Warm Up Activity “What is the scariest event that has ever happened to you? Why was it scary? Explain in detail all the elements of “the scare factor” for you and anyone else involved.

Horror Verses Gothic

Gothic, Horror...Potato, “Patato”? While most people use “Gothic” and “horror” interchangeably, they actually are two separate genres Gothic is more like horror's predecessor Gothic was not exactly “mainstream” literature of the time, but like any genre it held tight to some base elements Huge, dark mansions or castles Ghosts Damp cellars or dungeons Still mostly stayed away from socially inappropriate behavior—drew a very clear line between right and wrong Usually had happy endings despite dark themes First recognized Gothic novel was The Castle of Otranto (1764) by Horace Walpole

Gothic

Edgar Allan Poe Considered to be the father of the horror genre, writing during the first half of the 19th century Was one of the first to advocate for distinctly horror elements as subject matter—disease, death, and the disgusting His literary theory was what really pulled him from Gothic to horror though He truly disliked didacticism that Gothic seemed to hold dear and preferred to keep the meaning of the work as an undercurrent

Horror: Disease

Horror! As mentioned earlier, horror as a genre may pull some ideas from Gothic but is still separate from its predecessor Elements of Horror Explores the dark, malevolent side of humanity Mood is menacing and foreboding in order to receive an immediate response from the reader Style is generally plain Setting (especially if only happening in one locale) tends to be described in great detail Main characters, even though the audience can partially relate in some way, tend to be haunted and estranged individuals The key ingredient is to provoke terror through the “monstrous”

Horror: Monstrous

Horror! There are two main plot styles for horror stories: Complex discovery plot (usually embracing the theme of knowledge of or discovery of the unknown)‏ Onset of a horrific event-> discovery of its cause-> confirmation of its cause-> confrontation that leads to victory or defeat Over-reacher plot (usually embracing the theme of some knowledge is better left undiscovered)‏ Preparation for the experiment-> experiment is conducted-> confrontation These plots can be mixed to create countless variations!

Horror: Discover Leads to Defeat

Let’s Review Prior Knowledge

Dramatic Irony In dramatic irony the reader or audience knows a truth that the characters do not. Have you ever seen a horror movie that has a killer on the loose? You, and the rest of the audience, know that the teenagers should not go walking in the woods late at night, but they think a midnight stroll would be romantic. Needless to say, the teens become the next victims. Give three examples of dramatic irony that you have seen or read.

Authors of scary stories often use setting and word choice to create a disturbing mood or atmosphere.

Mood Definition: Mood is the feeling that a work of literature evokes. As you read a short story - ask yourself: "What feeling is the author creating through her choice of words?"

Suspense Suspense: The growing of excitement felt by an audience or individual while awaiting the climax of a movie, book, play, etc. due mainly to its concern for the welfare of a character they sympathize with or the anticipation of a violent act. As a group, discuss and give three examples of suspense in literature or film.

Internal= fighting within yourself. Trying to make decisions. Conflict: Internal= fighting within yourself. Trying to make decisions. External= fighting with an outside source. Climax Falling Action Rising Action Introduction Resolution

Both must be present to create a monster of HORROR Monstrous Monsters Both must be present to create a monster of HORROR There are two keys to the creation of a monster Threatening Must threaten physically, spiritually, socially, psychologically, morally—or all of the above This aspect stirs the emotion of FEAR Impure Must violate the generally accepted schemes of cultural categorization This aspect embraces the emotion of DISGUST

Monstrous Monsters Impure aspects of a monster – what does it mean to go against norms of cultural categorization? Categorically ambiguous (amphibians existing both in and out of water)‏ Incomplete representatives of their classes (things with missing parts, rotting things, or things not fully formed)‏ Formless things (blobs, fog, or dirt)‏

The End or is it?