SYLLABUS
GOTHIC AND HORROR LITERATURE
Instructor: Mrs. Dawn Lewis
Room: 313
Website: http://thelewislair.weebly.com
E-mail: dlewis@kahoks.org or dw11161@aol.com
Texts: “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
Frankenstein
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Dracula
‘Salem’s Lot
American Gothic Tales (anthology)
Assorted short stories and poetry
NEEDED MATERIALS: Paper (lots!), internet access, pen or pencil, ambition and drive, a curious mind
PREREQUISITE: Completion or concurrent enrollment in English III
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Having nothing to do with so-called “Goths,” this course will trace the
development of Gothic literature from its early beginnings to present day. Readings will focus on both
prose and poetry containing Gothic elements. Class will be run in a seminar/discussion format.
Participation in discussion is required. Course may be used to satisfy either an elective requirement or
one semester of senior level English.
Tentative Schedule:
Week 1—Beginnings of the Romantic and Gothic Traditions
Lecture-Gothic elements
Readings: Selections from Walpole (may finish and write reflection paper for extra
credit)
Discussions
“Thriller” assignment
Week 2—Romantic into Gothic
Lecture-Romanticism
Readings: Coleridge (Rime of the Ancient Mariner), Keats (“La Belle Dame Sans Merci”)
Discussions
Viewing: Rime of the Ancient Mariner (library has VHS); In Search of the Real
Frankenstein
Week 3—Gothic/Horror/Sci-Fi in One
Lecture-Mary Shelley
Readings: Frankenstein
Discussion
Viewing: The Making of the Monster
Week 4—Playing God
Readings: Frankenstein
Discussion
Medical Experimentation Research and Oral Presentation
Week 5— Frankenstein in Film
Readings: Frankenstein
Discussion
Films: Frankenstein (1931)
Young Frankenstein (excerpts)
Bride of Frankenstein (excerpts)
Week 6—America Discovers the Gothic
Film Discussion from previous week
Lecture-The American Gothic
Readings: Intro to American Gothic Tales
Irving-“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Week 7— The American Gothics
Poe—“The Black Cat”
Hawthorne—“Young Goodman Brown”
Discussion
Week 8—The Victorian Gothic
Lecture-The Gothic in Victorian England
Readings:
LeFanu
Dickens
Collins
Discussions
Week 9—The Penny Dreadful
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Discussions
Week 10—The “Real”Vampires
Lecture
Readings: excerpt “The Vampyre”; Anne Rice “Freniere,”; begin Dracula
Discussion
Viewing: Nosferatu
Week 11—Count Dracula, I Believe
Readings: Dracula
Discussion
Viewing: Vampire Secrets
Week 12—Blood and Sex
Readings: finish Dracula; begin ‘Salem’s Lot
Discussion
Viewing: Dracula
Week 13—This Book Has Teeth
Readings: ‘Salem’s Lot,
Discussion
Viewing: The Fearless Vampire Killers
Week 14— Dark Shadows
Viewing: Dark Shadows (tv series)
Outside reading review due
Week 15— Psychological Horror
Viewing: The Turn of the Screw or Gaslight
Lecture
Readings: finish ‘Salem’s Lot; Gilmore, “The Yellow Wallpaper”; Bradbury, “The Veldt”;
Week 16— The Serial Killer Next Door
Lecture
Readings: Straub,” A Short Guide to the City”; Oates, “Where Are You Going, Where
Have You Been?”
Viewing: Psycho
Week 17—Dissecting a Film
Discussion of film elements
Analysis of Psycho
Week 18-- We’ve Got to Talk About…..
Readings: Shirley Jackson; William Faulkner; Saki; O’Connor