Stephen King's work is distinctively recognizable because of its horrific style and effect it has on its reader. King is a well-known writer of many short stories, books, and movies, his work has impacted the lives of many and many more to come. His short stories all show profound evidence of horrific imagery, metaphors, and Symbolism throughout the text, he uses this to captivate the reader.
Most readers identify Stephen King’s works as horror, however he sees them as suspense novels (citation needed). Stephen King is often associated with the horror genre because of his excessive use of gore in his novels. However, gore is merely a side agenda that helps King shape his ideas. Instead, King’s main goal is to create suspense. By creating a vivid image of the impact of a murder, rape, or other catastrophe he is able to foster his goal by unnerving his reader and creating a conflict. Stephen King’s extensive and creative use of detail and literary elements in his novels assists the motive for the conflict between good and evil, constructs a complete depiction of the supernatural and reality, and builds an ongoing sense of tension.
Suspense is a detail that many horror writer use to catch the attention of many readers and keep them holding on till the end. Just as W.F. Harvey does when creating suspense in his story August Heat. Mr. Harvey used three methods to create his suspense for his story, foreshadowing, withholding information, and reversal. With these three methods he is able to make the reader feel like, “ We may even hold our breath without realizing it as we read on eagerly to find out how the story ends”(Source 1).
In the world of film, suspense has been included as one of the elements that’s guides the audience throughout the film. Suspense is a feeling mixed with excitement and tension which draws the audience into the story and generate a feeling of driving force. Suspense can be felt in all kind of films, it is mostly felt whenever an observed suspended drama is left uncertain, with anxiety and pressure being the prime feeling felt as part of the circumstances leaving the audience to wonder what will happen next.
Do you enjoy watching murder, the paranormal, and any other morbid scene which makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, your palms sweat, and your adrenaline surge? Why people enjoy watching murder, tragedy, and carnage in their spare time has been a mysterious phenomenon. If these gruesomely horrific scenes would not be enjoyable in real life, why is watching a recreation of it so riveting? Stephen King, a world-renowned horror novelist, wrote “Why We Crave Horror Movies” to give insight as to why horror movies, although gruesome and morbid, captivate audiences. King also aims to persuade readers to continue to watch horror movies, arguing that they are a crucial part of keeping sanity. King delves into this psychological aspect of humans and believes that the desire to watch horror films is a normal tendency of humankind. “Why We Crave Horror Movies” includes appeals to emotion, logic, and author credibility in order to convince readers of the positive, normal desire to watch horror films, why it is important to watch them, and why the reader should believe what the author is saying. King utilizes the rhetorical devices—pathos, logos, and ethos—in an effective way through the use of metaphor, logic, humor, and emotion to persuade readers that watching horror films is normal.
His stories are interesting and the beginning catches your attention. His horror genre is amazing with the details he uses in his stories. He is also very good at describing the mood and setting of his stories. The way he describes his character is a little different than other writers Stephens characters are a little more odd then usual. “ His fat lips split back like bladders to reveal teeth the size of piano keys. “
Edgar Allan Poe is known for writing creepy stories similar to another author, Stephen King. King is quite younger than Poe but is said to have a synonymous eerie writing style. Although their lives might not compare, they both were, at one point, household names. Both authors were pretty popular mystery/horror authors for their time. While Poe never won any major awards, King did. He was awarded with The Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement and The Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by the National Book Awards. Both are incredible and very talented writers.
Watching a scary movie tends to heighten our emotions, allowing fear, excitement, and anticipation to course through our veins. Many experience an adrenaline rush, due to their intensified emotions, causing a pull towards watching horror movies. This thrill is an unexplainable sensation, that has the ability to captivate the viewer. Furthermore, the suspense posses us to continue to watch the movie, keeping us at edge of our seats. We become driven to know what will happen next. Moreover, the dramatic irony in horror movies has a tendency to keep the viewer engaged. For example, the viewer knows who the murderer is, however the characters on screen perceive him to be a trusted confidant. Although, many people are scared to face their fears,
Stephen King is one of the most influential authors of today. His award-winning novels and short stories are known world -wide. His many awards and nominations have created a space for him in the literary world. King is a true “Horror King”, for his books, turned movies, have scared millions world- wide. Stephen King has helped bring America to prominence through his many books, essays and short stories.
Stephen King, author of fiction, provides literary elements in the C.V. portion of On Writing:
Finally, some people don’t like watching or reading horror to be entertained. Despite the macabre fact that multiple women are killed in the short story “Strawberry Spring,” the experience is a “peculiar sort of fun” (King, “Why We Crave” 2). King explains that horror movies “deliberately appeals to all that is worst in us” (King, “Why We Crave” 3). Referring to this quote, King’s point is that all that seems frightening can be a simple joke to people, a way to make people, once again, release certain emotions, which could make horror movies particularly fun. Nevertheless, many agree with his statements, however, not all agree that to be entertained you need to watch or read horror. In the short story “ Strawberry Spring” King uses the mysterious problems of murders and suspense to grab the reader's attention. As intense as a horror movie or story can be
The genre of horror has become extremely popular nowadays. There are a lot of talented writers whose names the whole world knows as masters of this genre. Among them are Stephen King, H.P Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, Maurice Level, Dean Koontz, Algernon Blackwood and others. I can’t help but mention two writers who contributed their lives to this genre, and then changed the meaning of the word horror in literature. They are Edgar Allan Poe and Shirley Jackson. Both, in their own periods, revolutionized the horror genre, but they approached it differently. Even though they are both horror writers they use different methods to create
Many writers aspire to become well known for their texts. But this is easier said than done. Writers that have become household names didn’t have their success handed to them. They went through struggles and hardships, which they preserved through to become successful. Stephen King details his path of becoming Stephen King, how he became the writer who created Carrie, in his text On Writing. Based on William Zinsser’s text On Writing Well, King’s narrative of his life was both effective and interesting because he followed the main points made in Zinsser’s text, although not all of them.
Stephen King is considered one of the greatest horror and science fiction novelists of all time. With an amazing 98 or more books, you could say that he is quite a professional. Some of his books include “The Shining”, “Salem’s Lot” and “Misery”. Most of his books have been made into movies or short films, such as “Carrie” or “Creepshow”. Stephen King is one of the greatest horror/sci-fi authors of all time.
Mystery, imagination, and vivid imagery elicit and entice an audience. A storyteller who tampers with a mysterious mood attracts the audience into his or her story. By alluding to dramatic elements and leaving details unexplained curiosity kindles within a reader, causing one to generate answers for the unanswered. These techniques place the audience on the edge of their seat wanting more, while experiencing the action clearly in their minds. In The Grossing, McCarthy attracts readers to his story by appealing to the audience’s intrigue of mystery and imagination and paints a picture using vivid imagery that makes the audience feel as if they are experiencing the action first hand to connect the audience with the main character and make the impact of the experience resonate.