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

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

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

Have you heard this word before?
Gothic

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

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

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

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

Features of Gothic stories:
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)
Stories or films with this feature:

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?

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.

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.

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?

Explain how the narrator feels about the monster he has created.
Narrator’s feelings
Thinks it was a disaster
Words from the passage catastrophe

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.