Starter quiz
- In which country is 'The Twisted Tree' set?
- Norway ✓
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Finland
- Netherlands
-
- What is being described here: 'a the main idea repeated in a text'?
- theme ✓
- language device
- structural technique
- context
-
- If we are talking about the 1700s then we would say this is the ...
- 16th century.
- 17th century.
- 18th century. ✓
- 19th century.
-
- Which of the below are reasonable synonyms for the word 'desolate'?
- bleak ✓
- stark ✓
- empty ✓
- joyful
- energetic
-
- What word beginning with C is being described here: 'the accepted rules or practices in a particular type of writing or genre'?
- 'conventions' ✓
- If something is described as macabre, then it is related to ...
- death. ✓
- life
- violence.
- hope.
-
Exit quiz
- Which of the following best describes the Gothic genre?
- light-hearted and humorous
- dark, mysterious and supernatural ✓
- realistic, everyday life
- scientific and factual
-
- What is a common setting for a Gothic story?
- a bustling city
- a sunny beach
- a desolate, remote location ✓
- a suburban neighbourhood
-
- In what century did the Gothic genre first appear?
- 17th century
- 18th century ✓
- 19th century
- 20th century
- 21st century
-
- Identify one convention of a Gothic text.
- happy endings
- realistic characters
- common, everyday settings
- mystery and suspense ✓
-
- What is a motif in the context of literature?
- a main character's personal journey
- a recurring theme, idea or symbol ✓
- a brief, humorous interlude
- a chronological sequence of events
-
- Most Gothic stories will have a supernatural enemy of some kind. Who is this in 'The Twisted Tree'?
- Hel
- Stig
- Mormor
- The draugr ✓
- Gandalf
-
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The Gothic genre is characterised by the use of desolate, remote settings and macabre, mysterious or violent incidents.
- The setting in 'The Twisted Tree' is Gothic because the cabin is isolated and lots of the action happens in the dark.
- There is a motif of fog in the novel which adds a sense of mystery and concealment.
- The plot of the novel follows Gothic conventions because there is a supernatural enemy who must be defeated.
- The Gothic genre often includes curses or prophecies, which are found in the novel.
Common misconception
Gothic literature is only about horror and scary elements.
While Gothic literature often includes elements of horror, such as supernatural occurrences and eerie settings, it also explores complex themes like human psychology, societal anxieties and the supernatural as a metaphor for deeper fears or desires.
Keywords
Gothic - a style of writing that involves dark, mysterious, and supernatural themes
Desolate - empty and bleak, often feeling lonely and abandoned
Macabre - related to death and things that are creepy or horrifying
Motif - a recurring theme, idea or symbol in a story
Conventions - accepted rules or practices in a particular type of writing or genre
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