In this unit, students will explore the world of horror literature and discover what makes a story truly suspenseful!

What Students Will Read:

• "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe – a classic tale of revenge that masterfully builds tension and dread

• Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman – a modern mystery novel that blends traditional reading with multimedia elements

Literary Elements We'll Study: Throughout the unit, students will analyze and apply key literary techniques, including:

• Foreshadowing – hinting at events to come

• Flashbacks – revealing important backstory

• Suspense – building tension and anticipation

• Figurative Language – for example: how metaphors, similes, irony, and personification create dramatic effect

• Imagery – creating details that help bring a story to life

Students will apply everything they've learned by crafting their own original scary stories, incorporating the literary elements we've studied to create suspense and engage their readers.