the allure of fear
English ii
IHS Library 24-25
What evokes fear in you?
Clowns?
Serial killers?
a zombie apocalypse?
Why do people enjoy stories that keep them on pins and needles?
(not literally of course, lol)
Authors evoke fear in the reader by torturing their characters. The author preys upon the characters’ anxiety, and if they do a good job, they’re also preying upon the reader’s anxiety. They hold the reader in the same suspense as the character.
Here’s how you pick a suspenseful novel:
- Pick up a book.
- Scan the summary inside the book jacket or on the back of the book.
- Does the character have something to fear? Does it look like this novel will be suspenseful?
One thing you can do is look for ominous language... menacing words full of doom that threaten.
Examples of ominous language:
“There's no escape from this room. Full of menace and suspense, it's an unputdownable thriller.” (Escape Room)
"[A] deliriously creepy tale...that'll keep your nightmares up at night." (Burn Our Bodies Down)
“If you loved American Horror Story 1984, you'll die for this paperback original thriller mashup of Agatha Christie's The A.B.C. Murders and Riverdale in which a game turns deadly with a killer who picks his victims one by one, letter by letter.” (The Game)
“If you love One of Us Is Lying and binge-watched Thirteen Reasons Why, get ready for a heart-wrenching psychological thriller about a girl who knows her twin sister better than anyone . . . or does she? Taut and atmospheric, The Window will keep you guessing until the end.” (The Window)
Don't care for gruesome stories?
(me neither)
A suspenseful thriller doesn’t have to include scenes right out of a horror film. Psychological suspense can focus on the instability of the human mind. The brain controls our thoughts, memories, emotions, motor skills, and ability to breathe. It can mess with us and make us all kinds of scared.
- Dolore magna aliquam eratt
Time to find your book!
Check out the IHS library catalog!
bit.ly/ihsbooks
Potential Search Terms:
- thrillers
- suspense
- fear
- scary
THANK YOU!
credit: A lot of this information was created by Mrs. Stone, our previous librarian.
Eng II Unit 1 - Allure of Fear
Independence HS
Created on August 9, 2023
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Transcript
the allure of fear
English ii
IHS Library 24-25
What evokes fear in you?
Clowns?
Serial killers?
a zombie apocalypse?
Why do people enjoy stories that keep them on pins and needles?
(not literally of course, lol)
Authors evoke fear in the reader by torturing their characters. The author preys upon the characters’ anxiety, and if they do a good job, they’re also preying upon the reader’s anxiety. They hold the reader in the same suspense as the character.
Here’s how you pick a suspenseful novel:
One thing you can do is look for ominous language... menacing words full of doom that threaten.
Examples of ominous language:
“There's no escape from this room. Full of menace and suspense, it's an unputdownable thriller.” (Escape Room) "[A] deliriously creepy tale...that'll keep your nightmares up at night." (Burn Our Bodies Down) “If you loved American Horror Story 1984, you'll die for this paperback original thriller mashup of Agatha Christie's The A.B.C. Murders and Riverdale in which a game turns deadly with a killer who picks his victims one by one, letter by letter.” (The Game) “If you love One of Us Is Lying and binge-watched Thirteen Reasons Why, get ready for a heart-wrenching psychological thriller about a girl who knows her twin sister better than anyone . . . or does she? Taut and atmospheric, The Window will keep you guessing until the end.” (The Window)
Don't care for gruesome stories?
(me neither)
A suspenseful thriller doesn’t have to include scenes right out of a horror film. Psychological suspense can focus on the instability of the human mind. The brain controls our thoughts, memories, emotions, motor skills, and ability to breathe. It can mess with us and make us all kinds of scared.
Time to find your book!
Check out the IHS library catalog!
bit.ly/ihsbooks
Potential Search Terms:
THANK YOU!
credit: A lot of this information was created by Mrs. Stone, our previous librarian.