Gothic Literature Mini SOW

An 11 lesson KS3 mini scheme of work exploring Gothic literature through a wide range of classic Gothic texts. Students explore Gothic settings, monsters, heroes, villains, Gothic archetypes, and more through extracts from a range of influential texts. The unit also introduces students to the development of Gothic literature and encourages them to compare the conventions of Gothic literature with those of horror.

Texts and extracts include:
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
Plus activities drawing on wider Gothic literature and conventions

Students develop their ability to:
Understand the key features and conventions of Gothic literature
Explore Gothic tropes and archetypes
Analyse Gothic characters, including heroes, heroines, villains and monsters
Explore how writers create fear and tension
Analyse language choices and their effects
Explore how writers create Gothic settings and atmosphere
Analyse structure and narrative choices
Explore the significance of Gothic imagery and symbolism
Use contextual knowledge to develop interpretations
Support ideas with relevant textual evidence
Develop analytical responses
Apply Gothic conventions to their own creative writing

What’s Included?
11 detailed, ready to teach lessons
A range of activities for each extract
Repeat questions in every lesson linked to previous learning
Discussion and collaborative tasks
Annotated quotations
Model paragraphs and analytical support
Key context lessons and accompanying worksheets
Comprehension and inference activities
Analytical and evaluative questions
A variety of creative writing activities
Reflection and plenary activities for each lesson
1 reading assessment
2 creative writing lesson, which can also be used as a creative writing assessment
A Gothic Fiction homework sheet of 24 homework tasks of varying difficulties. Pupils are to choose one task each week to complete that matches their confidence and ability.

This unit is also available as part of a 21 lesson gothic fiction SOW, found here for only £12.99: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13496367