look at the words below. For each one, challenge each other to think of other words
or phrases that have the same or a similar meaning.
big
2.
dark
ruined
scared
evil
Look at the five groups of words below. Which is the odd one out in each group?
Circle your choice, then explain your reasons to your partner.
a.
devilish heavenly ghoulish deadly
b.
bleak deserted soft harsh
c.
treacherous
d.
derelict
e.
freakish scary delightful monstrous
hideous beauteous dangerous
crumbling pretty dismal
3.
In a few words, describe a typical setting for a gothic horror film.
4.
List three well-known superstitions.
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
1.
Look at the words in the left-hand column below. For each one, challenge each other
to think of other words or phrases that have the same or a similar meaning.
big
dark
ruined
scared
evil
2.
Look at the five groups of words below. Which is the odd one out in each group?
Circle your choice, then explain your reasons to your partner.
a.
devilish heavenly ghoulish deadly
b.
bleak deserted soft harsh
c.
treacherous
d.
derelict crumbling pretty dismal
e.
freakish scary delightful monstrous
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
hideous beauteous dangerous
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
3.
In a few words, describe a typical setting for a gothic horror film.
4.
List three well-known superstitions.
a.
b.
c.
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
Activity 1: Look at the words below. Complete the left-hand column of the table by
matching each word to one set of connotations.
satanic
WORD
decayed
CONNOTATIONS
trapped
fight
victim
rotting
decomposing
bones
death
ghostly
scary
devil
hell
Satan
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
struggled
EFFECT
morbid
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
Activity 2: Once you have read the extract from The Woman in Black (Student’s Book, p. 30),
complete the right-hand column of the table below by describing the effect each
word has on the reader.
WORD
CONNOTATIONS
struggled
trapped
fight
victim
decayed
rotting
decomposing
bones
morbid
death
ghostly
scary
satanic
devil
hell
Satan
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
EFFECT
This word is effective because it makes me think of panic and
suffering, of someone trying to escape …
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
Activity 3: With a partner, choose three more words or phrases that you find
particularly effective in the extract from The Woman in Black,
and continue the table from Activity 2.
WORD/PHRASE
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
CONNOTATIONS
EFFECT
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
Activity 1: Read the description below, then rewrite it to build up an atmosphere of gothic
horror.
• Choose words carefully to create a tense, frightening atmosphere.
• Add more detail to the passage to develop the scene.
The house was dark. As I approached,
no one was around and I couldn’t hear
many sounds. I wished I wasn’t on
my own. The windows had dirty
curtains and the glass was cracked in
places. An owl flew through a hole in
the top window and off into the night.
I walked closer.
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5
Smart English: Gothic Horror – The figure in the graveyard
A heavy, smothering blanket of darkness had fallen around the house; I took a
breath and felt the icy chill of the air in my lungs. The house was deserted and
stood alone on the windswept hill, silent except for the shriek of an owl, echoing
suddenly from the sky above. I was alone.
Aiming for Levels 5 to 7, Lesson 5