Horror Versus Terror in Gothic LiteratureGothic literature can be described as literature used to terrify people by describing situations that lie on the border between reality and unreality. The goal of Gothic literature is to terrify people, not to horrify them. The definition of horror and terror is often misunderstood, many people think they have the same meaning. Devendra Varma, in Gothic Flame, described the difference between these words as "a terrible apprehension and a sickening realization." A horrible situation is usually described in a very distinct way. It is usually something grotesque and can be so terrible as to be unrealistic. It gives an accurate representation of what is described, usually by physical characteristics. Its intention is to frighten and frighten the reader. A terrifying situation is also used to scare the reader, but it rather suggests something that is going to happen instead of describing it exactly. This allows the reader's imagination to determine the story so that there is a sense of uncertainty. This seems to give a feeling of terror instead of a feeling of alarm as in the case of horror. William Faulkner, in "That Evening Sun", uses the distinction between the words terror and horror to describe the child Jason's feelings of terror regarding racial differences by creating a situation that would be terrifying to the reader. to the terror Jason feels about race, is illustrated several times throughout the story. Faulkner wants the reader to understand the meaning of terror so that they understand Jason's terror. He particularly uses sound to terrify the reader. "One night we woke up to the sound. It wasn't a song and it was... middle of paper... the possibility of being put in their place. The difference between the The words terror and horror are essential to the understanding of “This Evening Sun” as Gothic literature. Varma further explains this distinction by saying: “Terror thus creates an intangible atmosphere of spiritual psychic terror, a certain superstitious thrill. "horror resorts to a cruder presentation of the macabre: by an accurate representation of what is physically horrible and revolting, against a much more terrible background of spiritual sadness and despair" Faulkner uses the definitions of these words to. communicate that people who are prejudiced are not They are afraid of people from other backgrounds because of their appearance or behavior Rather, they are terrified of being treated the way they are treated as well. terrified because they don't know what makes them so different..