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Literary notes about hackles (AI summary)

The word "hackles" has long been a favored term for authors aiming to evoke a visceral sense of alertness or aggression in both animals and humans. In literary descriptions, it often symbolizes a physical manifestation of emotional response, such as fear or anger. For instance, in Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles [1], "hackles" is vividly highlighted as part of a creature’s fearsome visage, outlined in flickering flames alongside other fierce attributes. This usage not only emphasizes the animalistic, primal response but also adds a layer of intensity and foreboding to the scene, captivating the reader with its raw, unsettling imagery.
  1. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smouldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flame.
    — from The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

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