Mazes of the Serpent : An Anatomy of Horror Narrative

In a compact, readable, and accessible book, Roger B. Salomon explores the nature of horror in literature and in life. Rather than minimizing horror by narrowly associating it with psychological drives, persecution, or extremism, he approaches horror through the medium of narrative as a significant and enduring physical and metaphysical reality. Salomon focuses on fictions of horror, including eighteenth-century Gothic and nineteenth-century ghost stories. He does not, however, isolate literary examples from more general human issues, including religious belief. Mazes of the Serpent takes up examples of horror from historical and personal narratives―including battle memoirs and Holocaust testimonies―as Salomon identifies certain common themes and qualities that cross the boundary between fiction and actual human experience. In This Book Roger B. Salomon Explores The Nature Of Horror In Literature And In Life. Rather Than Minimizing Horror By Narrowly Associating It With Psychological Drives, Persecution, Or Extremism, He Approaches Horror Through The Medium Of Narrative As A Significant And Enduring Physical And Metaphysical Reality. Salomon Focuses On Fictions Of Horror, Including Eighteenth-century Gothic And Nineteenth-century Ghost Stories. He Does Not, However, Isolate Literary Examples From More General Human Issues, Including Religious Belief. Mazes Of The Serpent Takes Up Examples Of Horror From Historical And Personal Narratives - Including Battle Memoirs And Holocaust Testimonies - As Salomon Identifies Certain Common Themes And Qualities That Cross The Boundary Between Fiction And Actual Human Experience.--jacket. Alternate Worlds -- Ghosts And Other Monsters -- Conventions Of Absence: The Style Of Literary Horror -- Beyond Realism: Horror Narrative As Parody -- Horror And The Absence Of Redemption. Roger B. Salomon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 165-169) And Index. "In this book Roger B. Salomon explores the nature of horror in literature and in life. Rather than minimizing horror by narrowly associating it with psychological drives, persecution, or extremism, he approaches horror through the medium of narrative as a significant and enduring physical and metaphysical reality.". "Salomon focuses on fictions of horror, including eighteenth-century Gothic and nineteenth-century ghost stories. He does not, however, isolate literary examples from more general human issues, including religious belief. Mazes of the Serpent takes up examples of horror from historical and personal narratives - including battle memoirs and Holocaust testimonies - as Salomon identifies certain common themes and qualities that cross the boundary between fiction and actual human experience."--BOOK JACKET. Cover 1 Mazes of the Serpent 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: Horror Explained (Away) 14 1. Alternate Worlds 20 Thresholds 22 Atavism 27 Mazes of the Serpent 33 2. Ghosts and Other Monsters 41 Ghosts and Death 41 Some Ghost Stories: The Spectre Revealed 49 More Substantial Monsters 66 3. Conventions of Absence: The Style of Literary Horror 84 Witnessing: Narratives of the Reporter 88 Hieroglyphics, or The Language of Horror Narrative 97 "Beads Strung or the Same String": The Absence of Plot 109 Desolate Spaces 114 4. Beyond Realism: Horror Narrative as Parody 125 The Limits of Realism 125 Dark Parody 137 5. Horror and the Absence of Redemption 158 Works Cited 178 Index 184