The Haunting of Hill House (1959) by Shirley Jackson is a classic of Gothic horror, a haunted house tale lauded by critics, loved by readers, and repeatedly adapted for stage and screen for more than half a century. What makes this novel a successful example of its genre? Why has it spoken to generations of readers? How does its messages represent and/or transcend its time? In this module we will explore the context and inspirations for The Haunting of Hill House, its popular and critical receptions, its place in Shirley Jackson’s larger body of work, and its impact on contemporary readers.

The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:

Outline	8-Session Structure
Week 1	Lecture 1: Shirley Jackson and Genre
	Discussion 1: Chapters 1-3
Week 2	Lecture 2: Haunted Spaces
	Discussion 2: Chapters 4-5
Week 3	Lecture 3: Ancestor Texts
	Discussion 3: Chapters 6-9
Week 4	Lecture 4: Critical Receptions and Descendant Texts
	Discussion 4: Themes and Takeaways