Rhetorical devices
In his essay “Why We Crave Horror Movies”, Stephen King uses rhetorical devices to create a connection with his readers and to make his arguments more interesting and entertainin…
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Analogy
In his essay, Stephen King uses analogy (a comparison between different things, meant to show their similarity) to explain his ideas and better convey his message. For example, the experience of watching a horror movie is compared to riding a rollercoaster (ll. 13-21). Through this analogy, King aims to show readers that people watch horror movies to test their courage and experience fear in a context that they understand is safe; at the same time, he makes a point that horror movies, like rollercoasters, are less intere…
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Antithesis and juxtaposition
To explain his ideas, King also uses antithesis (the comparison of two opposite things) in his essay.
Normality, according to King, is somewhere between the obvious beauty for which celebrities such as Robert Redford and Diana Ross are admired, and the horrific images portrayed in horror films, like the melting woman in the Die, Monster, Die! horror classic (ll. 23-28). King uses the opposing concepts of beauty and ugliness to show that people watch horror movies to feel normal – although they might not be as beautiful as movie stars, they are certainly not as ugly as horror movie characters.
King …
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Tricolon
King uses tricolon (mentioning things in threes) in his essay to give more depth to his message and make his ideas more memorable.
For example, King states horror movies provide psychic relief, especially since “this invitation to lapse into simplicity, irrationality and even outright madness is extended so rarely.” (ll. 42-43). Here, the purpose of the tricolon is to show that horror movies…
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Imagery and metaphors
Stephen King uses imagery at the start of his essay to remind his readers that death is unavoidable: “those final worms and grubs that are waiting so patiently underground.” (ll. 6-7)
To make readers remember how it feels to watch a horror movie, he compares it to the feeling of riding a rollercoaster (ll. 16-18) and references a character from the Die, Monster, Die! classic horror movie. (ll. 24-25). Readers are reminded of the type of images they witness when watch…
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Rhetorical questions and hypophora
In his essay, Stephen King uses rhetorical questions to make the article more appealing and encourage readers to contemplate his words.
For example, he states that, when we go to the cinema to watch a horror movie, “we are daring the nightmare” (ll. 10-11). He goes on to ask: “Why?” and gives possible answers (ll. 13-14). This is ca…
