The Horror Story UnitThe Horror Story UnitFall 2015Fall 2015

What is/are your greatest fear(s)? Focus freewrite on

your greatest fear(s) and why it,

or they, are so scary.

The Goblins Will Get You if The Goblins Will Get You if You Don’t Watch OutYou Don’t Watch Out

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre XXV: Freddie Meets Norman on Elm

Street on Friday the 13th

1.Why do gory movies (a more precise term than horror movies) attract so many viewers today?

2.Why do people like the gory special effects?

Horror or just Gore?Horror or just Gore? Before the days of Freddie Kruger, Hollywood Before the days of Freddie Kruger, Hollywood

made many suspense/horror movies, some made many suspense/horror movies, some cheapie thrillers (cheapie thrillers (I Dismember MamaI Dismember Mama), and some ), and some that became classics for chilling the blood of the that became classics for chilling the blood of the audience. The master of these movie-makers was audience. The master of these movie-makers was Alfred Hitchcock, who built suspense slowly and Alfred Hitchcock, who built suspense slowly and subtly, usually without blood or overt violence. subtly, usually without blood or overt violence. The original The original PsychoPsycho was a masterpiece of subtle was a masterpiece of subtle horror as were horror as were Rear WindowRear Window and and The BirdsThe Birds..

Today’s master of the horror novel is Stephen Today’s master of the horror novel is Stephen King, whose books (often made into movies) are King, whose books (often made into movies) are true spine-chillers that use suspense to terrify true spine-chillers that use suspense to terrify readers.readers.

Do horror movies of today scare viewers or Do horror movies of today scare viewers or merely excite them? merely excite them?

What’s so great about fear What’s so great about fear anyway?anyway?

Do you feel moments of terror? Do you Do you feel moments of terror? Do you hold your breath? Do you laugh? Why hold your breath? Do you laugh? Why do you react as you do?do you react as you do?

How do you explain the desire of people How do you explain the desire of people to be terrified? to be terrified?

As children, we delight in ghost stories As children, we delight in ghost stories told in the dark. As adults, we read told in the dark. As adults, we read books or see movies that we know will books or see movies that we know will scare us. Why?scare us. Why?

Elements of HorrorElements of Horror

SettingSetting

a deserted (or sparsely inhabited) castle or a deserted (or sparsely inhabited) castle or mansion in a state of ruins or semi-ruinsmansion in a state of ruins or semi-ruins

labyrinths/mazes, dark corridors, and winding labyrinths/mazes, dark corridors, and winding stairs filled with dusty cobwebsstairs filled with dusty cobwebs

castles or mansions which have hidden castles or mansions which have hidden tunnels/staircases, dungeons, underground tunnels/staircases, dungeons, underground passages, crypts, or catacombspassages, crypts, or catacombs

if set in a broken down modern house, the if set in a broken down modern house, the basement or attic becomes the place of terrorbasement or attic becomes the place of terror

threatening natural landscapes, like rugged threatening natural landscapes, like rugged mountains, dark forests, or eerie moors, exhibiting mountains, dark forests, or eerie moors, exhibiting stormy weatherstormy weather

Elements of HorrorElements of Horror

Lighting/MoodLighting/Mood

BlackoutBlackout limited lighting such as moonlight limited lighting such as moonlight

(usually a full moon), candles, (usually a full moon), candles, flashlight, lanternflashlight, lantern

often the light disappears: clouds hide often the light disappears: clouds hide the moon, candles go out, flashlights/ the moon, candles go out, flashlights/ lanterns are dropped and brokenlanterns are dropped and broken

if electric lights exist, they usually if electric lights exist, they usually mysteriously go outmysteriously go out

Other ElementsOther Elements dark secrets surrounding some dark secrets surrounding some

tormented soul who is left to live in tormented soul who is left to live in isolationisolation

ominous omens and cursesominous omens and curses magic, supernatural manifestations, magic, supernatural manifestations,

or the suggestion of the or the suggestion of the supernaturalsupernatural

a damsel in distressa damsel in distress the damsel’s rescuer; usually a loverthe damsel’s rescuer; usually a lover horrifying (or terrifying) events or horrifying (or terrifying) events or

the threat of such happeningsthe threat of such happenings

Victorian Horror NovelsVictorian Horror Novels Classics of the horror genre written Classics of the horror genre written

during the Victorian Era:during the Victorian Era:

1.1. FrankensteinFrankenstein

2.2. DraculaDracula

3.3. The Hound of the BaskervillesThe Hound of the Baskervilles

4.4. The Hunchback of Notre DameThe Hunchback of Notre Dame

5.5. The Picture of Dorian GrayThe Picture of Dorian Gray

6.6. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

7.7. The Invisible ManThe Invisible Man

Elements of Classic Elements of Classic Horror of the Victorian Horror of the Victorian

AgeAgePsychological terror not Psychological terror not physical terrorphysical terror

Not a lot of bloodshedNot a lot of bloodshedSuspense, Suspense, SuspenseSuspense, Suspense, SuspenseThe object was to let the The object was to let the imagination go wild!!!!imagination go wild!!!!

Restraints of the Victorian Restraints of the Victorian AgeAge

Firm moral values. Firm moral values. Suggest the sins. Don’t then name Suggest the sins. Don’t then name

them.them. Class consciousClass conscious Age of change: electricity(the God Age of change: electricity(the God

force), mankind as Godforce), mankind as God Age of great poverty and great Age of great poverty and great

richesriches

How Proper were the How Proper were the Victorians?Victorians?

Ankles as sex symbols?Ankles as sex symbols? Draping of furniture?Draping of furniture? The euphemism of the The euphemism of the

drumstickdrumstick Private dinner parties—Private dinner parties—

scandalous!!!scandalous!!!

Your task:•Create your own horror story by writing a short story between 2 and 3 pages in length•Should be typed in Arial or Times New Roman font•Must include dialogue, characterization, plot, theme, and the elements of horror that we have discussed in this powerpoint, but should NOT include gore!!!•This is not an experiment in how much bloody violence you can write about. It is a piece about fear, suspense, and terror—not blood and guts.

All Future Bram Stokers All Future Bram Stokers or Stephen Kings or Stephen Kings

Short Story MapsShort Story Maps

Due: Friday, October 9, Due: Friday, October 9, 2015 at the beginning of 2015 at the beginning of class.class.

Remember, this is a working rough Remember, this is a working rough draft, which means it can be subject draft, which means it can be subject to any changes that you see fit.to any changes that you see fit.

Due DatesDue Dates

Short Story Map: Friday, October 9, Short Story Map: Friday, October 9, 20152015

11stst Rough Draft: Wednesday, October Rough Draft: Wednesday, October 14, 201514, 2015

22ndnd Rough Draft: Wednesday, October Rough Draft: Wednesday, October 28, 201528, 2015

Final Draft: Wednesday, November Final Draft: Wednesday, November 11, 201511, 2015