The Gothic
Overview
An exploration of the Gothic genre and the contextual circumstances that influenced writers to explore human feelings and emotions through supernatural elements – connecting people to the unknown and irrational aspects of humanity. Pupils will explore a range of texts and focus on writers’ intentions, developing their reading and critical thinking skills.
Unit aims:
- Understanding of contextual influences
- To develop a detailed understanding of the context to Gothic literature
- Understanding the conventions of Gothic Literature
- Use reciprocal reading strategies to approach more challenging texts
- To foster enjoyment of writing creatively and successfully by producing specific, Gothic inspired pieces of writing
- Develop selection and retrieval skills to evidence ideas
Example Key Words
Gothic Genre
Gothic literature is a genre of fiction which first became popular during the 18th century.
Pathetic Fallacy
The attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals, especially in art and literature.
Conventions
A way in which something is usually done.
Narrator
A person who narrates something, especially a character who recounts the events of a novel or narrative poem.
Supernatural
Manifestations or events considered to be of supernatural origin, such as ghosts.
Uncanny
Strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.
External Links
The origins of the Gothic:
- https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-origins-of-the-gothic
- Professor John Bowen discusses key motifs in Gothic novels, including the uncanny, the sublime and the supernatural. Filmed at Walpole’s house – Strawberry Hill:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNohDegnaOQ&t=452s