Describe in your own words what a successful horror story does well and share with the group your favorite horror story.

Please read chapters 1-5 of We Have Always Lived in the Castle (pp 1-73) by Shirley Jackson. This is a fascinating short novel. It bears some obvious (but perhaps surface-level) similarities to Housekeeping. That aside, the book is fun. It is a haunted house-type of story. Let’s see if you find it frightening. Or eerie. That is a better word. Let’s see how eerie you find the book. You’ll get through the book quickly quickly, but I’m going to ask you to do a little extra viewing and reading along with this one.

DISCUSSION BOARD 9
Option 1: Shirley Jackson is widely recognized as a master of the horror story, a genre that most people are fascinated by, even if they claim to hate scary stories. For this post, define the horror story in your own words. Do not go to any publication for a definition. Just describe in your own words what a successful horror story does well and share with the group your favorite horror story. Next, explain why you think the first half of We Have Always Lived in the Castle (the set up) succeeds or fails as a horror story. This part of the question is, of course, a matter of opinion and taste. However, it is expected that you will be sensitive to the pacing requirements of any good story meant to frighten you. How well does Jackson pace the first half? What is especially creepy? What clues are you given that some awful things await? Be sure to make specific reference to moments across the first half of the novella to support your observations.

Option 2: It’s been said that the first half or two-thirds of a horror story should be neurosis and the final half or third should be psychosis. Explain what you think is meant by this remark and examine the way Jackson lays the foundation of her tale by documenting the neurosis of this family. What oddities and eccentricities fill the first half of the book? Is there any charm here, or are you coming to be annoyed by the family? It is important to chart your reactions to them so you can measure yourself against the townspeople when they appear in the second half of the book.
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Added on 11.04.2016 19:57
Trying to find the book and read pp1-73. If you cannot find the book, contact me please.

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