Superstition and terror filled the medieval world. Brutal events such as the Black Death, frequent wars, and famine only fanned the flames of these emotions. Apocalyptic religious belief found fertile soil in these tumultuous times, and the subgenre of Medieval Horror seeks to capture that sense of bleak despair that encompassed the medieval zeitgeist. Join me as we delve into the mysterious worlds of unseen doom.
What is Medieval Horror?
Setting is one of the biggest determinants of medieval horror. The stories are set within the castle-and-moat world, be that an alternate version of our own historical setting or something broadly similar in a different world. The subgenre incorporates religious motifs and superstitious dread, and will often overlap with the elements commonly seen in dark fantasy.
This style of horror often relies on fears around the subject of death, the wrath of God, and the unknown. The edge of human knowledge can be an eerie place, and medieval horror represents that edge in abundance.
Common Tropes
Horror obviously dwells in elements of fear, but medieval horror is distinguished by a unique combination of these fears. Some of these tropes include:
- Dead bodies and corruption: Given the impact of the bubonic plague on Europe, it’s little surprise that so much of myth and folklore from this time period revolves around the unclean nature of the dead. Within medieval horror, it is not uncommon to find bodies stacked everywhere, left to rot in the streets or to poison the water supplies. This often spills into the spiritual realm as well, where dismembered ghosts wander the streets after their violent demise.
- Helplessness in the face of the supernatural: Religious teachings of the time often painted a wrathful and angry God, bent on the destruction of the unrighteous. This can be seen in the blights and apocalyptic atrocities that often await the medieval horror reader. Demons possess the unwary and the naive, and angels slaughter the masses as the world heaves under the battle of good and evil. Though the knights and men-at-arms of these stories may brandish weapons, they can rarely have an impact on this level of the battlefield.
- Dread of the unseen: Effective horror often relies on leaving elements to the reader’s imagination. Medieval horror takes this a step further and leaves much to the characters’ imaginations, as well. Barely-glimpsed figures in the mist often fuel homicidal outbursts, done in the name of “protection” or “holiness.” Imagined voices or whispers in the night are misconstrued to be the speech of the supernatural, beginning the character’s path on a downward spiral. Even when these voices turn out to be real, they often have a major that remains unseen, further heightening the tension of what is left to the superstition of the most ancient parts of our brains.
Why I Like Medieval Horror
I’ve said it before with Lovecraftian horror, but I love dwelling in this realm of the unknown. When an author finds a way to convey supernatural explanations that cannot be confirmed or denied, it creates a sort of tension that I cannot walk away from. I’m also drawn to the well-developed characters in this type of story. There’s a difficult line to walk in showing the superstition and ignorance of the time while also presenting a believable and intelligent character. The two are not mutually exclusive—people were only working with what they knew, after all—and to try to fully separate them creates little more than a caricature. Mixing the relatability with superstitious elements we know now to be untrue is incredibly compelling to me, and pulls me back into that frame of mind for the duration of the story.
Why YOU Should Explore Medieval Horror
Much of my writing dwells on the edge of this subgenre, within the dark fantasy realm. It’s only a small step to move over into this world, and I’ve been doing so recently. I’ve found it to be a rewarding pursuit in writing, and here’s a few reasons you might consider trying it out as well!
- Dwelling in myth: This genre presents a great opportunity to consider the creation myths and religious beliefs of the time, and then to speculate on a world where they actually exist. Sorcerers and witches, angels and demons, there is simply so much potential subject matter to explore!
- Monsters: Who doesn’t enjoy conjuring a good monster from the depths of the imagination? Populating the world with imaginary beasts that prey on humanity from the shadows can also be a form of catharsis for the energies of fear in the form of ghosts and unnatural beasts.
- A slant on fantasy: Medieval horror also offers a fantastic slant for those who enjoy writing fantasy. Rather than focusing on heroes and the epic battles they fight for the kingdom, we can zoom the lens in to the helpless farmer and his family, huddled in the night against evil whispers that ooze from the wall. We can spend time focusing on the statue that weeps blood, or the mass grave from which bodies walk at night. Elements small enough to be considered worldbuilding within fantasy can take center stage here, creating a fantastic microcosm of how these bigger events affect everyday life.
Medieval Horror That We Love
I recently read Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. From the opening lines that read like a newly penned dread prophecy from Revelation, to the incredible conclusion as it becomes apparent just how deeply the corruption has come, this story delivers an incredible shot to the imagination. We follow the path of a disgraced knight and an orphan of the Black Death–a girl who happens to be a prophet–as they embark on a pilgrimage to bring the young orphan before the Pope. Demonic possession, vile unearthly creatures, and incredibly powerful characters populate the pages of this amazing book. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
If you’re looking to dip your toes into Medieval Horror, I say look no further than His Black Tongue by Mitchell Lüthi. This atmospheric tale of pestilence and faith is a great way to familiarize yourself with the genre. I listened to the audiobook of the first novella in this collection, and I was absolutely blown away by the production. You can really hear Hell creeping into the silence between words.
I actually didn’t realize this was a thing until Randall started telling us about it! Because of his influence, there are so many books I want to dive into. The one at the top of my list is The Enterprise of Death by Jesse Bullington. If you’re like me and you love necromancers, (enough to put one in your WIP like me), this book could be a good choice for you. I just know that once I start reading it, I won’t be able to put it down.
I’ve said this before, but horror is a genre that I’m just starting to get into. A book that I have on my TBR is Enoch’s Device by Joseph Finley. This book features an Irish monk, a forbidden tome, and a secret war that’s as ancient as the origin of evil itself. There is a mystery here that could cause the end of days and that just makes it sound incredibly exciting. I am SO excited to pick this book up and dive into this medieval world!