Horror & Analyzing Literature Flashcards
Lec 2 and 3
What are the different rxns the protag can have to horror?
Neg or pos, can see growth, triumph and heroism, or can see defeat.
What is the Hero’s Journey Diagram?
depicts the events that heroes endure during the story. there’s a dark and light world. (starting off in light going to dark, to eventually return to light). isnt followed exactly but used as blueprint.
What is a Messianic character?
a character who sacrifices themselves to save their world. So in heros journey, never gets to ressurect and return with the benefit or lesson.
Horror vs Terror
H: after smthn goes wrong, always negative, worst possible outcome. T: anticipation of smthn bad happening or going wrong, might not actually happen. Might not be a bad thing (awe inspiring like seeing a god or smthn)
What are the 5 elements of Horror Stories?
- Express our fears 2. Express our hidden desires 3. Investigates liminal space 4. educate us morally 5. Catharsis
Explain ‘express our fears’ horror element.
project our fears into the stories as the monsters, so when the monsters are defeated we’re defeating our fears. Make the monsters have traits that we’re scared of or do things that are scary. Culture affects fears, such as the fear of Other felt by colonizers.
Explain ‘express our forbidden desires’ horror element.
repressed sexuality and gender, race, etc., that fluidity is reflected into characters and monsters. So horror gives opportunity to explore these hidden desires.
explain ‘investigates liminal space’ horror element.
liminal is threshold, so ambiguity, not one thing or the other. ex.s are half of two things so half alive and half dead, half man machine, man animal etc.
explain ‘educate us morally’ horror element.
7 Deadly Sins; Wrath (anger), Greed (excess, want smthn not earned), Sloth (despair, give up, lazy), Pride (hubris, full of urself, dont listen), Lust, Envy (jealousy, want smth ncant have and dont want anyone else to have it either), Gluttony (excess)
explain ‘catharsis’ horror element.
when you survive a dangerous situation get a feeling of bravery and strength bc were able to surive.
How does Gothic relate to horror?
Goths were ppl who caused the fall of Rome leading to Dark Ages, so now associated negatively and as the past. Modernity is safe
Apollonian vs Dionysian
Apollonian: order and light, survival, regenreation. Dionysian: darkness, destruction/chaos, negation. Ex.s life/death, heaven/hell, good/evil, M/F, normal/abnormal, evolution/de-evolution.
What are the 7 elements of analyzing literature?
- Setting 2. Narration 3. characterization 4. diction 5. tone/mood 6. plot 7. imagery
What is setting and narration?
Setting is where the characters are, what timeline, how many diff places theyre in and a description of the setting. Narration is the POV, so whos telling the story. first person (main character narrating story), third person narrator from outside of world narrating. 3rd person can be omnisceintce (narrator knows everything) or limited omniscience (narrator only knows what;s goign on in one characters head.
What is characterization and diction?
characterization is description of the characters and their attributes, design, personality. looking at their actions and dialogue. whos the protag and antag. diction is the language choices.
