Introduction to Gothic and Horror Writing Brainstorming, Background, Characteristics

Journal and Sharing What is the difference between “horror” and “terror”? What connotations do these words have? Is one a physical response and the other a mental response? Is one a response to the other? Is one a response to an immediate or present danger and the other to a danger further away?  Record your thoughts in your journal and be prepared to share

Author Quotes Linda Bayer-Berenbaum: “Both involve fear and repulsion, but terror is more immediate, more emotional, and less intellectual.  You may be horrified by what your friend tells you but terrified by what you see yourself. Terror is more potent and stimulating and thus the more Gothic emotion.” Dennis Wheatly:  "Terror is a response to physical danger only, horror is fear of the supernatural."

Author Quotes Terry Heller: “Terror is the fear that harm will come to oneself.  Horror is the emotion one feels in anticipating and witnessing harm coming to others for whom one cares.” Stephen King: “I’ll try to terrify you first, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll horrify you, and if I can’t make it there, I’ll try to gross you out.  I’m not proud.”

Accessing Prior Knowledge What do you already know about Gothic literature? (Authors, books, characteristics, topics, etc.) What do you already know about the Horror genre? (Movies, authors, characteristics, topics, etc.)

The Start of Gothic Literature Started with a novel called The Castle of Ortranto in England in 1765 which set the characteristics of Gothic literature Used a creepy, remote setting and the supernatural Would be boring to us now but was extremely exciting and suspenseful for readers of the time Writers started imitating this style and the genre of Gothic was born

Characteristics of Gothic a castle, maybe haunted ruined buildings which are sinister or which arouse melancholy, dungeons, underground passages, crypts, and catacombs, or modern houses with spooky basements or attics labyrinths, corridors, winding stairs, shadows, a flickering candle, or the only source of light failing Maintains “believability”- it could happen

Characteristics of Gothic Extreme landscapes, like mountains, forests, or icy wastes, and extreme weather Omens and ancestral curses Magic, supernatural manifestations A passion-driven, villain-hero/villain A curious heroine with a tendency to faint and a need to be rescued A hero whose true identity is revealed Horrifying (or terrifying) events or the threat of such happenings

Elements of Gothic Writing Gothic writers get inside our minds They play upon our fears and anxieties Gothic literature is psychological and explores the “dark side” to human nature- what human nature is capable of Gothic literature evokes feelings of dread, fear, suspense, uncertainly, uneasiness, loneliness Plays upon our fears of what humans can do Can involve a dark romance

Examples of Gothic Writing Frankenstein- an obsessed scientist tries to stop death by using body parts to create life with new “science” Edgar Allan Poe stories/poems- exploring themes of loneliness, death, lost love The Phantom of the Opera- a naïve young girl is under the power of a disfigured “spirit” living in a theatre who “guides” her singing and eventually wants her to love him

Characteristics of Horror A menace that is impure/threatening Use of metaphor for current problems- the villain or evil represents a public fear or current issue Haunted houses Usage of violent weapons like knives, katana, chainsaws, icepicks Settings are where people are vulnerable- far away, remote, abandoned, broken down, lost

Elements of Horror Writing Exaggerates reality Shocks, startles, scares the reader "The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.“ – HP Lovecraft, horror writer Horror exploits the reader’s fears to get a powerful, instant reaction Readers seek out horror to face things we usually don’t want to face: death, gore, destruction, all things gruesome

Examples of Horror Writing Urban legends Films like Friday the 13th/Nightmare on Elm street American Horror Story television series Stephen King and Dean Koontz novels and short stories

Characteristics of Mystery/Crime Usually no supernatural forces Focuses on homicide, crimes, mysteries, unsolved or high interest murders Plots emphasize a crime or spree of crimes with a hero/main character trying to narrow down suspects and find the killer/criminal

Elements of Mystery Writing Builds suspense through twists, uncovering clues, and finding hints Uses red herring (purposeful misdirection) to keep the audience guessing Uses a “game of cat and mouse” to create drama and suspense The criminal is the antagonist and the hero or detective is the protagonist The hero’s job to reveal the killer, usually at the end of the story

Examples of Mystery Writing Sherlock Holmes series TV crime dramas like Castle, CSI, Law and Order SVU and Bones Agatha Christie, Tom Clancy novels Films like the Godfather and the Bourne series

“Vincent” and “Lights Out” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxQcBKUP m8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=- fDzdDfviLI Which genre does each of these videos fit into? Why?