8/3/2019 Essay Shocking

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Food for thought

HORROR VS. TERROR

If we think of horror, we think of movies which aren't necessarily scary, but which are often capable of shocking

the audience. Horror means lots of blood, lots of monsters and probably some running around while being chased by

things. But 'terror' is an equally important part of the Gothic, arguably more so. Horror is about being graphic,about being disgusting or horrific, its power in presenting visceral images or death and murder and an unambiguous

supernatural. Terror, on the other hand, is more subtle; it isn't interested in showing so much, but rather in

building up fear and apprehension; terror is mental, whereas horror is more physical. The majority of the most

powerful Horror-genre films are actually about terror, not horror; The Exorcist, for example, and The Omenboth

use terror to build up, before some scenes of horror. Horror is what B-movies and cheap fiction thrives on; gore

and guts, and probably some sex, too. Terror can make you afraid, whereas horror can shock you.

Terror is the intense fear we feel in anticipation of something happening, while horror isthe revulsion we feel when it happens. Both of these emotions are what Gothic writersaspire to achieve in their plots and in their readers. They want to develop a mood of fear

and anxiety. To create terror, Gothic writers create suspense in their stories, therebycreating terror in their readers. As the suspense builds in the story, our terror rises aswell because we're afraid of what will happen or what we know is going to happen. Whenthe event does happen, we are then shocked and alarmed that it has truly occurred, andwe feel horrified. Our horror is increased if the events cannot easily be explained away.

As far as the greatest horror in Gothic literature, I think that depends on what scaresyou. A well-written Gothic piece of literature allows the reader to feel the same terrorand horror that the characters do, and that's the beauty of Gothic to me. Some peopleare really freaked out by ghosts and vampires, while others are not. Perhaps monsters ortorture chambers scare you. To me, the greatest horror is what makes you feel the most

terror and horror.Castles and dungeons, blasted heaths and sepulchral cells, forests and

storm-ravaged cliffs, maidens in distress, rugged heroes, alchemists,

wizards, ghosts, rotting corpses, bleeding nuns, monks, mad priests and

viragoes. . . these are the raw materials of the Gothic: sometimes genuinely

shocking, more often extravagant, ridiculous, and laugh-out loud silly.

Gothicism replaced the previously classic concept of nothing in excess. The

readers wanted to be frightened, to feel terror and take pleasure into being

taken into what was excessive. They were interested in this new kind ofliterature. Gothic novelists sought greater horror, disgust and terror to fulfil

the desire for too much to shock the bourgeoisie; a characteristic of a Gothic

novel.

shocking (sh k ng)

adj.

1. Highly disturbing emotionally.2. Highly offensive; indecent or distasteful.

8/3/2019 Essay Shocking

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3. Very vivid or intense in tone: shocking pink.