Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and many of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories are categorized as Gothic literature. What do these stories, and others like them, have in common? What characteristics define gothic?

Teaching Suggestion: If students are unfamiliar with the stories of Frankenstein and Dracula, you might start this discussion with a conversation about what characters and settings students associate with Halloween.

• “Features of Gothic Literature” - This 12-minute video covers the origins and classic elements of Gothic literature. It is also conveniently segmented, allowing the viewer to select specific elements they want to focus on instead of watching the whole video.
• This post on Invaluable includes a useful graphic called “Gothic Literature Demystified” that summarizes the Gothic genre.

2. In the 15th century, Mexico was invaded and colonized by Spain. What impacts did Spain’s colonization of Mexican territory have on the Indigenous people of Mexico? What were Spain’s goals for the colonized land?

Teaching Suggestion: If students are unfamiliar with the colonization of Mexico, it might be helpful to ask them these questions, then direct them to the suggested or a similar resource.