any people define horror by its subjects. We all think of creatures like Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, and the wolfman [1] as monsters in the horror genre. Each one of these creatures has a history and developed over a period of time. But we also know that horror covers more than just these monsters. We could all make long lists of the kind of creatures we identify with horror, especially when we think of films as well as literature. The minute we would start to make such a list we would also realize that not all monsters are alike and that not all horror deals with monsters. The subject approach is not the clearest way to define this genre.

Question

Some students of this genre find that the best way to examine it is to deal with the way horror fiction is organized or structured. Examining the organization of a horror story shows that it shares certain traits with other types of fiction. Horror stories share the use of suspense as a tactic with many other kinds of literature. The tension we feel when a character goes into the attic, down into the basement, or just into the abandoned house is partially a result of suspense. We don't know what is going to happen. But that suspense is intensi- fied by our knowledge of the genre. We know thatcharacters involved in the world of horror always meet something awful when they go where they shouldn't. Part of the tension is created because they are doing something we know is going to get them in trouble. Stephen King refers directly to our anticipation of horror. In Salem's Lot[2] Susan approaches the house which is the source of evil. "She found herself thinking of those drive-in horror movie epics where the heroine goes venturing up the narrow attic stairs...or down into some dark, cobwebby cellar...and she...thinking:... I'd never do that!" Of course Susan's fears are justified. She does end up dead in the basement, a victim of the vampire.

What are the main idea's for the paragraphs

Answer 1

Certainly! Here are the main ideas for each of the paragraphs:

1. First Paragraph: The definition of horror cannot be solely based on its subjects, such as classic monsters like Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, and the wolfman. Horror encompasses a broader range of themes and elements that extend beyond these specific creatures, highlighting that not all horror features monsters or is defined by them.

2. Second Paragraph: An analysis of the structure and organization of horror fiction reveals common traits that it shares with other genres. One key element is the use of suspense, which creates tension in the audience. The knowledge of what typically happens to characters in horror—particularly when they venture into dangerous or forbidden spaces—heightens this suspense. Stephen King's example from Salem's Lot illustrates the anticipation of horror and how characters’ actions lead to inevitable doom, reinforcing the genre's conventions.

These main ideas emphasize the complexity of defining the horror genre and its reliance on certain narrative techniques, particularly suspense.