Drawing Dread: Abject and Uncanny in Emily Carroll’s Through the Woods

This paper provides a thorough analysis of how the graphic novel uses both abjection and uncanniness to craft horror. It analyzes the application of colour palettes, unique imagery, and symbolic components in creating an atmosphere of uneasiness and foreboding. The research considers in what way these artistic decisions successfully unsettle the reader’s sense of normalcy and identity. This disruption not only makes the horror experience more intense but also plunges the reader into a psychologically disturbing story. In this paper, the authors go into detail about Carroll’s work and show how artfully it plays with visual cues and themes to leave a reader feeling frightened for much longer than one would expect.