Research Information System
EFES ULUSLARARASI BİLİMSEL ARAŞTIRMALARDA GÜNCEL GELİŞMELER KONGRESİ, İzmir, Turkey, 15 - 16 September 2024, pp.1-2
ABSTRACT
H. P. Lovecraft’s "The Music of Erich Zann"
intricately explores the themes of light and darkness to create an atmosphere
of dread and uncertainty. In Lovecraft’s
tale, darkness transforms familiar settings into realms of fear and
disorientation. The absence of light alters perceptions, making the known world
appear strange and threatening. Lovecraft uses this interplay to explore how
darkness can obscure reality and amplify anxiety, while light serves to
highlight and delineate.
This study investigates how Lovecraft employs these
elements to manipulate the reader’s emotional and psychological response.
Traditionally, light symbolizes clarity, order, and rationality, while darkness
represents chaos, fear, and the unknown. These symbols are deeply rooted in
cultural and historical contexts, from biblical creation narratives to
Enlightenment ideals.
The study also incorporates Tim Edensor's analysis in
"The Gloomy City: Rethinking the Relationship Between Light and
Dark," which examines how light and darkness have historically shaped
urban experiences and symbolic meanings. By examining Lovecraft’s use of light
and shadow alongside Edensor's insights, this analysis reveals how these
elements influence narrative tone and character experience, enriching our
understanding of their profound impact in literature.
Keywords: Urban Gothic Literature, Gothic Literature,
Fantastic Literature, Light, Darkness