“What is the Horror Genre?” Literary Criticism by Sharon A. Russell

Background Read the background information on page 125. Then read the following: Stephen King is one of the most popular horror story writers in history, and Sharon A. Russell was the first person to write a book for the general public analyzing his work. Russell uses her expertise in the field to analyze how the horror genre works and what makes a good horror story.

Analyze text: literary criticism (lines 1-11) The author’s purpose is his or her reason for writing. Russell’s likely purpose for writing, based on the title of the essay is to define the horror genre. One way to define something is by discussing what it isn’t. Reread lines 1-11. Identify the phrase in which Russell states what horror stories do not have to include. What reason does she give for beginning in this way? How might the author’s statements relate to the central, or most important, idea in the literary criticism?

Summarize text (lines 12-32) When you summarize, you briefly retell the central ideas and most important details in a piece of writing. One of the most important steps in summarizing is determining a text’s main, or most important, ideas. In lines 12-32, Russell explains one feature that can be used to define the horror genre. Reread lines 12-32 to summarize the main idea.

Critical vocabulary Intensify: Russell is explaining the built-in element of suspense that readers find in horror stories. Why might knowing what to expect from a horror story intensify suspense?

Critical vocabulary Justify: Russell is describing a character who fears that something bad is going to happen to her if she goes down into the basement. Are the character’s feelings justified? Explain.

Analyze text: literary criticism (lines 51-63) Authors of literary criticism define and classify literature according to certain criteria, or standards. In lines 51-63, Russell is identifying criteria that helps to answer the question she posed in the title: What is the horror genre? Reread lines 51-63 and identify two types of horror stories. What is Russell’s purpose for describing the two types of stories?

Analyze language (Lines 65-67) Pay attention to the author’s use of the personal pronoun I in lines 65-67. This is the first instance of its use in the literary criticism. Reread the example the author provides in lines 65-67. What is the impact of this personal detail?

Critical vocabulary Parallel: Russell is using The Wizard of Oz as an example of what she means by “a parallel world.” How could a horror story use a parallel world to scare its readers?

Analyze text: literary criticism (lines 72-83) Pay attention to the new criteria for horror stories that the author examines: the source of the horror. Reread lines 72-83. Identify the two ways a person in a horror story may become a source of horror. What is Russell’s purpose for describing the source of horror in stories?

Critical vocabulary Quest: Russell talks about a kind of search that is often the theme of horror fiction. What phrase names the quest that may be the theme of a horror story?