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Task

Write a Gothic Short-Story

Gothic literature can be great fun to read, but truly – even more fun to write.
Ruins of a castle at night. There are lots of stars in the sky. Photo.
An atmosphere of suspense and fear is important in Gothic literature. Image: senpatientulo / CC0

Before you write the story:

Read a Gothic short story before you write your own. In 'Relatert Innhold' you will find The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, which is a good example of the genre.

While you read, think about how the author is able to create suspense and what it is that makes this a Gothic short story.

Look for some or all of the following: fear, physical and psychological horror, mystery, supernatural phenomena, ghosts, monsters, haunted buildings, castles, darkness, death, doppelgangers, insanity, secrets, graveyards, doubles, and curses.

Write your own Gothic Short Story:

Use the chart to plan your short story. Make sure you understand what characterises the Gothic genre before you begin.

chart to plan your short story

Element

Explanation

Title

Needs to be relevant, original, and captivating

Plot elements

Your story needs to have the following five plot elements:

  1. Presentation of the setting, the characters etc.
  2. Rising action or a conflict. There needs to be a central conflict which leads to a growing excitement in the reader, indicating that something is about to happen.
  3. Climax, confrontation, or turning point of the story. This is what the story builds up to. In a Gothic short story a confrontation is common.
  4. Falling action: What happens after the climax? Do things become worse or better for the protagonist?
  5. Resolution: the final paragraph that ends the story. You can try to surprise your reader with a twist. You can also leave the ending open so that there are many different readings of the same story. Make sure the resolution builds on what you have written in the rest of the short story.

Characterisation

Your characters need to be well developed and should have thoughts and feelings. Show the reader who the characters are by describing what they say, do, how they look, and so on.

Use of Gothic elements

You should include as many elements as possible to ensure that your short story becomes an example of Gothic literature. Some elements are:

  • an atmosphere of suspense and / or fear

  • foreshadowing, for example by introducing an omen or curse

  • an unfamiliar setting, for example a castle, church, or graveyard

  • a mystery and secrets

  • a supernatural element such as a ghost or a monster

  • a clear villain, often someone who is dark and brooding

  • emotional anguish or deep anxiety

  • a damsel in distress

  • an unlikely hero, often an anti-hero

  • mistaken identity or doppelgangers

  • insanity

Use of literary devices

Foreshadowing, similes, metaphors, symbols, repetition etc.

Point of view

Make sure you use the same point of view consistently. In longer texts, it is OK to switch between different points of view, but in a short story, it is best to stick with the same point of view throughout.

Related content

Subject material
Gothic Literature

Article that explores the historic context of Gothic Literature.