Eng 372 Horror and Terror

The difference between terror and horror seems to be a fine line. If terror is considered to be a feeling of dread and is related to being anxious or fearful, whereas horror if a feeling of revulsion after something has occurred one might say that terror comes first and depending on the outcome horror could be one of the results. I am in no way saying that you cannot have one without the other.

For example you could say this picture of Britney Spears is a look or a reaction to terror. She seems very anxious and fearful that the dangerous flying object in the air might hit her in the dome piece at any second. If the ball does or does not make impact and she is not injured she might experience an outcome like we discussed in class. She would take a look around at the beautiful pool scene that surrounds her and feel peace. She might appreciate her vacation more than ever before. However, if the seemingly innocent beach ball contains a hidden grenade and the end result is Britney staring into a pool now filled with blood wondering where her legs have gone; that would most likely be considered horror.

Another example I wanted to share is from The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I think this novel shows the aspects of terror as well as horror in a detailed fashion. Throughout the entire story a father and son are living in a postapocalyptic world hiding from cannibals. They are truly in a state of terror through the entire book. There is always a sense of impending doom. They are anxious, alert, and terrified at all times. There is one particular part in the book that stood out as a feeling of horror rather than terror. The father finds a seemingly abandoned house and searches it to find a group of people who have been hoarded away into a cellar. When the realization comes to him that these people have been captured to eat he is disgusted and flees. At that moment in his journey he is horrified opposed to the general feeling of terror he had been experiencing throughout the story previously.