'What is the Horror Genre?' Study Guide

According to the author, what is not a way to categorize horror stories?

Monsters, the subject of the horror film (characters); plot.

Is it helpful to define the horror genre by the monsters contained in the story? Why or why not?

No; many horror stories do not even contain monsters.

Why is the suspense in a horror story greater than in other stories?

The reader knows ahead of time that something scary is going to happen.

Why would a bright, beautiful park usually not be a good horror setting?

Typically these settings do not generate enough suspense or terror.

What evidence in the essay suggests that the author is a fan of the horror genre?

We know that she is an author of a criticism of Stephen Kings books, and that she read Dracula at a young age. She also mentions Frankenstein.

What are two sources of horror that the author describes?

She describes horror that comes from within people and horror that infects people from without.

Why do readers of horror expect a strong connection between the setting and the story events?

The story often takes place in a macabre setting, and often times the setting itself is a big part of the plot.

Why did Russell write `What is the Horror Genre?`In other words, what was the author's purpose for writing that essay?

To define and categorize a genre of literature (the horror genre).