Literary notes about Scary (AI summary)
In literature, "scary" is employed as a multifaceted descriptor that can evoke visceral fear, suggest the uncanny, or even add a note of humor and irony. Authors use it to instantly signal danger or unease, as when a setting or character induces a palpable sense of caution or vulnerability [1] or evokes the eerie atmosphere of a deserted neighborhood [2]. At times, it also serves a playful, hyperbolic role—highlighting the absurdity of a character's appearance or behavior, such as a striking wardrobe choice that blends humor with discomfort [3]. In other cases, "scary" subtly underscores societal anxieties or the unpredictable nature of modern threats [4], while also punctuating moments of internal dread and reflective terror [5]. This versatility makes "scary" a powerful tool for engaging readers on both an emotional and psychological level [6].
- It won't take but a minute, and I'm awfully glad you came, for it was pretty scary here alone, I tell you!
— from Fran by J. Breckenridge (John Breckenridge) Ellis - Normally that's a pretty scary neighborhood at 2AM on a Saturday night.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - He was a fat Samoan guy with a huge smile, and a scary tank-top that you could see his armpit- and belly- and shoulder-hair escaping from.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - This is called the man-in-the-middle attack and if you think about it, it's pretty scary.
— from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow - Then another scary thought came into my mind.
— from Bizarre by Lawton Mackall - "Whoever got this trick up will have to think of something newer and more 'scary,'" thought Reade, as he paced the floor.
— from The Grammar School Boys Snowbound; or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports by H. Irving (Harrie Irving) Hancock
