The uncanny

Definition

The uncanny refers to a feeling of unease or discomfort that arises when something familiar is rendered strange or unsettling. This concept often involves elements that are both known and unknown, creating a sense of ambiguity that can provoke fear or anxiety. In literature, the uncanny plays a significant role in exploring human psychology, confronting the familiar in unfamiliar ways, and highlighting the tension between reality and the surreal.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The concept of the uncanny was popularized by Sigmund Freud in his 1919 essay 'Das Unheimliche,' where he explored its psychological implications.
2. In German Romanticism, the uncanny is often manifested through nature and the sublime, reflecting a tension between beauty and terror.
3. Literary works during this period frequently utilized the uncanny to challenge perceptions of reality and explore themes of identity and self-awareness.
4. The uncanny can be found in various forms of art and literature, including ghost stories and tales of the supernatural, where familiar settings become sites of horror.
5. The interplay between the known and unknown is crucial in creating an uncanny effect, as it distorts perceptions and evokes deep emotional responses.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of the uncanny relate to themes present in German Romanticism?
  • The uncanny aligns closely with themes in German Romanticism by emphasizing the complexity of human emotions and the interplay between beauty and terror. Romantic writers often depicted nature as both awe-inspiring and threatening, creating experiences that evoke feelings of wonder alongside fear. This duality captures the essence of the uncanny, where familiar landscapes are transformed into unsettling environments that reflect inner turmoil and existential questions.
• Discuss how Freud's exploration of the uncanny contributes to our understanding of its significance in literature.
  • Freud's exploration of the uncanny highlights its psychological dimensions, suggesting that feelings of unease arise from repressed thoughts or memories resurfacing. This idea contributes to our understanding of literature by revealing how characters' encounters with the uncanny can symbolize internal conflicts or societal fears. By integrating Freud's theories, we see how literary works use elements of the uncanny to delve into deeper psychological truths about human nature.
• Evaluate how the use of the uncanny in literature reflects broader cultural anxieties during the Romantic period.
  • The use of the uncanny in literature during the Romantic period reflects broader cultural anxieties surrounding industrialization, scientific advancements, and shifting social norms. As people faced rapid changes in their environments, literature became a space to explore fears about alienation and loss of identity. By portraying familiar settings as strange or menacing, authors tapped into collective uncertainties, revealing deeper concerns about humanity's relationship with nature, technology, and self-perception.

Related terms

Unheimlich: A German term meaning 'unhomely' or 'unfamiliar,' which is directly linked to the idea of the uncanny and emphasizes feelings of dislocation and alienation.

Friedrich Schlegel: A key figure in German Romanticism, Schlegel's writings often reflect themes of irony and ambiguity, which align with the concept of the uncanny.

Eerie: Describes a sense of supernatural or unsettling strangeness that often accompanies encounters with the uncanny, evoking feelings of fear and wonder.