Horror Genre

1. Horror Genre By Ola Smith

2. Origins and Development • Originated from early folklore (about vampires, werewolves, monsters, etc.) • Written horror genre started with Shakespeare • The Victorians created both the horror and the ghost story, and Charles Dickens perfected the connection of the two genres • Spiritualism caused the topic of the dead returning to confront the living • Novel form of horror only began in the mid 1970s, whereas before, it was all in short story form

3. Characteristics • Expect the unexpected • Setting has a sense of dread • Atmosphere is intense, pace is fast • Supernatural elements involved sometimes • Ending can leave reader with the feeling that the threat still lingers • Main focus is emotions, the fear of the main character • The main character is usually a good person

4. H.P. Lovecraft Howard Phillips Lovecraft, born on 20 August 1890 Started writing fiction in 1917, but wrote articles in scientific newspapers before Author of horror, fantasy, and science-fiction, especially the sub-genre of “weird fiction” His main belief was what he called “cosmicism” or “cosmic horror”: the idea that life is unfathomable to the human mind and that the universe is hostile to humankind’s interests Was inspired by his own nightmares. His study of the scientific progress made him see the human race as unimportant, helpless, weak creatures overpowered by the universe Notable books: The Tomb, The Tree, The Alchemist, Dagon, Beyond the Wall of Sleep, Hypnos, The Nameless City http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/27/Lovecraft1934.jpg

5. Stephen King Stephen Edwin King, born on 21 September 1947 Wrote articles in the local newspaper in 1959 Interest in horror writing began in 1959, but his first professional sale was in 1967 Called the “Master of Horror” Has published over 50 books and sold more than 350 million copies Author of contemporary horror, suspense, science-fiction and fantasy Influenced mainly by Richard Matheson, H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker and Ray Bradbury Notable books: The Shining, Misery, The Stand, Salem’s Lot, It, Carrie, Desperation, Bag of Bones, Night Shift http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X1UIk30litE/T8wt4KxyUKI/AAAAAAAABb8/YI9B-UasGWM/s1600/stephen_king_writer.jpg

6. Additional information • “Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear.” Edgar Allen Poe • “Alone. Yes, that’s the key word, the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn’t hold a candle to it and hell is just a poor synonym.” Stephen King • “Ultimate horror often paralyses memory in a merciful way.” H.P. Lovecraft • Notable horror novels: • Dracula – Bram Stoker • Frankenstein – Mary Shelley • Interview With the Vampire – Anne Rice • I am Legend – Richard Matheson • The Silence of the Lambs – Thomas Harris • The Exorcist – William Peter Blatty

7. Bibliography •  "A History of Horror." Dark Angel's Realm of Horror. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.angelfire.com/darkside/realmofhorror/history.htm>. • North, Anthony. "A HISTORY OF HORROR FICTION."BEYOND THE BLOG. Wordpress.com, 06 03 2007. Web. Web. 17 Sep. 2012. <http://beyondtheblog.wordpress.com/2007/03/06/a-history-of-horror-fiction/>. • Sipling, Kathleen. "Horror for Readers." Horror. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.conknet.com/~fullerlibrary/ReadersAdvisory/Horror Kathleen Sipling.htm>. • Writers Relief Staff, . "Genre Fiction Rules: Find Out If Your Novel Meets Publishers’ And Literary Agents’ Criteria For Publication." Writer's Relief. Web Design Relief, 18 06 2009. Web. Web. 17 Sep. 2012. <http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/2009/06/genre-fiction-rules-find-out-if-your-novel-meets-publishers-and-literary-agents-criteria-for-publication/>. • Hopper, Teresa. "Classic Structure of the Horror Novel."Horror. N.p., 04 Jan 2001. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue 3/horror.htm>. • Bobette, Bryan. "Classic Horror." Underworld Tales. Bryan Bobette, n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.underworldtales.com/classic.htm>. • Wikipedia contributors. "H.P. Lovecraft." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 Sep 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._P._Lovecraft>. • Joshi, S.T.. "Howard Phillips Lovecraft: The Life of a Gentleman of Providence." H.P. Lovecraft. Donovan K. Loucks, 28 Mar 2006. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.hplovecraft.com/life/biograph.asp>. • Wikipedia contributors. "Stephen King." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Sep 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_king>. •  "Biography of Stephen King." Horrorking.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.horrorking.com/biography.html>. • King, Stephen. "Press Biography." Stephen King. Stephen King, n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.stephenking.com/press.php>. • King, Stephen. "List of horror and non-horror books."Stephen King. Stephen King, n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.stephenking.com/forums/showthread.php/18698-List-of-horror-and-non-horror-books>. • "Quotes About Horror." Goodreads. Goodreads Inc, n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/horror>. • "Quote by H.P. Lovecraft." Goodreads. Goodreads Inc, n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/147465-ultimate-horror-often-paralyses-memory-in-a-merciful-way>. •  "Popular Horror Books." Goodreads. Goodreads Inc, n.d. Web. 17 Sep 2012. <http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/horror>.