Gothic Conventions
What kind of atmosphere do Gothic writers often create to make readers uneasy?
An atmosphere of fear or dread.
What is a simile?
A comparison using like/as.
What animal senses danger in The Woman in Black extract?
Spider, the dog.
What is a protagonist?
The main character in a story (the hero).
Define “ominous.”
Ominous suggests that something unpleasant is likely to happen as it seems threatening.
What type of setting is common in Gothic literature, symbolising decay and danger?
Decaying or ruined settings (like castles or mansions).
Give an example of personification from Dracula.
"frowning walls" "wind moaning"
What emotion does the narrator of Dracula feel as he approaches the castle?
Trepidation, fear, dread, etc.
What is an antagonist and give an example.
The villain of a story - Dracula.
What does “supernatural” mean?
Beyond natural explanation; involving ghosts or magic.
What theme makes characters feel trapped or cut off from help?
Isolation
What effect does repetition have on the reader?
Repetition can build tension, rhythm, fear, or emphasise particular emotions, ideas, or images to make them stand out to the reader.
What time of day does the Jekyll and Hyde story begin?
Around 3 in the morning.
Define narrator.
The person telling the story.
Define “foreboding.”
A feeling that something bad will happen; dread.
What is one element of Gothic fiction that cannot be explained by science or reason?
The inexplicable or the supernatural.
Onomatopoeia is the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.
Dracula, The Woman in Black.
In The Woman in Black, what sound terrifies the narrator?
A rhythmic bumping noise behind the locked door; a heartbeat sound.
What is “foreshadowing”? Give an example from a Gothic text.
A hint of future events (e.g. Spider growling before danger, the villagers warnings to Harker in Dracula, the description of Hyde).
Define superstitious and give an example of a superstition.
A belief in something that cannot be explained by science.
Breaking a mirror is bad luck for seven years.
What is often used to symbolise mystery, evil, or the unknown in Gothic stories?
Darkness
Identify and explain one sensory image in The Woman in Black extract.
“musty darkness, thick as felt” – appeals to smell/touch, creating claustrophobia.
In Dracula, how does Stoker create suspense as Jonathan arrives at the castle?
Repetition of strange events, animal howls, darkness, the maze like journey, the mysterious driver, etc.
What is a motif?
Define "convention."
The features within a text used to identify genre.