Horror and Terror

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

In my travels I have noticed that a lot of Escapees read/watch/play horror books/movies/games.

But, a recent question in my English course asked, 'What is the difference between Horror and Terror as a literary genre?'

My answer is probably that the feelings Terror inspires are more acute, the sorts of things likely to leave you sleepless for days. Much more psychological, and generally like Horror but turned up to 11.

What, dear Escapees, are your thoughts on the difference between Horror and Terror? (Use any medium, and examples of the genre if you wish.)

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I'd say they're both a state of immense fear and shock but Horror has more grotesque implications than Terror. Terror seems like something big and scary, Horror is more something gross and scary.

 

[Daveman]

I don't like horror movies, I like thrillers, they're always better and scarier.

 

[Simalacrum]

Oh God, this conundrum again. Why did I pick English for A levels?!

Anyways, I think that "terror" is a more basic scary kind of thing, but its also more amplified - "terrified" generally implies your more scared than "horrified".

However, with horror it can also be to do with blood, gore, etc, which terror doesn't have to be. For example, Haiti will likely have a lot of horrifying scenes in it right now... Even if someone isn't afraid of it, he/she would still probably describe it as "horrible" "horrifying" etc. If someone isn't terrified of something, he/she will likely NOT describe it as "terrifying", etc.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Horror

Terror

Believe me, I know the difference.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Interesting question!.

I think terror has less depth to it than horror, that is to say terror is more primal while horror is more cerebral. Or, horror is the calm before the storm while terror *is* the storm.

Either way they both serve the scare you.

 

[Timotei]

In my opinion, horror has somethign more to do with the more the spectacle while terror has to do with our deep-seeded primal response to something which scares us.

Ex. Seeing a bloody dismembered body hanging from a giant hook is horrifying, while say being chased my a grizzly bear would be terrifying.

 

[Kiefer13]

Personally, I would say that terror is more direct and adrenaline-pumping, whereas horror relies more on suspense and dread of things to come.

Examples:

Terror: Fleeing through the woods, a terrifying monster right on your heels.
Horror: Being all alone in an abandoned country manor at night, catching half glimpses of something in the shadows and hearing strange noises.

That's just my opinion anyway. I'm sure both have more properly recognized defintions.

 

[Sneaklemming]

Wait theres a terror genre? I thought it all came under the genre of Horror?

 

[ostro-whiskey]

Psh, semantics.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Interesting question!.

I think terror has less depth to it than horror, that is to say terror is more primal while horror is more cerebral. Or, horror is the calm before the storm while terror *is* the storm.

Either way they both serve the scare you.

Both you and miracle of sound win the thread, I believe.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Wait theres a terror genre? I thought it all came under the genre of Horror?

As far as I'm aware, there is no terror genre, this was just a question put to my english seminar group, since we're studying gothic literature, which focuses on terrifying and horrifying the reader. They asked us what the difference was betwee being terrified and horrified, and thus what the difference between terror and horror was.

 

[Ekonk]

Horror

Terror

Believe me, I know the difference.

Terror looks like it's more of an impact.

 

[Sneaklemming]

Wait theres a terror genre? I thought it all came under the genre of Horror?

As far as I'm aware, there is no terror genre, this was just a question put to my english seminar group, since we're studying gothic literature, which focuses on terrifying and horrifying the reader. They asked us what the difference was betwee being terrified and horrified, and thus what the difference between terror and horror was.

Oh right. But it's it just Terror is scary, and Horror, is horrified, or appalled.

 

[Mr_spamamam]

Horror is more of a thing that you feel with the body, where as terror is more of a physcological thing

 

[x0ny]

Horror is the feeling of absolute dread.
Terror is the feeling of being scared.

 

[Pandairon]

Interesting question!.

I think terror has less depth to it than horror, that is to say terror is more primal while horror is more cerebral. Or, horror is the calm before the storm while terror *is* the storm.

Either way they both serve the scare you.

Both you and miracle of sound win the thread, I believe.

You win this thread for correctly picking the people who won it at the start^^

 

[MagnetoHydroDynamics]

The distinction between horror and terror is a standard literary and psychological concept applied especially to Gothic literature and film. Terror is usually described as the feeling of dread and anticipation that precedes the horrifying experience. By contrast, horror is the feeling of revulsion that usually occurs after something frightening is seen, heard, or otherwise experienced. It is the feeling one gets after coming to an awful realization or experiencing a deeply unpleasant occurrence. In other words, horror is more related to being shocked or scared (being horrified), while terror is more related to being anxious or fearful, being terrified. Horror has also been defined as a combination of terror and revulsion.

/thread

 

[cleverlymadeup]

terror is fear but on a larger scale

horror is something shocking/disgusting