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Sound of Pen classes are usually aimed at those of you studying A-Level English – as well as the most passionate, interested GCSE students. But here’s a project for anyone in Year 9! Get ready to listen to some music and watch some videos – all the things you learn will be relevant to the Gothic Writing you’re doing in the English classroom!

This project is intended to sit alongside your classroom study where you should be discussing:

  • how to use effective punctuation
  • using a variety of structural techniques to develop tension within writing
  • developing vocabulary
  • sharpening your understanding of Gothic conventions
  • considering the intended reader response to the piece of writing

In order to support all of those targets, you will do some of the below:

  • Invent your own Gothic band/singer
  • Design their logo and album cover
  • Write the lyrics for their hit song
  • Create a video storyboard
  • Record a video
  • Write a story about the origins of your Gothic band
  • Design Gothic stage outfit

ACTIVITY 1

Remind yourself what we mean by Gothic!

By now, you will have been introduced to the Gothic genre by your class teacher. Here’s a summary:

Features of Gothic Writing

Gothic writing is a style of fiction that explores the darker sides of human nature and the mysteries of the supernatural. It often creates a sense of fear, suspense, and fascination by using the following key features:

Setting

Often takes place in dark, mysterious, or decaying locations like haunted castles, old mansions, fog-covered forests, or gloomy graveyards. The atmosphere is usually eerie, isolated, and filled with a sense of impending doom.

Supernatural Elements

Includes ghosts, monsters, vampires, and other supernatural creatures. Often involves unexplained noises, moving shadows, or mysterious events that defy logic.

Psychological

Focuses on the inner fears and struggles of characters, exploring madness, guilt, and the darker side of the human mind. Characters often question their sanity or face moral dilemmas. As today’s readership is infatuated with the dystopian genre and its tendency to exploit current political anxieties; the Gothic genre served a similar function for those in the Victorian era. Gothic authors exploited common societal anxieties to produce terror within readers.

Villains and Victims

Often features a powerful, mysterious villain who threatens innocent, often isolated, characters. The conflict between good and evil is a common theme.

Damsel in Distress

A classic trope where a vulnerable female character is threatened by a powerful force, creating a sense of fear and urgency.

Atmospheric Language

Uses vivid, descriptive language to build tension and a chilling mood. Frequent use of imagery related to darkness, decay, and the supernatural.

Mystery and Suspense

Plots are often driven by secrets, hidden identities, or long-forgotten curses. The reader is kept in suspense, often with surprising twists and eerie revelations.

Okay, so now we’re clear about that, let’s move on!!

ACTIVITY 2

Before you go any further, think further about the idea that Victorian writers used Gothic writing to explore fears they were really experiencing as a result of living in a changing world. Some of the things Victorians were worried about are listed below. Once you’ve read through, make a list of the things our own society is anxious about!

The Unknown
People in the past started to realize that there was a lot they didn’t understand about the world and themselves. This mystery and fear of the unknown became a big part of Gothic stories.

Industrialization and the Loss of Nature
As factories and cities spread, the natural world was being destroyed, and traditional ways of life were disappearing. This made people miss the wild, untamed landscapes of the past, which is why Gothic stories often take place in old, overgrown ruins or creepy, remote castles.

Class Anxiety and Decaying Aristocracy
Many Gothic stories have old, crumbling castles and ancient family curses. These settings reflect a fear that the old, rich families were losing power while the new middle class was rising.

Gender Roles
Gothic fiction often explores secret desires and challenges traditional ideas about the roles of men and women, reflecting the struggles people had with changing social rules.

Psychological Uncertainty and the Fragmented Self
As people learned more about the mind, they became fascinated by the darker, more uncontrollable sides of human nature. This led to famous characters like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, who show the struggle between a person’s good and bad sides.

Fear of the Foreign and the Other
Some Gothic stories are set in faraway, mysterious places or include strange, monstrous characters. This reflected fears about foreign cultures and the idea of the “unknown outsider.”

Religious Doubt and Moral Decay
As science developed, traditional religious beliefs were questioned. Gothic stories often show characters struggling with their faith or dealing with moral confusion in a changing world.

ACTIVITY 3

Black Veil Brides are a rock band with some Gothic influences. They set this video in a church. Given what we’ve just read, why would the church have made a good setting for a Victorian Gothic story? Is it an appropriate setting for a gothic video in the 2020s? Prepare to discuss.

ACTIVITY 3

Watch ‘Lullaby’ by The Cure and make a list of all the different details that help to make the video seem Gothic.

Also, ask yourself why Robert Smith (the singer) is playing different roles? What is he suggesting about people?! (Think back to the ideas about psychological uncertainty and the fragmented self)

ACTIVITY 4

Watch Iron Maiden’s video (you might want to stop before swearing at 4 mins). Your focus here is on the lyrics (included just below the video). What aspects of the Gothic do you notice and what writing techniques do Iron Maiden make use of to enhance the effect of those moments?

Iron Maiden, ‘Fear Of The Dark’

I am a man who walks alone
And when I’m walking a dark road
At night or strolling through the park
When the light begins to change
I sometimes feel a little strange
A little anxious when it’s dark

Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something’s always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone’s always there

Have you run your fingers down the wall
And have you felt your neck skin crawl
When you’re searching for the light?
Sometimes when you’re scared to take a look
At the corner of the room
You’ve sensed that something’s watching you

Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something’s always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone’s always there

Have you ever been alone at night
Thought you heard footsteps behind
And turned around and no-one’s there?
And as you quicken up your pace
You find it hard to look again
Because you’re sure there’s someone there

Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something’s always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone’s always there

Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark

Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark

Watching horror films the night before
Debating witches and folklore
The unknown troubles on your mind
Maybe your mind is playing tricks
You sense, and suddenly eyes fix
On dancing shadows from behind

Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something’s always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone’s always there

Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something’s always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone’s always there

When I’m walking a dark road
I am a man who walks alone

ACTIVITY 5

Now, watch ‘The Lost Boys’ clip. How does the writer create a sense of the gothic? Note down all your ideas.

ACTIVITY 6

Look at the album covers below. How do they create a sense of the gothic? Make a list of ideas. Consider everything you can see: colour, font, outfits etc.

ACTIVITY 7

Choose a band name, a band logo and an album title, with some grounding in the gothic. You will need a clear sense of what your band members – or just the lead singer – looks like. And your band members – or just your singer – will need a name!

Your aim is to demonstrate a clear understanding of Gothic conventions.

The names below might be considered Gothic. You could use on of those or do some research and come up with an interesting choice of your own! Use your imagination!

  • Lilith – “Night monster” (Hebrew) – Often associated with dark, seductive, and rebellious figures.
  • Ravenna – “Raven” (Latin) – Symbolizing mystery, intelligence, and a connection to death.
  • Dorian – “Gift” (Greek) – Immortalized by The Picture of Dorian Gray, representing beauty and hidden corruption.
  • Victor – “Conqueror” (Latin) – Known from Frankenstein, representing ambition and tragic downfall.
  • Isolde – “Ice ruler” (Germanic) – Often linked to tragic romance and forbidden love.
  • Lucien – “Light” (Latin) – A name with a sharp contrast to the darkness often found in Gothic tales.
  • Lenore – “Light” or “Torch” (Greek) – Known from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven, representing loss and mourning.
  • Basil – “Royal” or “Kingly” (Greek) – A nod to Basil Hallward from The Picture of Dorian Gray, symbolizing artistry and moral struggle.
  • Morgana – “Sea circle” (Welsh) – Known from Arthurian legend, often portrayed as a dark, magical figure.
  • Draven – “Hunter” or “One who is feared” (Old English) – A name echoing the dark, predatory nature of many Gothic characters.
  • Thorne – “Sharp” or “Prickly shrub” (Old English) – Suggesting a dangerous or hidden side.
  • Amara – “Bitter” or “Eternal” (Latin/Greek) – Often used for characters with tragic, everlasting fates.
  • Valentina – “Strong” or “Healthy” (Latin) – A powerful, classic name with a dramatic flair.
  • Edgar – “Wealthy Spear” (Old English) – Immortalized by Edgar Allan Poe, known for his dark, haunting works.
  • Rowena – “Fame and Joy” (Old English) – A classic, haunting name popularized by Gothic romances.
  • Gideon – “Hewer” or “Mighty warrior” (Hebrew) – A strong, mysterious name, often linked to shadowy figures.

ACTIVITY 8

Design an album cover.

Your aim is to demonstrate a clear understanding of Gothic conventions.

ACTIVITY 9

Write the lyrics (poems) that will act as the lyrics to your biggest hits!

Your aim is to demonstrate a clear understanding of Gothic conventions; use a variety of structural techniques to develop tension within writing; consider and develop vocabulary choices which are appropriate to the tone of the writing; recognise how to use effective punctuation.

ACTIVITY 10

Write a story about one – or a selection – of the following:

  • the origins of your gothic band
  • the night of their biggest concert
  • a moment in the songwriter’s life that fuelled his anxieties and so motivated his gothic writing

Your aim is to demonstrate a clear understanding of Gothic conventions; use a variety of structural techniques to develop tension within writing; consider and develop vocabulary choices which are appropriate to the tone of the writing; recognise how to use effective punctuation.

ACTIVITY 11

Create a storyboard for the band’s hit music video.

Your aim is to demonstrate a clear understanding of Gothic conventions; use a variety of structural techniques to develop tension within writing.