The Study of Grotesque Elements as Presented in Shiva Arastouei’s Novel Fear (based on the ideas of Mikhail Bakhtin, Philip Thompson and Wolfgang Kaiser)

The concept of Grotesque which was limited to popular antique paintings at the beginning of the sixteenth century in Italy, expanded its meaning with the introduction of eighteenth-century aesthetics (its association with the caricature as well) and tended toward ridiculous and fantastic elements along with frightening and disgusting aspects. Structuralisms like Mikhail Bakhtin, Philip Thompson, and Wolfgang Kaiser described various features of Grotesque from different perspectives and ultimately when seeking a global explanation alienated with this artistic style. Investigating the elements present in “Fear” novel in this study by library method revealed that this narrative work, a precursor in form and content, through combining Grottic elements narrates a terrifying atmosphere that has been employed in a feminine story for the first time and has achieved the functional goals of the Grotesque writings.