Gothic Literature

Which of the following would you expect to see at the beginning of a Modern Gothic story?

• a drafty old mansion

• a World War II army base

• a saloon in the Wild West

• a suburban home in Reno, Nevada

Which plot element would you expect to see as a Modern Gothic story begins?

• an important revelation about a main character

• an event that seems normal but feels slightly off

• a disagreement between characters that escalates into violence

• a technology problem that causes mass panic

Which of the following would you expect to see as a Modern Gothic story comes toward its conclusion?

• Ordinary events occur, and characters respond to them in ordinary ways.

• Odd events pile up, and the characters begin to behave in very strange ways.

• Odd events stop occurring, and the characters begin to figure out what caused them.

• Ordinary events occur, and characters respond by panicking.

Which of the following would you expect to see at the end of a Modern Gothic story?

• The odd events are not explained, and the mystery is not resolved.

• The odd events are resolved, but the mysterious stranger in the town disappears.

• The odd events are shown to be an illusion, and the characters are relieved.

• The odd events are shown to be not at all odd, and the mystery is explained.

Which of the following would you expect to see at the beginning of a magical realism story?

• a setting 200 years in the future

• a setting that includes dinosaurs

• a setting in a suburban home

• a setting in the home of a super-famous rock star

Which plot event would you most expect to see as a magical realism story unfolds?

• a visit from people in a time machine

• a tree that seems to sigh and groan in the wind

• aliens take over The White House

• ghosts who rob The Metropolitan Museum

Which of the following would you expect to see as a magical realism story progresses toward its conclusion?

• Characters realize that they are in a traffic jam that is a thousand miles long.

• Characters realize that their bank is giving away free candy.

• Characters find their lost dog at the animal shelter.

• Characters find that a raccoon has been raiding their garbage.

Which of the following would you most expect to see at the end of a magical realism story?

• Characters are astonished that their tree is giving them advice.

• Characters accept that their dog is sending text messages.

• Characters do not believe that a herd of rampaging dinosaurs coming.

• Characters win a singing contest and become famous musicians.