Gothic

Synopsis

Inspire your teaching with Key Stage 3 English Anthology: Gothic, a themed anthology for Year 8.

Featuring texts full of suspense, horror and gloom such as Frankenstein and Dracula, this anthology guides students through fiction, non-fiction and poetry encouraging them to connect with a variety of texts to gain a thorough understanding of the context and literary techniques underpinning each piece of work.

Each extract is supported by Teaching and Learning Resources, including quizzes, lesson plans and PowerPoint slides to help you implement the content of the book.

Each extract includes:
- A context panel to provide key information to set the scene of each extract
- Glossaries and annotations to help students work through each extract confidently
- Look closer: key questions for students to consider as they work through the extracts
- Now try this: writing and speaking activities to encourage students to get creative and actively engage with the text
- Fast finisher tasks to support students who race ahead
- A practice question to familiarise students with the command words they will see at GCSE

Summary

Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past

Gothic emerged in the 18th century as a reaction against the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and order. It explored themes of darkness, mystery, and the supernatural.

Real Example: Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto" (1764) features a haunted castle, ghostly apparitions, and a sinister villain.

Chapter 2: Dark and Stormy Nights

Gothic settings often evoke a sense of isolation, confinement, and claustrophobia. They are frequently characterized by stormy weather, ancient ruins, and gloomy landscapes.

Real Example: Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" (1847) takes place on the desolate moors of Yorkshire, emphasizing the characters' isolation and wild emotions.

Chapter 3: The Supernatural and the Occult

Gothic literature frequently incorporates elements of the supernatural and the occult. Ghosts, witches, vampires, and other supernatural beings haunt the pages of Gothic tales.

Real Example: Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (1897) introduces the iconic vampire Count Dracula, who terrorizes his victims with his supernatural powers.

Chapter 4: The Haunted Mind

Gothic protagonists often struggle with inner turmoil, madness, and psychological trauma. They may experience hallucinations, delusions, and fits of hysteria.

Real Example: Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892) explores the psychological breakdown of a woman confined to a room with yellow wallpaper.

Chapter 5: The Grotesque and the Monstrous

Gothic literature often depicts the grotesque and the monstrous through characters, settings, or events. These elements evoke horror and disgust, challenging conventional notions of beauty and normalcy.

Real Example: Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1831) features the deformed bell-ringer Quasimodo, who is both pitied and feared by the townsfolk.

Chapter 6: The Gothic Revival

The Gothic style experienced a revival in the 19th century, with new generations of writers and artists exploring its themes and aesthetics. This revival led to the development of the Gothic novel and the Gothic revival in architecture.

Real Example: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839) is a quintessential Gothic tale that blends elements of the supernatural, the grotesque, and the psychological. "The House of the Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde.

Chapter 7: Gothic in the 20th Century and Beyond

Gothic elements continued to influence literature, film, and other forms of popular culture in the 20th century and beyond. Gothic-inspired works explore themes of alienation, anxiety, and the darkness that lurks beneath the surface.

Real Example: Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" (1959) is a modern Gothic novel that examines the psychological effects of living in a haunted house. "Crimson Peak," a gothic horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro.