Vocab
The shadowy outline of a person or object, often seen against a brighter background, is called this.
What is a silhouette?
This element of Gothic literature is often set in dark, gloomy, or unusual places such as castles, dungeons, or catacombs.
This text structure explains a topic with details, such as describing an object, place, or idea.
What is description?
This text feature uses big or bolded titles at the beginning of sections to help readers know what the section is about.
What is heading?
This key element drives the plot forward and can be internal (within a character’s mind) or external (between characters, nature, or society).
What is setting?
This word refers to the ancient past, especially before the Middle Ages.
What is antiquity?
An author creates a creepy, suspenseful, or eerie feeling in a story to establish this element.
What is mood/atmosphere?
When a text shows how two things are alike and different, it’s using this structure.
What is compare & contrast?
Photographs, illustrations, or drawings with explanations below them are called this.
What are captions?
This key element shows how an author develops a character through actions, dialogue, thoughts, appearance, and how others respond to them.
What is characterization?
If a character in a novel refuses to eat for days, you might describe their body as weak and unnaturally thin using this word.
What is emaciated?
Revenge, madness, death, secrets, and the supernatural are common __________ in Gothic literature.
What is themes?
This structure explains why something happens and what happens as a result.
What is cause & effect?
This feature highlights important terms in bold or italics to signal to readers that they should pay special attention to them.
What are emphasized words [bold/italics]?)
This element often reveals itself through repeated ideas, symbols, or the outcomes of the characters’ choices, and it communicates the author’s message about life.
What is theme?
Sentence: “After graduating, she experienced an existential crisis, wondering what her true purpose in life was.”
Question: Based on the sentence, what does the word existential most likely mean?
What is relating to the meaning or purpose of existence?
Sentence: “The character’s strange laughter echoed through the empty halls, making others question whether he was truly sane.”
Question: Based on the sentence, which Gothic element is being used?
What are mysterious or mentally unstable characters?
Sentence: “Plastic pollution has become a major threat to oceans. To address this, many cities have banned single-use plastic bags and started recycling programs.”
Question: Based on the passage, what text structure is being used, and how does it help convey meaning?
What is problem & solution? It shows the issue and explains how people are trying to fix it.
Sentence: “The textbook included a chart comparing the populations of different countries, making it easier for students to quickly see which ones were the largest.”
Question: Based on the passage, what text feature is being used, and how does it help the reader?
What is a chart/graphic? It organizes information visually so the reader can compare data quickly
Sentence: “The story is told from the perspective of a child, which helps the reader understand events in a more innocent and limited way.”
Question: Based on the passage, what key element is being used, and how does it add meaning to the story?
What is point of view? It shapes how the reader interprets events and characters.
Sentence: “The community faced a serious malady when unemployment and crime rates began to rise sharply.”
Question: Based on the sentence, what does the word malady most likely mean?
What is an illness, disease, or serious problem?
Sentence: “The author describes the crumbling castle, the howling wind, and the hidden passageways to keep the reader on edge.”
Question: Based on the sentence, what is the author’s purpose in using these descriptions?
Answer: What is to create fear, curiosity, and emotional intensity?
Sentence: “First, the seed is planted in the soil. Next, it receives sunlight and water. Finally, it grows into a mature plant that produces new seeds.”
Question: Based on the passage, what text structure is being used, and how does it help convey meaning?
What is sequence? It shows the steps in order to explain how plants grow.
Sentence: “The author included a sidebar with definitions and fun facts about volcanoes to give readers extra information beyond the main text.”
Question: Based on the passage, what text feature is being used, and how does it help the reader?
What is a footnote? It provides additional information that deepens understanding of the main text.
Sentence: “The author places the characters in a war-torn city, forcing them to make difficult choices about survival and loyalty.”
Question: Based on the passage, which key element is being emphasized, and how does it enhance the story’s meaning?
What is setting? It creates tension and influences the characters’ decisions, adding layers of meaning to the theme.