Setting Do you want to SEE what makes horror literature so scary? TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Pay attention!!!! TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Definition: Horror is a genre of literature which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten, scare, or startle readers by inducing feelings of horror or terror. It creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere and can be either supernatural or non-supernatural. It causes readers, often, to feel repulsion, revulsion, or loathing. TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Some horror literature and the fear it induces can be interpreted as a metaphor for the larger fears of a society. For instance, the fear of being buried alive, fear of snakes, fear of clowns, etc. can be the perfect bed in which to plant a seed of fear and horror. History of the Horror Genre: • Roots in folklore and religious traditions. Themes such as death, evil, demonic beings, witches, vampires werewolves, mummies and ghosts. • Gothic Horror in the 18th Century: • Drew on folklore and mythology=The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole-Incorporated supernatural elements instead of pure realism. • Vathek (1786) by William Beckford • The Mysteries of and Udolpho (1794) Some horror literature the fear it induces can be interpreted • asMuch of the horror era fears was written by women marketed a metaphor for thethis larger of a society. Forand instance, the for of a female audience. fear being buried alive, fear of snakes, fear of clowns, etc. can • beThethetypical resourceful perfectplotbedwasin awhich to plantfemale a seedprotagonist of horror. menaced in gloomy castle. • Horror in the 19th Century: • Drew on Gothic Horror of the past and new themes… • Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelly • Varied works of Edgar Allan Poe including “The Fall of House of Usher,” “Tell-Tale Heart,”” “Cask of Amontillado,” “The Raven,” “Masque of the Red Death,” etc. • Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson Some horror literature and Gray the fear it induces can be interpreted • The Picture of Dorian (1890) by Oscar Wilde as• a Dracula metaphorbyforBram the Stoker larger fears of a society. For instance, the fear of being buried characters alive, fear became of snakes, fear of clowns, etc. can • Many of these horror be the perfect in which to literature plant a seed horror. icons withinbed modern horror andofmovies. • Modern Horror in the 20th Century: • Drew on themes of the past and new themes including apocalyptic zombie fiction and increased levels of supernatural beings. • “Cool Air,” (1925), “The Vault,” (1926), and “The Outsider” (1926), were written by H.P. Lovecraft. • I am Legend (1954) was written by Richard Matheson. • Varied works of Stephen King are best known contemporary horror: • Carrie The Shining Some• horror literature and the fear it induces can be interpreted It as a •metaphor for the larger fears of a society. For instance, the Miseryburied alive, fear of snakes, fear of clowns, etc. can fear •of being • Brian Lumley, James Herbert, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, Ramsey be the perfect bed in which to plant a seed of horror. Campbell, and Peter Straub are all contemporary authors of horror, Setting for the Horror Genre Dark Old, haunted house Deserted buildings/isolated house Out at sea away from land Deserted stretch of road Attic/basement Post apocalyptic urban environment Camp deep in the woods Grave yard Medieval world Dark forest Cabin in the woods Old castle The prom Psychiatric Some horrorward literature and the fear it Outer inducesspace can be interpreted Orphanage Hospital as a metaphor for the larger fears of a society. For instance, the Night Morgue fear oftime being buried alive, fear of snakes, fear of clowns, etc. can Protagonist is alone Stormy night (wind, thunder, lightning, rain) be the perfect bed in which to plant a seed of horror. Mid-Night Science lab Themes for the Horror Genre Revenge Haunting Demons and Exorcisms Gore Serial Killers Religious Belief/Ritual Ghosts/Apparitions Some horror literature and the fear it induces can be interpreted asRomance a metaphor for the larger fears of a society. For instance, the fear of being buried alive, fear of snakes, fear of clowns, etc. can Monsters beSatanic the perfect bed in which to plant a seed of horror. Possession Characters of the Horror Genre TThe Horror Genre Victims Women Children Innocents Themes thatHelpless make Animals Elderly Blonde horror horrific!!!! Red-Neck Loner Helpless Sexy Girl Jock Non-Believer Characters of the Horror Genre TThe Horror Killers Genre Clown Ghost Face Dork Neighbor Psycho-Killer Fierce Animal Themes make Demon Puppet/Doll Masked ManthatPossessed horror horrific!!!! Vampire Mentally Ill Person Werewolf Mummy Aliens Zombies Sub-Genres of the Characters Horror Genreof the Slasher Stories-Where the Psychological Horror-Relies primary antagonist is a Genre onHorror characters fears, guilt, psychopathic killer who emotional instability, and/or Killers commits gruesome acts of the supernatural. The Clown Ghost Face tension withinDork murder and the writing is dismemberment. psychological. Neighbor Psycho-Killer Fierce Animal “Black Christmas” “The Tell-Tale Heart” Masked Puppet/Doll “Halloween”Man Possessed Demon “The Exorcist” “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” “The Others” Vampire Mentally Ill Person Werewolf th “Friday the 13 ” “The Shining” Mummy “Nightmare on Elm Street” “The Innocents” “It” TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Sub-Genres of the Characters Horror Genreof the Slasher Horror-Combines Stories-Where the Psychological Horror-Relies Comedy Zombie Horror-Features Horror Genre primary antagonist is a on characters guilt, elements of horror and creatures who arefears, usually psychopathic who emotionalas instability, Killersportrayed comedy fiction.killer It often either and/or commitsback gruesome acts of a the supernatural. The crosses an forth from reanimated corpses or Clown Ghost Face Dork murder tensionhuman withinbeings. the writing is true horrorandpiece of writing mindless dismemberment. psychological. Psycho-Killer Fierce Animal toNeighbor an almost “black comedy” “Zombie Apocalypse” “Black Christmas” “The ofTell-Tale Heart” genre. “Night the Living Dead” Masked Man Possessed Demon Puppet/Doll “Halloween” “The Exorcist” “The Legend of Sleepy “Zombie Comedy” “TexasHallow” Chainsaw “The Others” Vampire Mentally Ill“Zombies Person by Massacre” TakeWerewolf over the “FridayWashington the 13th” Irving “The World” Shining” Mummy “Nightmare “The Innocents” “Scary Movie”on Elm Street” TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Horror Genre Chain Saw Cleaver Chain Pitch Fork Knife Machete Pick Axe Sickle Axe Fisherman’s Hook Setting Saw Branding Iron Baseball Bat Hatchet Scythe important Sledge Hammer W E TThe Horror A Genre The settingCrow of aBarhorror story is P Switch Blade Sword because it contributes to the TONE of the Curse Bow/Arrow Awl Themes that make O Horror story. story settings often include: Fangs Scissors Evil Spells horror horrific!!!! Scalpel Forceps Graveyards, old or abandoned homes, dark N Lane Lawn Mower forests, Curtain Rod Straight Razor Rope S Devices Used to FrightenMasks the Reader Loud Noises Setting Creepy Stare Blood Chilling Scream Moaning or Howling Phone Call Middle of the Night Creaking Doors Squeaking Steps Cob Webs Gruesome and Violent Dismemberment Blatant Disregard for Life TThe Horror Genre Mass Incarnate Infestation Dark Forces at Work Time Running Out Pentagram and Other Satanic Images A Character Who Keeps Falling When Escaping Inhuman Contortion of the Body Candles Being Blown Out Unexplained Footsteps Knock at the Door Desire to be God-Like The setting of a horror story is important because it contributes to the TONE of the Themes that make story. Horror story settings often include: horror horrific!!!! Graveyards, old or abandoned homes, dark Scurrying Animals forests, Unexplained Puff of Wind Techniques Authors Use to Create and Maintain Suspense (1): Setting Protagonist is in Jeopardy: When readers care about characters, they engage emotionally in the action and are fearful of the threat…tension builds as a result. More Promises and Less Action: Anticipation of action is often more powerful and engaging than actual action. Like blowing up a balloon, an author can continue to inflate the balloon until the reader is fearful it will pop. The process of “building action” keeps the reader fearful! Let Characters Tell Readers Their Plans: Telling plans creates anticipation and excitement! Action-sequences followed by moments of character reorientation and planning keep readers seeking new plot elements. Pile on Complications: Challenging the protagonist with problems and dilemmas adds to the tension of the story. As the plot becomes more complicated with layers of conflicts, the reader must continue reading. Frightening Setting: The setting of a horror story contributes to the fear the reader feels. For instance, a story that takes place in a cemetery, dark forest, abandoned house, mid-night, castle, laboratory, stormy night, etc. are all frightening and cause anxiety and fear. Time Constraints: Authors use time to create tension. For instance, often the protagonist is battling the clock while fighting the antagonist. A clicking clock or finite time-line with potentially harmful results waiting at the deadline is a frightening literary tool. TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Techniques Authors Use to Create and Maintain Suspense (2): Reduction in Acts of Violence: Less violence is better…the threat of violence is even more frightening! Valuing human life increases suspense! Sometimes, the anticipation of violence is more frightening than the actual violence. Be One Step Ahead of the Reader: Appeal to the reader’s fears and phobias (snakes, clowns, etc). Use countdowns, deadlines to feed the escalation of tension. Isolate the main character prior to the climax. Character Places Him/Herself in Danger: The reader will feel like yelling at the character who chooses to go into the attic in the dark or up the stairs where a chainsaw is running. Plot Ambiguity: Let the action or plot resolution remain a question…often the reader’s imagination is more vivid than the story itself. Unpredictability: The hero’s attempts to solve the conflict should result in unpredictable consequences and circumstances. For instance, an antagonist that is apparently dead but comes back to life is always alarming. Or, a creepy apparition leaping out of nowhere is tension-building. Protagonists should be really good and antagonists should be really bad: A really evil antagonist is unpredictable and alarmingly sadistic. However, a really likeable protagonist elicits sympathy and support throughout the story. Italicized Words/Exclamation Marks/Bolded Words: Authors use these techniques to enhance emotions, feelings, and tension. Setting TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Techniques Authors Use to Create and Maintain Suspense (3): Abnormal Human Contortion or Characteristics: When a character is human but has cat eyes, or has three arms, or has pointy ears or has a head facing backwards, or a human head on the body of a spider…these are all frightening images and contribute to the suspense. Fake Conflicts or Battles: An author can maintain fear for the reader by creating circumstances that would lead the reader to think something horrible is going to happen when, In reality, nothing happens. The fear of something happening is just as frightening as something happening. Keep the Stakes High: The story must include some sort of crisis that is devastating to the protagonist’s world, and the hero must be willing to do almost anything to prevent it from occurring. Apply Pressure: The hero should be working under what seems like impossible odds. All of his skills and abilities should be stretched to the breaking point particularly in the climax of the story. Dramatic Irony: Using Dramatic Irony can add to the tension in a story. For instance, when the reader knows that the antagonist waiting for the protagonist in the forest but the hero remains unware, that irony creates suspense. Setting TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!! Devices Used to Frighten the Reader Loud Noises Blood Chilling Scream Moaning or Howling Phone Call Middle of the Night Creaking Doors Squeaking Steps Cob Webs Gruesome and Violent Dismemberment Blatant Disregard for Life Scurrying Animals (i.e. rats) Unexplained Puff of Wind Unexplained Sounds Masks Right here, Creepy Stare let’s pick 6 Mass Incarnate Infestation together Dark Forces at Work Time Running Out Pentagram and Other Satanic Images A Character Who Keeps Falling When Escaping Inhuman Contortion of the Body Candle Being Blown Out Unexplained Footsteps Knock at the Door Desire to be God-Like (Original Sin) Setting in the Horror Genre An another Dark Old, haunted house 6 from here Deserted buildings Out at sea away from land Deserted stretch of road Attic/basement Post apocalyptic urban environment Camp deep in the woods Grave yard Medieval world Dark forest Cabin in the woods Old castle The prom Psychiatric ward Outer space Orphanage Hospital Night time Morgue Protagonist is alone Stormy night(wind, thunder, rain, lightning) Mid-Night Science lab Out of the way, isolated house Setting TThe Horror Genre Themes that make horror horrific!!!!