Introduction
Today you will be learning more about the origins and importance of Gothic Literature. "Gothic" has come to mean quite a number of things by this day and age. It could mean a particular style of art, be it in the form of novels, paintings, or architecture; it could mean "medieval" or "uncouth." It could even refer to a certain type of music and its fans. For literary purposes, we'll stick with this defintion: "Gothic fiction, which is largely dominated by the subgenre of Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines fiction, horror and Romanticism. Its origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto." ("Gothic Literature").
The Task
Your task for today is multifaceted. First, you will conduct some basic research of Gothic Literature and answer the questions in the Google Form. Then, you will perform a close-reading activity of Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven." Lastly, you will try your hand at explaining a modern work of Gothic fiction and how it fits the mold of the Gothic genre.
Objectives (skills you're expected to show)
+Students will investigate the origins of Gothic fiction, the literary elements examined in gothic fiction and the role of the Southern Gothic in American Literary History.
+Students will analyze various articles on gothic fiction to create a personal definition of gothic fiction.
+Students will read, analyze, and interpret Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven."
+Students will interpret and defend an analysis of a student-chosen example of modern gothic fiction.
Objectives (skills you're expected to show)
+Students will investigate the origins of Gothic fiction, the literary elements examined in gothic fiction and the role of the Southern Gothic in American Literary History.
+Students will analyze various articles on gothic fiction to create a personal definition of gothic fiction.
+Students will read, analyze, and interpret Edgar Allen Poe's poem "The Raven."
+Students will interpret and defend an analysis of a student-chosen example of modern gothic fiction.
The Process
Research Gothic Literature
Link to the Google Form
You will use the following websites to research Gothic Literature and answer the questions in the Google From. When you are finished, "submit" the Google Form to Ms. Gossling for grading.
Definition of The Gothic Read this definition and use it to guide your thinking throughout the rest of the webquest.
Elements of the Gothic Read the various elements of the Gothic on this website. Answer the questions in the Google Form after you've finished reading.
Southern Gothic Literature The stories we will be reading are considered "Southern Gothic." Read this page to answer the questions in the Webquest.
Utilizing your knowledge from these three sources, create your own definition of Gothic in the Google Form.
The Raven
Utilize this website to interact with the famous poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe. Answer the questions in the Google Form.
Then check out the illustrations of the poem here. Answer the question in the Google Form.
Modern Gothic Fiction
As it has evolved, gothic literature has become horror, suspense, and detective stories and films. Pick a modern adaptation you feel shows elements of the gothic and explain what elements it has. Pick something you are familiar with, but that can include short stories, television shows, movies, graphic novels, web shorts, poetry, etc.
Make sure to submit your answers via the Google Form before leaving class today.
Link to the Google Form
You will use the following websites to research Gothic Literature and answer the questions in the Google From. When you are finished, "submit" the Google Form to Ms. Gossling for grading.
Definition of The Gothic Read this definition and use it to guide your thinking throughout the rest of the webquest.
Elements of the Gothic Read the various elements of the Gothic on this website. Answer the questions in the Google Form after you've finished reading.
Southern Gothic Literature The stories we will be reading are considered "Southern Gothic." Read this page to answer the questions in the Webquest.
Utilizing your knowledge from these three sources, create your own definition of Gothic in the Google Form.
The Raven
Utilize this website to interact with the famous poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe. Answer the questions in the Google Form.
Then check out the illustrations of the poem here. Answer the question in the Google Form.
Modern Gothic Fiction
As it has evolved, gothic literature has become horror, suspense, and detective stories and films. Pick a modern adaptation you feel shows elements of the gothic and explain what elements it has. Pick something you are familiar with, but that can include short stories, television shows, movies, graphic novels, web shorts, poetry, etc.
Make sure to submit your answers via the Google Form before leaving class today.
Gothic Lit Webquest by Kari Gossling is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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