The Picture of Dorian Gray

Follow the story of Dorian Gray, a man living in Victorian-era England who sells his soul, and in exchange, a portrait of himself ages while he lives forever. Oscar Wilde expertly explores aestheticism and the concept of a double life.

• The Picture of Dorian Gray AP Teaching Unit
• The Picture of Dorian Gray Activity Pack

Dracula

Though not the first to depict a vampire, Bram Stoker’s Gothic novel established this fanged, blood-sucking creature as an archetype of the horror genre. This novel’s epistolary format and its epic battle scenes will fascinate any reader.

• Dracula Activity Pack
• Dracula Response Journal

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

In this novel, Robert Louis Stevenson combines moral allegory and fantasy thriller. He illustrates the dichotomous nature of the human soul through the story of Dr. Jekyll, who unknowingly leads a double life when the evil Mr. Hyde takes over his mind and body.

• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Activity Pack
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Teaching Unit

Frankenstein

Do not be fooled by modern depictions of Frankenstein; arguably, it is Victor Frankenstein, not the creature he creates, who is the true monster in this classic Gothic novel about bringing the dead back to life.

• Frankenstein Teaching Unit
• Frankenstein AP Teaching Unit

The Turn of the Screw

An unusual Gothic ghost story, this novella unveils the manuscript of a deceased governess who claims to have seen the ghost of her predecessor and that of her predecessor’s lover and employee. The governess believes the children whom she is looking after are communicating with these spirits.

• The Turn of the Screw Teaching Unit
• The Turn of the Screw Activity Pack

The Graveyard Book

What would happen if a boy were the only living resident of a graveyard? Bod has been raised since infancy by werewolves, ghosts, and other graveyard occupants. This exciting novel, meant for middle-grade readers, follows Bod’s adventures both within the graveyard and in the outside world.

• The Graveyard Book Teaching Unit

Rebecca

Captivate your class with this thriller novel by Daphne du Maurier. In this book, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. de Winter move to the husband’s mansion; its menacing housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, unable to let go of her obsession with Mr. de Winter’s first—and late—wife, psychologically torments the second Mrs. de Winter.

• Rebecca Teaching Unit
• Rebecca Response Journal

Best of Poe

Another Literary Touchstone Classic, Best of Poe introduces students to the famous, dramatic, and peculiar works of Edgar Allan Poe. Titles featured in this book include "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Raven", "Annabelle Lee", and "The Cask of Amontillado", plus many more.

• The Best of Poe Teaching Unit
• The Best of Poe Activity Pack

Macbeth

Double, double, toil and trouble! Shakespeare’s famous play contains cackling witches, ominous ghosts, brutal murders, and shocking betrayals.

• Macbeth Activity Pack
• Macbeth Teaching Unit

Coraline

A young girl named Coraline Jones discovers an alternate universe behind a mysterious door in her home; this world seems better at first, until “Other Mother” tries to keep Coraline there forever. An animated film adaptation of this novella came out in 2009.