GOTHIC FICTION
Year 9
What is Gothic fiction?
Q:
What do you think Gothic fiction will be like?
Discuss some ideas with your partner.
The PowerPoint in the Gothic Short Stories folder should be used to introduce the
Gothic genre.



A great deal of Gothic fiction was written in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Gothic fiction is sometimes said to be a combination of both romance and
horror.
Many writers of Gothic fiction are, surprisingly, women. This was shocking to
people at the time due to the rather ‘unladylike’ content of these stories,
which could be both gruesome and frightening.
There are many Gothic short stories (which we are going to be reading), but many
famous novels also include Gothic elements:
Frankenstein
Dracula
Wuthering Heights
Jane Eyre
Mary Shelly
Bram Stoker
Emily Bronte
Charlotte Bronte
Gothic fiction has its own distinctive style of narration, characters, settings and
events. You are going to look at some examples. The following are extracts from
Gothic novels or short stories. Read each one carefully and answer the questions on
each:
1
3
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
19
21
22
25
In mortal terror of people forcing an entrance at such an hour, and in such 2
a manner as to leave no doubt of their purpose, I would have turned to fly
when I first heard the noise, only that I feared by any quick motion to catch 4
their attention, as I also ran the danger of doing by opening the door, which 5
was all but closed, and to whose handlings I was unaccustomed. Again,
quick as lightning, I bethought me of the hiding-place between the locked
door to my husband’s dressing-room and the portiere which covered it; but 8
I gave that up, I felt as if I could not reach it without screaming or fainting. 9
So I sank down softly, and crept under the table, hidden, as I hoped, by the
great, deep, table-cover, with its heavy fringe. I had not recovered my
swooning senses fully, was trying to reassure myself as to my being in a
place of comparative safety, for, above all things, I dreaded the betrayal of
fainting, and struggled hard for such courage as I might attain by deadening
myself to the danger I was in by inflicting intense pain on myself. You have 15
often asked me for the reason of that mark on my hand; it was where, in
my agony, I bit out a piece of flesh with my relentless teeth, thankful for
the pain, which helped to numb my terror. I say, I was but just concealed
when I heard the window lifted, and one after another stepped over the sill,
and stood by me so close that I could have touched their feet. Then they 20
laughed and whispered; my brain swam so that I could not tell the meaning
of their words, but I heard my husband’s laughter among the rest – low,
hissing, scornful – as he kicked something heavy that they had dragged in 23
over the floor, and which lay near me; so near, that my husband’s kick, in 24
touching it, touched me too. I don’t know why – I can’t tell how – but
some feeling, and not curiosity, prompted me to put out my hand, ever so 26
softly, ever so little, and feel in the darkness for what lay spurned beside 27
me. I stole my groping palm upon the clenched and chilly hand of a corpse!
(The Grey Woman, Elizabeth Gaskell: 1861)
Q1)
Look at the first long sentence, lines 1-5. What does this long sentence tell us
about the narrator’s state of mind?
Q2)
What is unusual about the narration in line 14? What does this tell us about
the story?
Q3)
In your own words, explain the narrator’s actions in line 13-17.
Q4)
The narrator’s husband is among the intruders! How would she feel about
this?
Q5)
What do the intruders seem to be up to?
1
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
It was on a dreary night of November, that I beheld the accomplishment of 2
my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the
instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the
lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain
pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out,
when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow
eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion
agitated its limbs.
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 12
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 of pearly whiteness; but these
luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that 16
seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they 17
were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.
(Frankenstein, Mary Shelley: 1817
Q1) How does the writer create a gloomy and eerie setting in lines 1-8?
Q2)
Look carefully at the words used to describe Frankenstein’s creation. What
words does Shelley use to show that it is far from being human?
Q3)
Why does Frankenstein refer to this event as a “catastrophe”?
Q4)
In your own words, explain what is frightening or unnatural about the
creature’s appearance.
The intense horror of nightmare came over me; I tried to draw back my arm, but, the
hand clung to it, and a most melancholy voice sobbed,
“Let me in – let me in!”
“Who are you?” I asked, struggling, meanwhile, to disengage myself.
“Catherine Linton,” it replied, shiveringly (why did I think of Linton? I had
read Earnshaw twenty times for Linton). “I’m come home, I’d lost my way on the
moor!”
As it spoke, I discerned, obscurely, a child’s face looking through the window
– Terror made me cruel; and, finding it useless to attempt shaking the creature off, I
pulled its wrist on to the broken pane, and rubbed it to and fro till the blood ran
down and soaked the bed-clothes: still it wailed, “Let me in!” and maintained its
tenacious grip, almost maddening me with fear.
(Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte:1847)
Q1)
What is particularly shocking about the narrator’s actions in this passage?
Q2)
We discover that this ‘child’ is in fact a dream or a ghost. Why do you
suppose it appeared to the narrator?
Questions on all three passages:
Q1)
What style of narration do all three extracts have in common?
Q2)
A feeling of fear is present in all three extracts. Explain what has caused the
fear in each case. What do these things have in common?
Q3)
What other feelings or themes are present in these extracts?
There are some common themes in Gothic writing.
Physical
danger
Psychological
terror and
madness
Consequence
s of Actions
Haunting
Fears &
Guilt
POPULAR
GOTHIC
THEMES
The body
and its
parts
Death and
disfiguration
Question: Did these themes feature in the extracts that you read previously? Work
with your table partner and provide evidence for your opinions.
Task 1) Read the short Gothic story called “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by the American
writer Edgar Allan Poe. As you read it, look out for these typical Gothic themes.
Task 2) Create a mind map on which you will explore these themes and find
examples from the story.
The Structure and Conventions of a Short Story
A ‘short story’ is not simply ‘a piece of imaginative writing that is short’ – it is a genre
of writing that has its own form and its own conventions.
Conventions



They cover a short period of time, or deal with a single event in their plot.
There are only one or two main characters.
The action takes place in one setting or very few settings.
This means that, when you are writing a short story, you are restricted in some ways.
This means that you may have to convey a lot of information in just a word or a
phrase. Writing short stories takes quite a bit of skill.
Classic short story plot



At the beginning, a context or situation is established.
In the middle a main character has to deal with problems, dangers,
challenges or opportunities.
By the end, the character has either successfully overcome these problems or
has at least learned something useful about him/herself (or about life) while
trying.
So: how well do Gothic short stories fit this mould?
Task
Look again at Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Using the heading
Conventions, explain in what way the story fits with short story conventions. If there
is something about the story that doesn’t fit you should mention this too.
Then, using the heading Plot Structure, explain in what way the story fits with the
classic short story plot. If there is something about the story that doesn’t fit you
should mention this too.
Reading Questions:
Read “The Black Cat” together in class. Stop for the questions where indicated.
Teachers should decide on whether to direct these questions to individuals or as
stimuli for group work.
1. Page 3, Paragraph 1 - What are the options available to an author when choosing
a narrator? Comment on the author’s choice in this story. Why is it effective?
What may its limitations be?
 1st or 3rd person narrator.
 Character or voice of author.
 Past or present tense.
 Single viewpoint character or several.
 Limited or omniscient in understanding.
 Reliable or unreliable.
(Author describes his own actions but it is as if he is talking about someone of an
entirely different nature. This conflict in his character seems implausible - cutting out
a cat’s eye but blushing when he writes about it, for example.)
2. Page 3, Paragraph 1 - What is a narrative hook? Find it in this paragraph.
3. Page 4, Paragraph 4 - Why is the cat’s name ironically appropriate?
(Pluto, in Greek religion and mythology, god of the underworld, also called Hades.)
4. Page 4, Paragraph 5 - Explain the phrase "instrumentality of the Fiend
Intemperance".
5. Page 5, Paragraph 2 - Comment on the grotesque violence the narrator
describes. What is the effect on the reader?
6. Page 6, Paragraph 2 - Page 7, Paragraph 2 - Speculate on the cause of the fire.
Provide a simpler explanation for the burnt in figure of the black cat. Predict
what is going to happen by the end of the story. What makes you think the story
is not going to have a happy ending?
7. Page 9, Paragraph 3 - Explain the narrator’s reaction to the new cat - why does
he dread it?
8. Page 10, Paragraph 1 - The author’s use of the gallows image is an example of
foreshadowing. Using this information, come up with your own definition of
foreshadowing.
9. Page 11, Paragraph 2 - What is your reaction to the narrator’s murder of his
wife? Does it seem plausible to you? Give reasons for your answer.
10. Page 12, Paragraph 4 - Where do you think the cat has gone? Predict the end of
the story.
11. Page 14 - How is this story similar to "The Tell-Tale Heart"? Explain your findings
with evidence.
12. Plenary -Which of the Popular Gothic Themes discussed earlier are present in
this story?
Reading Questions:
Read “The Monkey’s Paw” together in class. Stop for the questions where indicated.
Teachers should decide on whether to direct these questions to individuals or as
stimuli for group work.
1. Page 1, Paragraph 1 - Comment on the author’s choice of narrator in this story.
Why is it effective? What may its limitations be?
(Lack of insight into characters’ thoughts.)
2. Page 1, Paragraph 2 - What does the father’s strategy at chess tell us about his
personality?
3. Page 2, Paragraph 6 - The sergeant-major’s description of the powers of the
monkey’s paw establishes the trajectory for the remainder of the story. Examine
closely what he says and find evidence to support this. Comment on whether you
think this story will have a happy ending.
(Warning that those interfering with fate get sorrow. Limit of three wishes and only
one more person to use it. This is a moral tale, unlikely to have a happy ending especially as we’ve seen one character act rashly already.)
4. Page 3, Paragraph 8 - The old man wishes for two hundred pounds. Predict what
will happen next, considering the warning of imminent sorrow.
5. Page 3, Paragraph 8 - How would you re-word the wish for money to limit the
negative consequences?
6. Page 3, Paragraph 8+ - Find evidence in the passage of increased tension once
Mr White makes his wish.
7. Page 3, Section II - Find evidence in the last paragraphs of this page that the
mood has lightened.
8. Page 4, Paragraph 1 - Comment on your reaction to the postman’s knock.
9. Page 4, Paragraph 6 - Speculate about the mysterious man outside.
10. Page 4, Last line - What is your reaction to the bad news the Whites receive?
Does it seem appropriate to you? Explain your reasons.
11. Page 4, Last line - Why did the author choose to kill the son and not one of the
parents?
(Son was the most intelligent and likeable character. His death has a greater impact
on the reader. It also motivates his parents to use their remaining wishes -with
characteristic stupidity - creating tension in the narrative.)
12. Page 6, Line 7 - Comment on your response to the wording of Mr White’s second
wish.
13. Page 6, End - Comment on your reaction to the story’s conclusion. Do you
consider it satisfying? Was it appropriate for the gothic genre? Give reasons,
based on evidence.
14. Plenary -Which of the Popular Gothic Themes discussed earlier are present in
this story?
Task
Pupils should use the A4 white boards to write a wish. Once these have been
collected in, the teacher should address each in turn, seeing whether it is possible to
find a dark consequence or interpretation of each wish.
Essay:
Read ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ carefully and examine how the writer has engaged the
reader.
In your response, consider the following elements of his story-telling:
1. The narrative voice and the use of the narrator’s commentary;
2. The structure of the story:
o The author’s use of characterisation and how this leads to a dark
outcome.
o The author’s use of foreshadowing to warn the readers of a dark
outcome;
3. The use of setting and description to create tension and suspense;
4. Conclude with a comment on how this story fits into the Gothic genre.
Your essay should be around 750 words, if you are writing in enough detail. Marks
are not awarded for length; only for analytical content.
Provide evidence from the text in quotation form to support all of your points.
Preparatory Group Activity
Find evidence of where the author has used setting to create mood. Look for:
lighting, weather, temperature and sounds.
Reading Questions:
Read “The Bottle Imp” together in class. Stop for the questions where indicated.
Teachers should decide on whether to direct these questions to individuals or as
stimuli for group work.
1. Page 1, Paragraph 1 - Comment on the author’s choice of narrator in this story.
Why is it effective? What may its limitations be?
2. Page 2, Column 1 - The author has established the conditions of use for the
bottle imp. Comment on any similarities you note with "The Monkey’s Paw".
Why has he included the condition about the money? How do you think this will
play out in the rest of the story?
3. Page 3, Column 1 end - Comment on your reaction to the death of Keawe’s uncle
and cousin. Why is it not of the same magnitude as the death in "The Monkey’s
Paw"?
4. Page 5, Column 1 beginning - The narrative continues to follow Keawe and not
the bottle. Speculate on why this is. Predict what will follow in the story, bearing
in mind the title of the story.
5. Page 6, Column 1 half way - Why has the author given Keawe leprosy?
6. Page 6, Column 1, Paragraph 2 - Predict the difficulties that Keawe will face in his
quest for the bottle, bearing in mind the rules established on page 1.
7. Page 7, Column 2 end - How well did your predictions match his difficulties?
8. Page 9, Column 1, Paragraph 1 - Describe the mood at this point in the story.
Explain whether you think the story will have a happy or sad conclusion. Give
reasons.
9. Page 11, Column 1, End - Explain whether the opinions you expressed in the
previous answer have changed, and why or why not.
10. Page 12, End - Do you consider this ending satisfying? Is it appropriate to the
genre?
Tracking Essay:
How does the author grab the reader's attention in the opening part of ‘The Bottle
Imp’?
1. Narrative Voice: first/third, viewpoint character/narrator, limited/omniscient,
reliable/unreliable. Comment on how the narrator’s commentary manages the
reader’s perspective.
2. Tone/Mood: of narrative commentary, setting, weather, colours, contrasts.
3. Descriptive Techniques: vocabulary choices, use of imagery and the senses.
4. Characterisation: characters’ actions, opinions through dialogue.
5. Language: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, sentence variations, punctuation
effects.
6. Imagery: metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, pathetic fallacy, symbols.
7. Sound effects: alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition.
8. Themes
9. Structural elements: flashback, chronology, cliff-hanger, action sequences, climax,
suspense, narrative hook, conclusion.
Gothic Short Story – Creative Response:
Write a short story in the style of the Gothic genre. (600 words minimum)
Your short story should be focused on only a few central characters, going through a
short series of events. Include the following elements in your writing:
 Good spelling, punctuation and paragraphing;
 Appropriate use of dialogue;
 A suitably Gothic plot line with appropriately foreshadowed consequences.
 Several Gothic genre elements.
Physical
danger
Psychological
terror and
madness
Consequences
of Actions
POPULAR
GOTHIC
THEMES
Haunting Fears
& Guilt
The body and
its parts
Death and
disfiguration
You may find it useful to use this model to scaffold the beginning of your story:







Your protagonist is walking along the beach and finds an old bottle in the
surf. When he uncorks it, a genie, nearing retirement, offers him one
superpower before it flies off to freedom.
What power does the protagonist choose?
Was the protagonist alone on the beach?
What does he do with his power?
What does his choice of power tell us about the type of person he is?
What are the consequences for the rest of his life?
Does his story end happily?
Carefully consider how to best tell your story. What style of narrator should you
adopt to gain the best sympathy from the reader? When does the story begin? What
characters are necessary for your plot to develop appropriately?
This should be an extended piece of writing that evolves over drafts. Plan your work
carefully before you write even your first paragraph. Aim for 800 words (only 2 pages
in typed novel format).
Gothic Short Stories Starters
Here are twenty terrifying horror stories wrapped up in two sentences or fewer.
1. I woke up to hear knocking on glass. At first, I thought it was the window until I
heard it come from the mirror again.
2. The last thing I saw was my alarm clock flashing 12:07 before she pushed her long
rotting nails through my chest, her other hand muffling my screams. I sat bolt
upright, relieved it was only a dream, but as I saw my alarm clock read 12:06, I heard
my closet door creak open.
3. Growing up with cats and dogs, I got used to the sounds of scratching at my door
while I slept. Now that I live alone, it is much more unsettling.
4. In all of the time that I've lived alone in this house. I swear to God I've closed more
doors than I've opened.
5. A girl heard her mum yell her name from downstairs, so she got up and started to
head down. As she got to the stairs, her mum pulled her into her room and said "I
heard that, too."
6. She asked why I was breathing so heavily. I wasn't.
7. My wife woke me up last night to tell me there was an intruder in our house. She
was murdered by an intruder two years ago.
8. I awoke to the sound of the baby monitor crackling with a voice comforting my
firstborn child. As I adjusted to a new position, my arm brushed against my wife,
sleeping next to me.
9. I always thought my cat had a staring problem - she always seemed fixated on my
face. Until one day, when I realized that she was always looking just behind me.
10. There's nothing like the laughter of a baby. Unless it's 1 a.m. and you're home
alone.
11. I was having a pleasant dream when what sounded like hammering woke me.
After that, I could barely hear the muffled sound of dirt covering the coffin over
my own screams.
12."I can't sleep," she whispered, crawling into bed with me. I woke up cold,
clutching the dress she was buried in.
13. I begin tucking him into bed and he tells me. “Daddy. Check for monsters under
my bed." I look underneath for his amusement and see him, another him, under
the bed, staring back at me quivering and whispering. "Daddy, there's somebody
on my bed."
14. You get home, tired after a long day's work and ready for a relaxing night alone.
You reach for the light switch, but another hand is already there.
15. I can't move, breathe, speak or hear and it's so dark all the time. If I knew it
would be this lonely. I would have been cremated instead.
16. She went upstairs to check on her sleeping toddler. The window was open and
the bed was empty.
17. I never go to sleep. But I keep waking up.
18. My daughter won't stop crying and screaming in the middle of the night. I visit
her grave and ask her to stop, but it doesn't help.
19. After working a hard day, I came home to see my girlfriend cradling our child. I
didn't know which was more frightening, seeing my dead girlfriend and stillborn
child, or knowing that someone broke into my apartment to place them there.
20. There was a picture in my phone of me sleeping. I live alone.