WEIRD HORROR AND THE UNKNOWN

The purpose of this paper is to study the different authors responsible for the creation and widely popularized genre of weird fiction, with its main focus being the most influential author in this genre – H. P. Lovecraft. We will give an overall general analysis of horror elements and unique characteristics pertaining to the genre of weird horror. We will begin the analysis by tracing its origins back to its predecessor – Gothic fiction, and outlining the aspects which make weird horror what it is today. Some of the most important components in making weird fiction what it is as a genre are the concepts of the other, the outside and the unknown. This paper attempts to explain the importance of these notions, and how they play a crucial role in any discussions on the subject of weird