The Role Of Fear And Imagination In Gothic Literature

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Fear and imagination go well together as they both consist of things that can build off each other. Fortunately, Gothic literature uses this analogy to push readers further to become more scared and immersed in the work. However, how can this be explained? When imagination overcomes reason and creates unreasonable fear, there are specific attributes that can develop this multiplex level of conception. Fear and imagination are factors for this, but it also depends on the context and how the reader can associate themselves with the novel. First, fear should be addressed initially. Fear is an unpleasant emotion brought on by believing someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain or a threat. In a Gothic story, to be precise, fear …show more content…

A thought is conjured up through details, characteristics, elements, or whatever the writer wants you to think about. Imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. Thy imagination is something to recon, as it has no boundaries, which makes whatever the reader wants to think, think. Moreover, imagination makes the reader choose how scary the story wants to be, and without the power to even think about the story, it could not have taken over reason nor made you fearful. For example, in "Where Is Here" by Joyce Carol Oates, she uses many descriptive words like "flushed" and "Breath was quickened and audible," which could make the reader envision many things but still be controlled by the wording. Imagination is powerful, and it coincides with fear making it more …show more content…

While traditionally considered a "negative" emotion, fear is vital in keeping us safe as it mobilizes us to cope with potential danger. When under stress, hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released. Your blood pressure and heart rate increase. You start breathing faster—even your blood flow changes. Blood flows away from your heart and into your limbs, making it easier for you to start throwing punches or running for your life. The threat stimulus, such as the sight of a predator, triggers a fear response in the amygdala, which activates areas in preparation for motor functions involved in fight or flight. All of these points of knowledge can be there to help prove that fear can cause this activity. But how does this contribute to real