Artstor's Curriculum Guides

This curriculum guide takes as its central focus four frequently studied texts of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century gothic literature: Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, Matthew Lewis’s The Monk, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and John Polidori’s “The Vampyre.”  Students will discuss the origins of the gothic as a literary genre and proceed chronologically through the texts to discuss the development of the genre into the early nineteenth century. Students will use images from Artstor to develop their awareness of the recurring tropes of gothic fiction; to understand the relationship between gothic fiction and contemporary political struggles; to explore the often overlapping treatments of science, superstition, religion, and magic in gothic texts; and to interrogate the treatment of gender, sexuality, and social class in the genre.

Jennifer L. Airey, Associate Professor of English, The University of Tulsa

In this section, students will use images from Artstor to explore many recurring tropes of Gothic art and literature. In particular, students will explore the difference between terror and horror and interrogate the gothic focus on intoxicants, altered states, and dream states. Students will also question the ways in which gothic artists depict the natural world, and consider the ways in which ideas about gender and sexuality are conveyed visually.

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In this section, students will examine the origins of the gothic genre in Horace Walpole’s seminal The Castle of Otranto. Images will provide students with historical background on Walpole as an author and develop their awareness of the political underpinnings of his work. They will also provide insight into the gothic’s treatment of gender and social class.

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In this section, students will examine the origins of the gothic genre in Horace Walpole’s seminal The Castle of Otranto. Images will provide students with historical background on Walpole as an author and develop their awareness of the political underpinnings of his work. They will also provide insight into the gothic’s treatment of gender and social class.

View the group.

In this section, students will examine the origins of the gothic genre in Horace Walpole’s seminal The Castle of Otranto. Images will provide students with historical background on Walpole as an author and develop their awareness of the political underpinnings of his work. They will also provide insight into the gothic’s treatment of gender and social class.

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In this unit, students will explore Matthew Lewis’s The Monk, one of the most controversial novels of the later eighteenth century. Images in this section will acquaint students with the controversy surrounding the publication of The Monk and explore contemporary fears about the corruption of the female reader. Students will also learn about the impact of the French Revolution on gothic fiction of the later eighteenth century and examine allusions to the Revolution in Lewis’s novel. 

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In this unit, students will explore Matthew Lewis’s The Monk, one of the most controversial novels of the later eighteenth century. Images in this section will acquaint students with the controversy surrounding the publication of The Monk and explore contemporary fears about the corruption of the female reader. Students will also learn about the impact of the French Revolution on gothic fiction of the later eighteenth century and examine allusions to the Revolution in Lewis’s novel. 

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In this unit, images will provide students with biographical insight into Mary Shelley and her circle. Students will also reflect on Shelley’s engagement with Milton’s Paradise Lost and examine the relationship between science and religion in her novel. Finally, they will examine more recent adaptations of Frankenstein to interrogate the relationship between Shelley’s novel and modern versions of her text. 

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In this unit, images will provide students with biographical insight into Mary Shelley and her circle. Students will also reflect on Shelley’s engagement with Milton’s Paradise Lost and examine the relationship between science and religion in her novel. Finally, they will examine more recent adaptations of Frankenstein to interrogate the relationship between Shelley’s novel and modern versions of her text. 

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In this unit, images will provide students with biographical insight into Mary Shelley and her circle. Students will also reflect on Shelley’s engagement with Milton’s Paradise Lost and examine the relationship between science and religion in her novel. Finally, they will examine more recent adaptations of Frankenstein to interrogate the relationship between Shelley’s novel and modern versions of her text. 

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In this unit, students will use images to examine the development of vampire imagery from Polidori’s short story—the first vampire story in English literature—to the modern day. Images will also reflect the use of vampire imagery in nineteenth-century political propaganda, provide insight into Byron’s influence on Polidori, and trace the development of Byron’s reputation as the first modern celebrity. 

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In this unit, students will use images to examine the development of vampire imagery from Polidori’s short story—the first vampire story in English literature—to the modern day. Images will also reflect the use of vampire imagery in nineteenth-century political propaganda, provide insight into Byron’s influence on Polidori, and trace the development of Byron’s reputation as the first modern celebrity. 

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