Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song

Horror novels often celebrate gore, darkness, madness and emotional repression as the central themes to invoke terror and horror in readers. In novels written by Malaysian author Tunku Halim, Dark Demon Rising (1997) and Juriah’s Song (2008) the elements of grotesque and nature provide the imp...

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Main Author: Ahmad Jafni, Nur Fatin Syuhada
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2015
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Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/99437/1/FBMK%202016%2089%20UPMIR.pdf
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spelling my-upm-ir.994372023-04-11T00:53:15Z Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song 2015-12 Ahmad Jafni, Nur Fatin Syuhada Horror novels often celebrate gore, darkness, madness and emotional repression as the central themes to invoke terror and horror in readers. In novels written by Malaysian author Tunku Halim, Dark Demon Rising (1997) and Juriah’s Song (2008) the elements of grotesque and nature provide the impetus and the plot, thus invoking horror. Throughout both novels, grotesque elements and imagery are woven into narrative to provide the motif of horror. Apart from the evident elements of grotesque, nature as a backdrop is also significant, as both novels are set in rural villages in the east coast of Malaysia and the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. The grotesque and nature are juxtaposed as main elements in these novels. Both elements are omnipresent and pivotal in developing the plot. Noting the relationship between the two elements, this research first highlight the relationship between the grotesque and nature as an aesthetical mode in the selected novels; and secondly, explore the relationship between the grotesque and nature through the portrayal of the human-nature interconnectedness in the selected novels. This research applies the concepts of ecocriticism and grotesque. Ecocriticism provides sufficient explanation on the relationship between human and the natural world. The concept of grotesque by Wolfgang Kayser provides a solid framework in highlighting and exploring the texts. The application of these concepts will then demonstrate that apart from imagery, the role of nature is also evident in the relationship between human and nature. With the establishment of the grotesque and nature as an aesthetical mode, the relationship between the two is depicted through Kayser’s notion of the grotesque as a creative process. It has been revealed that the aesthetical grotesque is portrayed through the monstrous form and the transgression and disharmony. Apart from that, the interrelationship between nature and the grotesque is also portrayed under Kayser’s notion of the grotesque reception. Pertaining to this notion, the interconnectedness is unveiled through the comic/horror and attractive/repulsive dualities. The finding concludes that the element of nature depicts the grotesque process and reception via the characters’ demeanor, especially the protagonists’ emotions, perceptions and attitude. Literature - History and criticism Grotesque in literature Fiction - Technique 2015-12 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/99437/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/99437/1/FBMK%202016%2089%20UPMIR.pdf text en public masters Universiti Putra Malaysia Literature - History and criticism Grotesque in literature Fiction - Technique Wan Yahya, Wan Roselezam
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection PSAS Institutional Repository
language English
advisor Wan Yahya, Wan Roselezam
topic Literature - History and criticism
Grotesque in literature
Fiction - Technique
spellingShingle Literature - History and criticism
Grotesque in literature
Fiction - Technique
Ahmad Jafni, Nur Fatin Syuhada
Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song
description Horror novels often celebrate gore, darkness, madness and emotional repression as the central themes to invoke terror and horror in readers. In novels written by Malaysian author Tunku Halim, Dark Demon Rising (1997) and Juriah’s Song (2008) the elements of grotesque and nature provide the impetus and the plot, thus invoking horror. Throughout both novels, grotesque elements and imagery are woven into narrative to provide the motif of horror. Apart from the evident elements of grotesque, nature as a backdrop is also significant, as both novels are set in rural villages in the east coast of Malaysia and the metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. The grotesque and nature are juxtaposed as main elements in these novels. Both elements are omnipresent and pivotal in developing the plot. Noting the relationship between the two elements, this research first highlight the relationship between the grotesque and nature as an aesthetical mode in the selected novels; and secondly, explore the relationship between the grotesque and nature through the portrayal of the human-nature interconnectedness in the selected novels. This research applies the concepts of ecocriticism and grotesque. Ecocriticism provides sufficient explanation on the relationship between human and the natural world. The concept of grotesque by Wolfgang Kayser provides a solid framework in highlighting and exploring the texts. The application of these concepts will then demonstrate that apart from imagery, the role of nature is also evident in the relationship between human and nature. With the establishment of the grotesque and nature as an aesthetical mode, the relationship between the two is depicted through Kayser’s notion of the grotesque as a creative process. It has been revealed that the aesthetical grotesque is portrayed through the monstrous form and the transgression and disharmony. Apart from that, the interrelationship between nature and the grotesque is also portrayed under Kayser’s notion of the grotesque reception. Pertaining to this notion, the interconnectedness is unveiled through the comic/horror and attractive/repulsive dualities. The finding concludes that the element of nature depicts the grotesque process and reception via the characters’ demeanor, especially the protagonists’ emotions, perceptions and attitude.
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Ahmad Jafni, Nur Fatin Syuhada
author_facet Ahmad Jafni, Nur Fatin Syuhada
author_sort Ahmad Jafni, Nur Fatin Syuhada
title Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song
title_short Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song
title_full Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song
title_fullStr Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song
title_full_unstemmed Nature and the grotesque in Tunku Halim’s dark demon rising and Juriah’s song
title_sort nature and the grotesque in tunku halim’s dark demon rising and juriah’s song
granting_institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
publishDate 2015
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/99437/1/FBMK%202016%2089%20UPMIR.pdf
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