Gothic Tension Analysis Worksheet

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📚 Understanding Gothic Tension

Tension is a literary device that creates suspense, anxiety, or anticipation in the reader. In Gothic literature, writers use various techniques to build tension: mysterious settings, supernatural elements, foreshadowing, short sentences, and sensory details that create unease.

Examples from Famous Gothic Texts:

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - "It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils."

• Dracula by Bram Stoker - "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!"

• The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by R.L. Stevenson - The fog and darkness of Victorian London

1. Which of these techniques is MOST commonly used to create tension in Gothic literature?

Bright, cheerful settings

Mysterious, isolated locations

Detailed character descriptions

Happy endings

2. Tick ALL the techniques that Gothic writers use to build tension:

Foreshadowing danger

Short, sharp sentences

Supernatural elements

Comedy and humour

Sensory details (sounds, smells, textures)

🔍 Tension Analysis

Read this Gothic excerpt:

"The ancient floorboards creaked beneath my feet as I approached the locked door. A strange, metallic smell hung in the air. From somewhere deep within the house came a low, rhythmic tapping—like fingernails against wood. The brass doorknob was ice-cold to the touch, and as I turned it slowly, the hinges screamed in protest."

3. Identify THREE specific techniques the writer uses to create tension in this passage:

4. Which sense does the writer appeal to MOST in this extract?

Sight

Sound

Touch

Taste

5. Explain how the phrase "fingernails against wood" creates tension for the reader:

6. What effect does the writer create by describing the doorknob as "ice-cold"?