Synopsis of Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse (For Adult Reference)Ch.1p.1

Ada & Lord Goth live in Ghastly-Gorm Hall (her mother having died in a tightrope-walking accident years ago). Ada meets Ishmael (a ghost mouse) while exploring the hall at night. Ishmael asks Ada to help him remove the trap which killed him from the broken wing (a tumble-down part of the hall). They retrieve the trap but run away from a familiar unfriendly voice (Maltravers).

Ch.2p.18

They run into the gardens and follow an albatross into the old icehouse. They meet The Polar Explorer – a monster stitched together by a mad scientist. He is hoping to meet Mary Shellfish who is attending Goth’s annual Metaphorical bicycle race and indoor hunt. We also learn of Ada’s series of governesses (p.20).

Ch.3p.35

The next day, Ada wakes & dresses in the clothes laid out for her by Marylebone, her furtive lady’s maid. Maltravers, the indoor gamekeeper warns Ada to keep away from the broken wing. Ada meets William and Emily Cabbage (children of inventor, Charles Cabbage) in the short gallery while having breakfast. They tell her about the Attic Club.

Ch.4p.51

After breakfast, Ada & Emily go for a walk in the grounds. They explore the Secret Garden but find the door to the Even-More-Secret Garden locked. Ada takes tea with Lord Goth in the long gallery. He tells her to stay away from The Bathroom of Zeus – where Maltravers is supposed to be hatching miniature pheasants. Ada returns to her room for supper; Ishmael appears – he is haunting Ada. Ada invites him to accompany her that night to the Attic Club.

Ch.5p.69

Ada meets the Attic club…in the attic: Ruby Kipling (Outer Pantry Maid), Arthur Halford (Hobby Horse Groom), Kingsley (The Chimney Caretaker). They discuss Maltravers’ suspicious behaviour.

Ch.6p.85

Lucy Borgia (governess) arrives in the night. The next morning, Ada meets Emily & William for breakfast. They spot Maltravers & follow him through the house, kitchens and into the gardens to the Sensible Folly. There, he opens mysterious letter containing money then falls asleep. He has several newspaper-cuttings pinned to a board. William stands watch while Ada and Emily go to The Bathroom of Zeus.

Ch.7p.98

Ada & Emily discover Sesta (siren) & three harpies imprisoned in the bathroom by Maltravers, having been sent a falsified invitation to the house party. William appears to warn that Maltravers is approaching. The girls escape up the chimney, helped by Arthur & Kingsley. Arthur leads them from the rooftops to the unstable stables, where he has found two more of Maltravers’ prisoners, Hamish (Shetland centaur) and Mr Omalos (a faun).

Ch.8p.119

Ada & Emily climb a tree to look over the wall of the Even-More-Secret Garden. They see two orangutans (The Wildman of Putney & The Wife of Barnes), trapped in a greenhouse and wearing human clothes. Maltravers appears. He takes their clothes to sell and their invitation. Ada realises that Maltravers plans to use his captives in the indoor hunt. She tries to tell her father but he is upset that she is not wearing noisy boots. Lucy Borgia meets Ada on the stairs.

Ch.9p.134

Lucy Borgia leads Ada through the schoolroom to her bedroom where she explains how she became a vampire and a duelling governess. Ada hopes Lucy will be able to help her deal with Maltravers.

Ch.10p.148

Ada returns to her own bedroom where Ishmael is waiting. Ishmael thinks something is keeping him a ghost. He sends Ada to sleep with tales of his travels. In the morning, Ada tells William & Emily about Lucy and how she will explain the situation to Goth. The guests arrive (p.158) including the villainous Rupert von Hellsung.

Ch.11p.167

That evening, the guests have dinner in the dining room. The bragging and squabbling descends into a food fight. Lucy is hit by garlic sauce and flees before she can speak with Goth.

Ch.12p.179

Ada finds Lucy in her bedroom, weakened by the garlic and needing rest. She meets Ishmael in a corridor. He has overheard Maltravers & Hellsung talking – they plan to lead the hunt to the rooftops where the creatures cannot escape (usually after the hunt the quarry are returned unharmed – Hellsung plans to shoot them). Ada decides to call a meeting of the Attic Club. The next morning, the race is held and Goth wins. Ada is up to something in the old ice house, using Emily’s drawings and an umbrella.

Ch.13p.190

That evening the hunt begins. The hunters follow the trail through the house and up to the rooftops. The figures of the creatures are balanced on chimney pots. Hellsung reveals two hunting pistols (the rest of the hunters have butterfly nets) and fires. The figures are revealed to be ice-sculptures. The real creatures were hiding behind the chimney stacks. Hellsung loses his temper but is pushed off the roof by Lucy. The Polar Explorer appears – he made the sculptures. Goth hugs Ada and apologises to the creatures for the ‘misunderstanding’. Hellsung races away in his coach. A week later, the Attic club meets for a picnic on the rooftops. Ada demonstrates her new skill of tightrope walking.

Epilogue The guests have gone and Maltravers is forgiven. Ada and Maltravers are still suspicious of each other but Lord Goth and Ada have a happier relationship with Ada no longer expected to wear her clumpy boots. Ada finds Ishmael’s memoir, hidden in a mouse hole in her father’s study. She sends them to a publisher which allows Ishmael to pass on ‘into the light’.

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources

Homework - Research a Stately Home (Preparation for Unit 2)

It will help you understand the Goth Girl books more if you know what a stately home is like.If you have one near you, visiting is a great way to get a sense of the size and atmosphere of these grand buildings. Another good way is to research one on the Internet.

Choose a stately home to research. Find out about:

o its size and shape,o its age and history, o the different rooms,o the gardens and grounds,o the materials used to build it,o how it is decorated and furnished,o if the house still lived in today, ando if parts of it are ruined (or look like ruins).

Present your findings in an interesting way and be ready to share them to a small group of your classmates.

Starting points for research:http://www.burghley.co.uk/Comprehensive and friendly – lots of similarities between this house and Ghastly-Gorm Hall!http://www.blenheimpalace.com/Extensive- including a virtual tour and videoshttps://www.chatsworth.org/house/Extensive- including a virtual tourhttp://www.bodrhyddan.co.uk/Concise website – you may need to search further for more informationhttp://www.castlehoward.co.uk/Detailed history and images of rooms to click and expandhttp://www.mellerstain.com/Some detail but a little tricky to navigatehttp://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/witley-court-and-gardens/history/Concise but useful account of the history and architecture

Learning objectives: Children should be taught to: understand what they read by:f. summarising the main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideasRetrieve, record and present information from non-fiction

Unit 2 (preparation task)© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Question Sheet – Thinking about Character and Plot

Lucy Borgia is a 300-year-old vampire! She duels (sword-fights) using her umbrella which has different tips which she can swap, depending on what she is fighting.

Now read pages 144 and 145. Talk about the questions in the box and make notes about what you think.

What is Stirling silver good for fighting?

What metal is good for fighting a minotaur?

What is Lucy’s favourite tip made of? What is it good for fighting?

What is Lucy like? What words in the text give you these clues?

How does Ada react to Lucy’s weapons?What do we learn about Ada here?

What different verbs does Lucy use for fighting?

1.

2.

3.

4.

What clues are there about what will happen next? (What do you think Ada is planning?)

Unit 2 Day 1

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Focus Questions – Thinking about Character, Atmosphere and Plot

Read pages 138 - 145. Discuss the questions below and make notes about what you think.

What clues does Riddell give that Lucy is a vampire?

Why does he build up to this fact slowly? Why not just introduce her as Lucy Borgia, the vampire?

What character traits does Lucy Borgia show in the text? What words give you these clues?

What do we learn about Ada here? Give reasons for your thoughts.

What different verbs does Lucy use for fighting?

What clues are there about what will happen next in the story?

What gothic elements can you spot here?

Unit 2 Day 1

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Teacher Reference – Settings in Goth Girl – these can be written on individual post-it notesIn the House – Upstairs

Ada’s roomLucy Borgia’s roomThe Long Gallery – where Ada takes tea with L. GothThe AtticThe roofThe StudyIn the House – Downstairs

The kitchenThe Broken Wing (various tumble-down rooms, incl. Bathroom of Zeus,)The Dining roomThe Short Gallery – where Ada has breakfastThe Chinese Drawing room

The GroundsThe Secret GardenThe Even-More-Secret Garden – incl. Greenhouse of Harmony (containing Wildman & Wife)The Hobby Horse StablesThe Unstable Stables – where Hamish (Shetland Centaur) & Mr Omalus (faun) incarceratedThe Old Ice House – where the Polar Explorer is

Scroll Down for Room Layout Guide

Unit 2 Day 2

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Lay out the post-its to form a (rough) plan of the house and grounds.

The point is not to achieve an accurate layout but to give chn a sense of the setting and to familiarise them with the vocabulary of ‘great’ houses.

Unit 2 Day 2

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Dining room

Upstairs

The Sensible

Folly

Goth’s Study

The Short Gallery

The Old Ice House

The Even-More Secret Garden

The Secret Garden

The broken Wing

Unstable Stables

Hobby horse stables

LibraryChinese Drawing

room

The Dome&

Grand Staircase

Bathroom of Zeus

The Kitchens

The RoofThe Attic

Lucy Borgia’s Room

The Long Gallery

Ada’s Room

Ground Level

Example opening

Welcome to Ghastly-Gorm Hall. I will be your guide today. The hall was built 400 years ago, by the first Lord Goth and has been improved by each Lord. The current Lord Goth commissioned the marvellous Metaphorical Smith to landscape the gardens, which are both magnificent and somewhat confusing. Please follow me to our first point of interest. Take care not to stare for too long at the ghosts. It hurts their feelings... etc.

Unit 2 Day 3

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Tourist Guide Prompt

Choose a room to describe – you can choose another if you have time Read your writing aloud to check it sounds descriptive and interestingo Use the appropriate register (descriptive, speaking to the audience, speculative

(adverbs), enthusiastic, friendly)

Unit 2 Day 3

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Perhaps, the kitchens in Ghastly-Gorm Hall are the busiest rooms of

the house.

The Chinese Drawing room surely is the most beautiful room in the

house.

Adverbs of possibility:

perhapsmaybe

possiblyprobably

surelydefinitelycertainly

Summing up – key phrases

I hope you have enjoyed… That is the end of… Next time you

visit you may… Tips are welcome…

Describing the rooms – key phrases

If you look up, you will notice… The furniture was designed…

The ghosts are harmless… Some people think that…

Imagine you lived in… The family use this room for… Guests

often enjoy... I shouldn’t tell you this but…

Introduction – key phrases

Welcome to… I will be your guide today so…

If you have any questions… Please take care when…

Ghastly-Gorm Hall was built in… The first Lord Goth… If you

would like to follow me to…

Structure of Guide Introduction

(what, where, when) Room 1 Room 2? Summing up

Vocabulary of Large Houses

© Original plan copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. goth-girl_F051CF2_resources We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the teach-activs document, about links to other websites.

Unit 2 Day 3

buttress

roof ridgetiles

chimney potchimney stack

brickworkdome

magnificent plaster ceiling

Roman arch

Corinthiancolumn

Gothicwindow

mantelpiecefireplacehearth

divan chair

suit of armour

grandfather clock

kitchen range

Jacobean sideboard

statue ornate vase

RoomsDrawing room – a smart sitting roomDressing room – small room next to a bedroom, for keeping clothes and dressing inGallery – A wide corridor, wide enough for furniture (a breakfast table etc.)Kitchens – Several rooms for different types of cookingLibrary – A room where lots of books are keptPantry – Cool room for food storage/ preparationStable – Place to keep horsesStudy – A room with a desk for writing and thinkingWing – a long section of a building

candlestick/ candelabra

portraitFour-poster bed