Gothic Fiction Teacher Resources

How was Edgar Allan Poe able to create "intriguing, memorable, and lasting literature"? To answer this question, learners analyze the syntax, diction, and characterizations in Poe's poems and short stories and compare the impact of these...

Harper Lee’s 1961 Pulitzer prize-winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird gets the Crash Course treatment in two short videos. The first quickly summarizes the plot and the conventions of Southern Gothic Fiction before examining what the...

Scary stuff! Whether approached as the first horror story or a "serious imaginative exploration of the human condition," Frankenstein continues to engage readers. Here's a packet of activities that uses Mary Shelley's gothic novel to...

Poe goes high tech with a instructional activity that asks high schoolers to use the internet and various apps as they read and analyze "The Masque of the Red Death." In addition to responding to comprehension questions in Quizlet, they...

Part 2 of the course on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein takes up the issue of the viewing the text as an example of the romantic novel, a format that causes the reader to consider difficult questions. The narrator asks viewers to consider...

"Who is more human? Victor Frankenstein or the nameless monster he created?" This, according to the narrator of a two-part presentation on Frankenstein, is the essential question. The video begins with a summary of the action of the...

The 1800s were a time of great change in the worlds of art, literature, and music. This presentation covers major works and artists that exemplify the Romantic, Realist, and Impressionist movements. Why not make this presentation a...

You could spend a full day discussing The Phantom of the Opera and not scratch the surface, but a set of lessons about the literary elements and themes of the musical production is a great start. Young thespians build upon the background...

These frightening questions cover The Fall of the House of Usher, one of Edgar Allan Poe's most infamous works. The scary details are rehashed in these ten multiple-choice questions. Take the quiz if you dare!

These questions about Poe's The Purloined Letter focus on publication and outside sources along with details of the story. Hopefully this story is not a mystery to you!

These twenty multiple-choice questions comprehensively cover the details of Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Pit and the Pendulum. Truly put your readers' understanding and knowledge of the narrative to the test.

Does your class remember details from The Gold-Bug? Test them with fifteen multiple-choice questions that prove to be a bit of a challenge.

Four short stories, two poems, and biographical information about Edgar Allan Poe make up this quiz. Questions about The Cask of Amontillado, The Masque of the Red Death, The Raven, The Black Cat, Annabel Lee, and The Tell-Tale Heart...

When given a short summary of one of Edgar Allan Poe's stories, can you choose the correct title? Try your best with this multiple-choice quiz covering nine different stories (one is actually a poem) by Poe.

Terror, mystery, excitement. American writers of the 19th century, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Emily Dickinson, used these elements to create morally ambiguous tales that challenged the prevailing belief in...

Edgar Allen Poe's writing goes far beyond the familiarity of "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart." An intriguing video lesson explores the work, history, and style of the famous Gothic writer. Animations engage viewers in the video, and...

The epic clash of reason and emotion comes to life in this informative presentation. Detailing the period of Romanticism in 19th century Europe, these slides contain pictures of the most famous pieces of art during this period. Viewers...

The activities in a curriculum guide to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein provide readers with an opportunity to explore various concepts in depth. First, groups research controversial scientists, examine their work, and decide whether or not,...

Contrary to popular belief, the monster's name in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is not Frankenstein. A teacher's guide for the novel helps readers make sense of key details in the text, define vocabulary words, and discuss prominent...

After reading Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," class members compare the characteristics of Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt. Next, they read an article about ghosts that supposedly haunt the campus of Oklahoma...

Show this mini-biography and nevermore will your young readers ask about the life of Edgar Allan Poe. 'Tis a short overview and nothing more.

Before beginning a reading of Wuthering Heights, class members respond to a series of statements on an anticipation guide.

It was a dark and stormy night in 1815 when Mary Shelley began drafting  a ghost story in response to a competition suggest by Lord Byron. Find out more about Shelley, her life, and events that influenced what is called the first science...

What has copyright law have to do with the Dracula, the most famous vampire in history? Check out the twisted tale of how a fight over the royalty rights to Bram Stoker's novel gave immortality to the blood sucker.