Fears such as racial, social and moral degenertaion prevailed in late Victorian era society. Fin de siecle fiction, such as Jekyll and Hyde, Dracula and Dorian Gray, tried to make sense of these fears.

To use this knowledge in the classroom, you could ask your students to identify where these fears are evident in Victorian literature. This could then be examined further by asking students to consider whether or not the writer shares, or disagress, with the societal concerns.

Ewan Scott, Head of English at Wren Academy, shared this idea after hearing Dr Vicky Greenaway, Royal Holloway University of London, speak on the topic at our recent CPD day Making the most of shorter C19th fiction.

Schools Programme members can download the resources from the event in the PTI Staffroom.

Discover more inspiring subject knowledge at our new courses and events, including upcoming CPD Subject Days Writing for purpose and The character of tragedy: Macbeth and Othello at KS4-5.

Find more knowledge nuggets here.

Image: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Gothic)