ÕUDUSFIKTSIOONI NARRATIIVSED TEHNIKAD
Narrative Techniques in Horror Fiction

Summary/Abstract: The narrative levels of horror fiction are discussed, the focus lying on narrative devices and character building. The examples used come from Estonian literature. Also, some receptive issues, such as the mechanisms of triggering emotional effects and of producing aesthetic enjoyment are touched upon. The main features of horror fiction as a literary genre are pointed out and the specifics of Estonian horror fiction, with a typology of relevant texts, are introduced. Horror fiction feeds on all kinds of horrific phenomena. In most cases the stories are told to startle or scare, involving supernatural powers, which cannot be explained by what is generally considered a rational reason. The psychological aim of all horror fiction is generation of fear, both in the fictional world of the character and in the reader’s mind. While horror experience is based on a conviction that something impossible has been realized, fear is generated first and foremost by the unknown. At the same time, the horrific beings, phenomena and events should be depicted as psychologically credible. Nimbly shifting between the realistic and fantastic, horror fiction mingles the possible with the impossible, the natural with the supernatural, and the moral with the immoral. Raising thrilling questions, a horror narrative will interlard the text with delays, putting off the solution – destruction or survival of evil – as far as possible, thus offering the reader the pleasure of suspense. In Estonian horror fiction three main trends can be distinguished: (1) horror in folklore texts, (2) horror in high-quality literary texts, (3) horror as a self-conscious literary genre and a branch of popular literature. Estonian horror fiction, rooted in folkloric beliefs, legends and myths, was born as a literary elaboration of oral tradition. Although horror motifs have been used by many authors (Kreutzwald, Tuglas, Gailit, Jaik, Tammsaare, Laipaik etc.), the honour of conscious creation of the horror genre in recent Estonian literature belongs to Matt Barker, Indrek Hargla, Karen Orlau etc.

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