Gothic Literature Elements and Extracts for Study with Graphic Organiser

Introduce and explore the key elements of Gothic literature. Perfect for middle and high school classrooms, this pack combines clear reference guides, authentic extracts, and ready-to-use graphic organizers so students can analyse Gothic tropes with confidence.

What’s Included:

• Elements of the Gothic Novel handout – a student-friendly guide breaking down 11 Gothic features such as spooky settings, supernatural events, omens, and extreme emotions.

8 carefully-selected extracts from classic Gothic texts, including:
The Castle of Otranto (Walpole)
The Mysteries of Udolpho (Radcliffe)
Frankenstein (Shelley)
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)
Wuthering Heights (Emily Brontë)
The Fall of the House of Usher (Poe)
Dracula (Stoker)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (Wilde)

• Graphic organizer – quotation, Gothic element, and impact columns to structure student responses.
• Teacher notes – concise guidance for each extract, highlighting which Gothic elements it illustrates and why it works.

Ways to Use It:

• As part of an introduction to the Gothic genre.
• For close reading practice and identifying literary techniques.
• As extract-based starters or discussion prompts.
• To support comparative essays and thematic analysis.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Saves prep time with ready-to-print resources.
• Brings together authentic public domain extracts and clear scaffolding.
• Ideal for new units, cover lessons, or for teachers new to Gothic texts.
• Builds student confidence in linking quotations to Gothic elements.

This Also Falls Under:
Gothic Literature Resources
Classic Literature Extracts
Genre Study Handouts
Close Reading Activities

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