Exploring the Mysterious World of Gothic Literature

• English
• Secondary Education
• Age 13

Exploring the Mysterious World of Gothic Literature

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will have a brief knowledge of the features, novels, short stories, and poetry in Gothic literature.

What is Gothic Literature?

Gothic literature is a genre that combines elements of horror, romance, and the supernatural. 

It often features dark settings, eerie atmospheres, and mysterious events.

Main Features of Gothic Literature

Gothic literature often includes themes of death, decay, madness, haunted places, and supernatural beings. 

It creates a sense of suspense, terror, and unease in readers.

Gothic fiction is characterized by an environment of fear, the threat of supernatural events, and the intrusion of the past upon the present or the present being haunted by the past.

Elements of Gothic Literature

• The isolated, run-down castle or estate.
• The wealthy, reclusive character. 
• A tyrannical, supernatural being
• An innocent victim, usually female
• The cryptically wise older servant.
• The heroine who just can't help her curiosity.
• The mist in the air that never seems to clear.

Examples of Gothic Novels

Famous examples of Gothic novels include Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein,' Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', and  Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. These novels are known for their chilling and atmospheric storytelling.

The first Gothic novel is said to be Horace Walpole's 'The Castle of Otranto'. 

Examples of Gothic Short Stories

Gothic short stories often deliver a sense of mystery and suspense in a condensed format. Some notable examples are Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Young Goodman Brown,' and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'

Examples of Gothic Poetry

Gothic poetry explores dark and macabre themes. Examples include Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven,' and Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market.' These poems evoke a sense of melancholy and the supernatural.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.