1. Horror Fiction Read for enjoyment!!! People like to be scared!!!

2. HORROR FICTION Unsettling and reassuring Unsettling and reassuring Deals with darkness but is the extreme that doesn’t exist Deals with darkness but is the extreme that doesn’t exist Thank goodness that… Thank goodness that… Horror stories may or may not contain violence--It is not necessary Horror stories may or may not contain violence--It is not necessary The writer often toys with the reader’s psyche and expectations The writer often toys with the reader’s psyche and expectations

3. HORROR FICTION Evokes specific emotions Evokes specific emotions Deals with primal nature Deals with primal nature Deals with unknowns such as Death Deals with unknowns such as Death Fear Fear Terror Terror Horror Horror

4. HORROR FICTION Shows human beings living lives, facing fears and desires Shows human beings living lives, facing fears and desires Examines what we think our world is or should be Examines what we think our world is or should be Creates escape from problems and mundane existences Creates escape from problems and mundane existences

5. HORROR FICTION The writers revel and enjoy the creative power of language—VERY descriptive The writers revel and enjoy the creative power of language—VERY descriptive Share joys and sorrows of being human Share joys and sorrows of being human Chance to explore that which makes us squirm Chance to explore that which makes us squirm

6. Language and Imagery Dark Dark Terrible Terrible Unnatural Unnatural Supernatural Supernatural Symbolism is evident Symbolism is evident

7. THEMES Powerlessness—central to horror Powerlessness—central to horror shown through bereavement, uncertainty, alienation, insecurity, embarrassment, loss of belief or self-image shown through bereavement, uncertainty, alienation, insecurity, embarrassment, loss of belief or self-image Death is often inevitable Death is often inevitable

8. METHODS Make the reader care about the characters, then put them in harm’s way Make the reader care about the characters, then put them in harm’s way Create a creepy atmosphere and build from there Create a creepy atmosphere and build from there

9. THE MONSTERS Larger than life, almost mythical Larger than life, almost mythical Almost supernatural Almost supernatural Either resemble humans OR are wholly different Either resemble humans OR are wholly different

10. THE MONSTERS Usually at least as intelligent as the reader Usually at least as intelligent as the reader Usually not altogether, have issues, or are beyond control Usually not altogether, have issues, or are beyond control Consider appearance, intelligence, what is represents Consider appearance, intelligence, what is represents

11. THE BOTTLENECK Suspense builder Suspense builder Trap characters and surround them with menace Trap characters and surround them with menace Creates sense of dread, claustrophobia Creates sense of dread, claustrophobia

12. THE BOTTLENECK Cuts characters off from safety Cuts characters off from safety Makes the innocents easier to get to Makes the innocents easier to get to Examples Examples

13. HORROR FICTION Less is More Less is More Suggestion is enough Suggestion is enough Reader’s imagination fills in the blanks Reader’s imagination fills in the blanks

14. HORROR FICTION Allows the reader’s to bring their fears into the equation Allows the reader’s to bring their fears into the equation Who knows what scares a reader better than the reader? Who knows what scares a reader better than the reader?