A Word to the Wild

Copyright 2019 by Gary L. Pullman

It is both entertaining and informative to type a word associated with the horror genre in one's favorite Internet image browser and see the resulting pictures. (Personally, I prefer Bing.)

"Creepy"

For example, I typed the word eerie. As a result, images of fog-enshrouded woods, a tunnel, a full moon gliding among clouds in a dark sky, and several abandoned houses appeared. (Other pictures showed up as well, but not in any number.)

"Eerie"

The results suggested the question, What is eerie about these pictures? What is eerie about—

• fog-enshrouded woods,
• a tunnel,
• a full moon gliding among clouds in a dark sky
• abandoned houses?

These objects are not eerie in themselves.

"Eerie"

They are only eerie as symbols, as representations of physical conditions and limitations and, at times, emotional conditions. For example, fog reduces visibility; it “blinds” us to some extent. When we are robbed of our senses in a wilderness (woods), we have cause for disquiet. Unable to see, we are unable to defend ourselves.

"Eerie"

Likewise, even the loners among us crave society to some extent. We are social creatures—and for good reason. Friends and acquaintances don't merely relieve us of loneliness and boredom; potentially, at least, they are also a source of protection and assistance. If a friend doesn't know first aid procedures, he or she can telephone for paramedics if we are ourselves disabled for some reason. A house, as a home, is a sanctuary in which family members live, united by love which includes concerns for our safety and well-being. An abandoned house suggests that the family who abandoned the house are gone; so is the security blanket of our parents and siblings. We are cast out, alone, and vulnerable.

"Eerie"

What about the tunnel and the full moon gliding among clouds in a dark sky?

Such images will suggest one set of ideas and emotions to one writer and another set, perhaps, to another author. However, in most instances, words connoting horror will themselves find visual expression in the images on the Internet. In so doing, they can help writers of horror isolate the fears and anxieties of their readers and to tap into those feelings by describing settings that contain what we may call the elements of horror.

Try lots of words and their synonyms.

Here are a few results using words other than 'eerie.”

Frightening

Grotesque

Horrible