Introduction

Monsters have haunted the literary imagination from earliest times (e.g., the Cyclops, Grendel, etc.), but a particular interest in horror and the Gothic form dates back to the 18th and early 19th century. Taking their name from the Gothic architecture that often served as a backdrop to the action, these novels present supernatural events in naturalistic terms, thrilling readers with strange tales filled with mystery and terror.

Learning Objectives

To explore the origins and development of a literary genre; to investigate how shared imaginative concerns link the members of a literary period; to examine the evolution of a literary tradition; to compare works of literature from different eras.

 

Standards  

 

 

Students will also be developing technology skills. They will use the internet to for research. They will find information and images on the internet and compile them into a power point presentation. – Possible lesson extensions include using Movie Maker. 

 

Materials needed

-access to computers with Microsoft office and internet                                           

-copies of the Raven and The Fall of the House of Usher

-Audio recoding/book on tape of the Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut –Stephen King

-on a daily basis students will need their daily/weekly log notebooks and pens

 

 

 

Activities

1    Begin by asking how many students have read a horror story or seen a horror movie. Explain the relationship of modern horror stories to the Gothic novel, and tell students that at least one writer in the Gothic tradition continues to terrify readers even today -- Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, who at age 18 published the classic horror story, Frankenstein, in 1818. Discuss authors

2. As a group in class read the Fall of the House of Usher and discuss

 

3. Audio listening the Short story Mrs. Todd’s Short Cut by Stephen King. What makes this story creepy? Have they read any of Stephen Kings other books? Is he a master of horror and the supernatural? What about his stories that have been made into films?

 

 

4.Students will be broken into small groups of 3-5. They will do web research and create a power point on various authors. They will create power point presentations including biographical information, pictures of the author, famous works they have written. The presentation will also include a synopsis of one of the author’s stories/poems relating to the supernatural. (Authors include – Poe, Stephen King, Shelly, ect)

 

5 Challenge students to write their own short story of the supernatural.

 

6.As a group read the poem the Raven by Poe. Class discussion Discuss aspects of the poem. The content, structure ect

 

 

Mini-Quiz for midweek -5 pts

 

1.     Name one of the authors we have been discussing and 2 facts about the author

 

 

2.     What was the name of Mrs. Todd’s Handy Man?

 

 

Extensions

 

1. Have students create a slide movie (using windows movie maker/computer/camcorder) about any of the poems/short stories they have read. . They can uses images found on the web, animate or have class act out poem and record on camcorder. Have students edit into short film.

 

 

**adapted from Marco Polo