Comparing Approaches to Horror

Characteristics Name of the story Name of the story

Descriptions of people & places
Where is it set? How is it described? Analyse
language. Is it an everyday setting? What
effect does this have on the reader?
How are the main characters described?
Are they realistic? Monstrous? A combination of
both? Do we know?
Reader Knowledge
What questions are raised in the reader’s mind?
How does the writer raise these questions?
Opening – how does the writer build tension and
encourage you to read on in the opening? Do you
always know what is going on at various points
in the story? Who is good and who is evil?
What effect does this have?
Ending – Is there a twist or is it ambiguous?
What effect does this have? Is everything safe
and the mystery solved at the end?
Omens/Signals/ Clues
Are you given any clues as to what will happen?
Are there recurring images or phrases? How does
this increase the tension?
Language
How does the language add to the tension? Look
at vocabulary/
similes/metaphors/dialogue/length of sentences.
Is it written in 1st or 3rd person? What effect
does this have?
Structure
How do events build up? Are there moments
where normality seems to be restored? How does
it build to a climactic ending?

REMEMBER TO USE QUOTATIONS TO BACK UP EVERY POINT THAT YOU MAKE.