Elements of Horror Fiction Setting n The time

Elements of Horror Fiction

Setting n The time, place, environment, and historical context of the story. n n Horror stories often include isolated locations, stormy nights, old houses, graveyards, etc…

What about the setting of this story depicts horror?

Mood The underlying feeling of a story. n Horror stories make careful use of mood shifts to create suspense and advance the plot. n

What move shifts can we see in this story?

Unreliable Narrators n Not all narrators are telling the truth. The reader must determine whether the narrator is trustworthy by paying careful attention to his or her actions, attitudes, and statements.

Is there any evidence of an unreliable narrator in this story?

Irony (situational and dramatic) n Situational Irony: the difference between what the reader expects to happen and what actually happens.

Is there an example of situational irony in this story?

Irony continued… n Dramatic Irony: the reader sees a character’s mistakes and misunderstandings, but the character does not.

Is there an example of dramatic irony in this story?

Suspense n Authors build suspense through careful pacing of the plot, focusing the reader on key images through repetition, and the use of dramatic irony.

Where in this story do we see suspense?

Example of Horror Comic: The Walking Dead n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=p 0 C 97 Mf Uu. BI

Examples of Horror from The Walking Dead Setting: n Mood: n Irony (situational): n Irony (dramatic): n Suspense: n Unreliable Narrator: Yes or no? n