The Dunwich Horror by H.P. Lovecraft
A young woman gives birth to a monstrous child after being seduced by an otherworldly being. The creature grows at an alarming rate and exhibits supernatural powers. A group of scholars attempts to understand the nature of the creature, but it ultimately proves too powerful for them to control. The creature's existence threatens the stability of the world, leading to chaos and destruction.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1929 · Genre: Horror, Weird Fiction, Science Fiction · 10 chapters · 19,710 words
First lines
When a traveler in north central Massachusetts takes the wrong fork at the junction of the Aylesbury pike just beyond Dean's Corners he comes upon a lonely and curious country. The ground gets higher, and the brier-bordered stone walls press closer and closer against the ruts of the dusty, curving road. The trees of the frequent forest belts seem too large, and the wild weeds, brambles, and grasses attain a luxuriance not often found in settled regions. At the same time the planted fields appear singularly few and barren; while the sparsely scattered houses wear a surprizing uniform aspect of age, squalor, and dilapidation. Without knowing why, one hesitates to ask directions from the gnarled, solitary figures spied now and then on crumbling doorsteps or in the sloping, rock-strewn meadows. Those figures are so silent and furtive that one feels somehow confronted by forbidden things, with which it would be better to have nothing to do.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dunwich Horror is listed on Textopian as a novel by H.P. Lovecraft, dated 1929 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: H.P. Lovecraft
- Date: 1929 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Weird Fiction, Science Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Fantasy
- Length: 19,710 words
- Structure: 10 chapters, 178 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dunwich Horror by H.P. Lovecraft
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Dunwich Horror?
- How does this novel by H.P. Lovecraft fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H. P. Lovecraft
- Dagon by H. P. Lovecraft
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- The Hound by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Doom That Came To Sarnath by H. P. Lovecraft
Genres
- Horror — The story is centered around supernatural and terrifying events, featuring monstrous entities and a pervasive sense of dread.
- Weird Fiction — The narrative includes elements of the bizarre and the inexplicable, characteristic of weird fiction, with a focus on cosmic horror and the unknown.
- Science Fiction — The plot involves themes of otherworldly beings and ancient cosmic forces, blending science fiction elements with horror.
- Gothic Fiction — The story incorporates Gothic elements such as decaying settings, mysterious occurrences, and a dark atmosphere.
Tags
Horror · Supernatural · Occultism · Cthulhu Mythos · Lovecraftian · Cosmic Horror · Gothic Fiction · Weird Fiction · Small Town · Isolation · Madness · Pregnancy