Literary notes about dread (AI summary)
The term "dread" in literature is employed to evoke a multifaceted emotional state that ranges from personal anxiety and reluctance to a profound, almost reverential fear of the unknown. For instance, a character’s internal conflict about change is rendered through a palpable dread that highlights personal vulnerability ([1]), while epic narratives evoke dread to underscore the intimidating force of fate or divine influence ([2], [3]). In some works, it captures an existential terror that borders on awe, as seen in passages that question the overwhelming power of destiny or the supernatural ([4], [5]). At times, this word is used more subtly to express the anxiety of living with societal expectations or the burden of unforeseen consequences ([6], [7]), demonstrating its capacity to enrich both the inner life of characters and the larger mythic or moral landscapes they inhabit.