The uncanny

Definition

The uncanny refers to the unsettling feeling that arises when something familiar becomes strange or eerie. This concept often explores the tension between what is known and unknown, blurring the line between reality and the supernatural, creating a sense of discomfort. It manifests in literature through elements that provoke fear or unease, inviting readers to confront the hidden, often darker aspects of human experience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The uncanny often appears in Gothic literature through themes like haunted houses, ghosts, and the presence of repressed fears manifesting in unexpected ways.
2. In Dark Romanticism, the uncanny is utilized to explore the darker sides of human nature, including madness and moral ambiguity, often questioning what lies beneath the surface of reality.
3. The concept was notably analyzed by Sigmund Freud, who associated the uncanny with the return of repressed memories or desires that create psychological conflict.
4. Literature utilizing the uncanny often leaves readers feeling unsettled, as it challenges their perceptions of normalcy and familiar surroundings.
5. The uncanny is not just about horror; it also raises philosophical questions about existence, identity, and what it means to be human.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of the uncanny enhance the themes in Gothic literature?
  • The uncanny enhances themes in Gothic literature by introducing elements that evoke fear and unease through familiar settings turned strange. This is often achieved with haunted locations, supernatural occurrences, or characters facing their own repressed fears. By doing so, Gothic works explore the fragility of sanity and reality, inviting readers to confront unsettling aspects of human experience.
• Analyze how Dark Romanticism uses the uncanny to challenge conventional notions of morality and identity.
  • Dark Romanticism employs the uncanny to confront readers with moral ambiguities and complex identities that blur traditional boundaries. Through characters who grapple with inner demons or face eerie situations reflecting their psychological states, these works push readers to question societal norms and delve into darker facets of humanity. The uncanny thus serves as a powerful tool for exploring existential dilemmas and ethical uncertainties.
• Evaluate the role of repression in creating the sense of the uncanny in literature and its significance in understanding human psychology.
  • Repression plays a critical role in creating a sense of the uncanny in literature, as it brings forth buried fears or desires into unsettling manifestations. This concept reflects Freud's theories about how unacknowledged elements can disrupt one's sense of self and reality. By examining these dynamics within texts, readers gain insights into human psychology, revealing how suppressed emotions can resurface in eerie forms, challenging our understanding of identity and existence.

Related terms

Uncanny Valley: A phenomenon where humanoid objects that closely resemble humans elicit feelings of eeriness or discomfort in observers due to their almost-human appearance.

Double: A literary motif where a character has a doppelgänger or alter ego, representing duality and often leading to themes of identity crisis and the exploration of self.

Psychological Horror: A subgenre of horror that emphasizes the unstable mental states of characters, creating an atmosphere of dread and fear rooted in the mind rather than external threats.