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LITERARY STYLE

Where Is Here?
Joyce Carol Oates

Modern Gothic is a sort of “update” on the traditional Gothic literature style.

The Modern Gothic style does away with stormy nights and drafty old castles,
but it retains the sense of fear, mystery, or tension that is prominent in
traditional Gothic works.
Characteristics of Modern Gothic include
• Every-day modern setting and seemingly ordinary characters
• A sense of unease and a sense that something is wrong
• Puzzling, possibly supernatural events
• No answers to some of the story’s mysteries

DIRECTIONS: Answer these questions about “Where Is Here?” Use textual

evidence from the story to support your responses.

1. How would you describe the setting of “Where Is Here?” and how does it match
the Modern Gothic model?

2. Which details in the story’s beginning clue you in to the idea that something is
wrong in this situation?

3. Which story events begin to create a sense of mystery and tension?

4. How does the sense of mystery and tension increase as the story progresses?

5. As a reader, what do you begin to fear as the story moves toward its conclusion?
Does the thing you fear actually happen? Explain.

6. How well does the end of the story match the Modern Gothic model? Explain.

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