GOTHIC FICTION:
IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY TO MAKE YOUR READER
MORE FRIGHTENED!
1. Match words from the right column to words from the left column so as to obtain a complete element
of Gothic fiction.
pouring
of buildings
doors
trapped in a room
footsteps
chains
clanking (bruit mtallique)
laughter
gusts of wind
rain
doors
suddenly slamming shut
ruins
approaching
barking of
blowing out lights
thunder and
grating on rusty hinges
(charnires rouilles)
crazed (deranged/insane)
distant dogs (or wolves!)
characters
lightning
2. Which of the following words have a positive or a negative connotation? Draw two lists.
warm dark clean damp life decayed bright dusty dry death well-kept cold
3. Imagine that each of the following lists of words have been used to make a story. Which story is
likely to be most frightening? Why?
a. candle, perfume, roses, romantic, to kiss, warm
b. candle, castle, cold, to tremble, damp, old, dark
c. palm trees, beach, blue sky, hot, to sing, to laugh
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4. Now, enhance your vocabulary in the expression of ones fear. Observe the table below and choose a
heading for each column among the following:
to show ones fear to tell ones fear
Then put the following words into the table:
to tremble to grow aghast to be struck with horror to jump to be
alarmed to shiver to be scared to be terrified to gasp
to dread something =
to fear something =
to be afraid (of something) =
to be frightened =
to be horrified =
to be aghast =
to be petrified =
to be paralysed with fear =
to shriek = ..
to start = .
to shake = .
to shudder =
5. Now, its your turn to write your own gothic scene! The situation described below is a recurring scene
in gothic literature. Write your own version (minimum 100 words) of this scene and make it terrifying!
Dont forget that you must give your readers the thrill they are looking for! Use the following words.
dark candle shadow moon or moonlight midnight
The character goes to bed and turns out the light, when s/he is suddenly woken up by some noise. The noise can
be someone (or something) trying to open the door, or tapping at the window, etc. Fear gradually rises in the
character until it comes to an extreme when s/he eventually discovers what the noise is.
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