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English III
Literary Analysis
Gothic Literature
For this assignment, you will answer the following question for any one of the short stories we
have read this 6 weeks:
Prompt: Is this short story an example of Gothic Literature/Dark
Romanticism? Why or why not?
To do this you will need to do the following:
 Identify specific gothic elements and explain the gothic elements.
 Identify a short story element in the story or elements of a poem and explain how that
element enhances the gothic appeal of the text. (In other words, how does the short story
element further confirm that this is a piece of gothic literature)
To do both of these you must present textual evidence from the story to support the gothic and
short story elements.
This is not a summary; in fact, the only summary you provide will be in the introduction of the
paper. Instead, this is an analysis, so you are explaining how the elements of gothic lit were used
in the story. You will also identify what the short story element is and its importance to the story.
You will back up each area that you are explaining with quotes from the story.
Your paper must have the following:



Thesis Statement
o This will answer the question presented in the writing prompt
Textual evidence
o Specific quotes/examples to support the gothic element and the short story
element
o You will need at least 3 quotes per body paragraph
Paper Organized
o Has a proper intro, body paragraphs and conclusion
Gothic Literature Literary Analysis Prewriting Chart
Textual Evidence
(Quote OR Specific Example)
Gothic Element 1:
____________________
Gothic element 2:
____________________
Gothic Element 3:
____________________
Short Story/ poetic
Element 1:
____________________
Short Story/ poetic
Element 2:
_____________________
Short Story/ poetic
Element 3:
_____________________
Idea (How does the
quote/example explain the
presence of gothic literature?)
Literary Analysis Organization
Introduction
1. Introductory Sentence – This should be a broad statement about gothic literature.
You may begin with a definition of gothic literature, a quote about gothic literature,
or any general statement about this type of story.
2. Introduce the piece – You should give the TITLE, AUTHOR, and a BRIEF summary
of the story without giving away the ending.
a. To write a story, tell me who the story is about, what happens in the beginning
and in the middle. Do not give away the ending.
3. End with a clearly worded thesis statement that spells out that you are proving the
pieces you’ve chosen either is or is not Gothic literature. You must also state the
reasons it is or is not. To do this you will refer to the elements you will be discussing.
Instructions
Introductory Sentence – This should
be a general statement about gothic
literature. You may begin with a
definition of gothic literature, a quote
about gothic literature, or any general
statement about this type of story.
Introduce the piece – give the TITLE,
AUTHOR, and a BRIEF summary of the
story without giving away the ending.
a. Who/ what is the story about?
b. What happens in the beginning of
the story?
c. What happens in the middle of the
story?
d. Discuss the main characters & main
events (THE IMPORTANT
THINGS) Do not give away the
ending.
Thesis Statement – it should be a
clearly worded thesis statement that spells
out that you are proving the piece you’ve
chosen either is or is not Gothic literature.
a. This piece is OR is not Gothic
literature.
b. The reason it is OR is not Gothic
literature is…
c. It has OR does not have the
following Gothic elements…
Write Your Own
Body Paragraphs
There should be 2 body paragraphs and they should follow the following format:
1. Topic sentence Body Paragraph 1
a. introduce the subject for the first body paragraph (gothic elements)
b. Ex: This story proves to be a gothic story because it has ___________,
__________, and ___________.
2. Supporting Sentences Paragraph 1
a. Describe each gothic element
b. Provide examples from the piece that illustrate the gothic elements
3. Closing Sentence Paragraph 1
a. Explanation of how these elements are typical of this genre of literature.
BODY Paragraph 1
Directions
Topic sentence Body
Paragraph 1
a. introduce the subject (gothic
element) An example is above
(#1)
Supporting sentences
a. describe each gothic element
(3)
b. provide examples from the
piece that illustrate each
Gothic element (3)
Closing sentence
a. explain how these elements are
typical of this genre of
literature
Write on Your Own
Body Paragraphs - Continued
1. Topic Sentence Body Paragraph 2
a. introduce the subject for the first body paragraph (short story elements)
b. Ex: This story further proves to be a gothic story because of the short story
elements __________, ___________, and _____________.
2. Supporting Sentences for Body Paragraph 2
c. Describe each short story or poetic element
d. Provide examples from the piece that illustrate the short story/ poetic elements
(pick examples that relate to gothic lit)
3. Closing Sentence Paragraph 1
e. Explanation of how these elements further prove that this is Gothic Literature
BODY Paragraph 2
Directions
Topic sentence Body
Paragraph 2
a. introduce the subject (short
story or poetry element) An
example is above (#1)
Supporting sentences
a. describe each short story or
poetic element (3)
b. provide examples from the
piece that illustrate each short
story/ poetic element (3)
Closing sentence
Explanation of how these elements
further prove that this is Gothic
Literature
Write on Your Own
Conclusion Paragraph
Your conclusion should not simply be a summary, but should “connect the dots” to show that the
piece is a typical Gothic Lit short story/ poem.
Your paper should be in formal/academic/objective voice: no 1st or 2nd person. You and I are not
in the story so keep us out of it. Slang, abbreviations, contractions, nor any other informality are
not permitted in this paper. Also, when you write about literature, STAY IN THE PRESENT
TENSE. Just because we are finished reading, it does not mean it no longer exists!