Free teaching resource for Room 13. Printable.
Pupils research the real Whitby, Whitby Abbey and Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897). How much of Swindells' atmosphere comes from real history? What does knowing the Dracula connection add to the reading?
Ask pupils to identify five techniques Swindells uses to create atmosphere — specific descriptive language, setting details, timing of revelations. Then write their own short Gothic horror opening (100 words) using similar techniques.