What does terror mean in literature?

What does terror mean in literature?

The distinction between horror and terror is a standard literary and psychological concept applied especially to Gothic and horror fiction. Terror is usually described as the feeling of dread and anticipation that precedes the horrifying experience.

What is the opposite of terror?

Opposite of sudden and uncontrollable fear or anxiety. calm. calmness. composure. serenity.

How is terror used in Gothic literature?

Gothic novels have conventionally been divided into the schools of terror and horror, schools which have often been neatly grouped under the names of Ann Radcliffe and Matthew Lewis. Terror seeks to evoke by suggestion, by dreadful suspense; horror displays in the hopes of generating revulsion.

What’s the difference between fear and terror?

As nouns the difference between terror and fear is that terror is (uncountable) intense (l), (l), or (l) while fear is (uncountable) a strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.

What is the verb of terror?

terrorise. / (ˈtɛrəˌraɪz) / verb (tr) to coerce or control by violence, fear, threats, etc. to inspire with dread; terrify.

What is the origin of the word terror?

terror (n.) early 15c., “something that intimidates, an object of fear,” from Old French terreur (14c.), from Latin terrorem (nominative terror) “great fear, dread, alarm, panic; object of fear, cause of alarm; terrible news,” from terrere “fill with fear, frighten,” from PIE root *tres- “to tremble” (see terrible).

What’s a another word for terror?

Some common synonyms of terror are alarm, dread, fear, fright, panic, and trepidation. While all these words mean “painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger,” terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

What is the meaning of the word terror?

ter·​ror | ˈter-ər , ˈte-rər. plural terrors. 1 : a state of intense or overwhelming fear overcome by terror people fleeing the scene in terror He lived in terror of being caught.

What does it mean when you have night terrors?

Intrusive phenomena take the form of distressing intrusive thoughts and nightmares or night terrors, dissociative flashback episodes, and psychological distress and physical reactivity on exposure to traumatic reminders.

How old is the word’terror’in history?

The word terror is over 2,100 years old. In ancient Rome, the terror cimbricuswas a state of panic and emer- gency in response to the coming of the Cimbri tribe killers in 105 BCE. This description of terrorism as being rooted in terror is an example of etymology. Etymologyis the study of the origin and evolution of words.

What was the first official definition of terrorism?

September 1793 that “terror is the order of the day.” Maximilien Robespierre, a frontrunner in the French Revolution, declared in 1794 that “terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.” The very first official definition of terrorism in French was provided several years later.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel.

Back To Top