--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This kind of fantasy, in which “something…" description: "\"“This kind of fantasy, in which “something is not quite right”, lends itself very well to Gothic sensibility, with its convoluted use of language and i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/helen-marshall-61223_writing_this-kind-of-fantasy-in-which-something_1137388.jpg" --- # This kind of fantasy, in which “something is not quite… ![“This kind of fantasy, in which “something is not quite right”, lends itself very well to Gothic sensibility, with its convoluted use of language and its tormented heroes. And then there is an element of irrationality built into the rational and, coming from a Spanish background, I interpret this…” quote by Helen Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/helen-marshall-61223_writing_this-kind-of-fantasy-in-which-something_1137388.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/helen-marshall-61223_writing_this-kind-of-fantasy-in-which-something_1137388.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/helen-marshall-61223_writing_this-kind-of-fantasy-in-which-something_1137388.jpg) > ““This kind of fantasy, in which “something is not quite right”, lends itself very well to Gothic sensibility, with its convoluted use of language and its tormented heroes. And then there is an element of irrationality built into the rational and, coming from a Spanish background, I interpret this as surrealism, for me this is a major element I recognize in weird writing, and one that is present in my own understanding of the weird.”” [Helen Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-marshall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote links Gothic and surreal elements, noting that a sense of something being off creates a tormented, irrational atmosphere characteristic of weird literature. **In simple terms:** Weird writing mixes Gothic gloom with surreal irrationality. Key Takeaway Explore the uneasy, irrational side of storytelling. Themes gothic surrealism weird fiction Mood thoughtful enigmatic Type literary analytical When to use this quote - creative writing - genre studies - personal reflection Key Concepts literary analysis psychology of the uncanny Questions to Reflect On - What makes a story feel "not quite right"? - How does surrealism deepen gothic themes? A Different Perspective Focusing on irrationality may alienate readers seeking clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Surrealism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrealism/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [What's kind of weird is that when I'm writing I don't know where I'm going to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazmine-sullivan/what-s-kind-of-weird-is-that-when-i-m-writing-i-don-t-know-where-i-m/) [Jazmine Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazmine-sullivan/) > [It's weird writing for a documentary because I have all these ideas for what I want to happen, but what actually happens is obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cubas/it-s-weird-writing-for-a-documentary-because-i-have-all-these-ideas/) [Chris Cubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cubas/) > [Surrealism can only deliver a reactionary judgment; can make out of history only an accumulation of oddities, a joke, a death trip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/surrealism-can-only-deliver-a-reactionary-judgment-can-make-out-of/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [American art in general... takes to surreal exaggerations and metaphors; but its Puritan work ethic has little use for the playful self-indulgence behind Parisian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/american-art-in-general-takes-to-surreal-exaggerations-and-metaphors/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [People have the idea that an image must stand for something else, that the real meaning needs to be described with language. Instead it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ryden/people-have-the-idea-that-an-image-must-stand-for-something-else-that/) [Mark Ryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ryden/) > [“When we were young, we thought life would either last forever, or that we were going to die at any second. Everything changed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starlight-tucker/when-we-were-young-we-thought-life-would-either-last-forever-or-that/) [Starlight Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starlight-tucker/) > [“His thoughts were hemmed in. One can only draw curved lines on the terrestrial sphere which, as they extend, forever meet with themselves. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-queneau/his-thoughts-were-hemmed-in-one-can-only-draw-curved-lines-on-the/) [Raymond Queneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-queneau/) > [Psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express -- verbally, by means of the written word, or in any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/psychic-automatism-in-its-pure-state-by-which-one-proposes-to-express/) [Andre Breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [“He wishes he were a skilled poet, it would fit his chosen image perfectly; the poor, tragic, tortured artiste. But he has no talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-ackie/he-wishes-he-were-a-skilled-poet-it-would-fit-his-chosen-image/) Curtis Ackie > [Surrealism was necessary - essential, even - in the 1920s to bridge the gap between rationalism and the subconscious. It started something important. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/surrealism-was-necessary-essential-even-in-the-1920s-to-bridge-the/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Instead of stubbornly attempting to use surrealism for purposes of subversion, it is necessary to try to make of surrealism something as solid, complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/instead-of-stubbornly-attempting-to-use-surrealism-for-purposes-of/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Surrealism is the magical surprise of finding a lion in a wardrobe, where you were 'sure' of finding shirts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/surrealism-is-the-magical-surprise-of-finding-a-lion-in-a-wardrobe/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [“The plants in the garden - the aloes, the almond tree, the rose tree and the iris - were afraid of her. The flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-cramer/the-plants-in-the-garden-the-aloes-the-almond-tree-the-rose-tree-and/) Hendrik Cramer > [“André Breton (who fled Nazi dominated Europe)told poets of this Caribbean country: 'Surrealism is allied with peoples of colour, first because it has sided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-craven/andr-breton-who-fled-nazi-dominated-europe-told-poets-of-this/) David Craven > [“The ultimate aim of reality is to become science fiction!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-of-kittim/the-ultimate-aim-of-reality-is-to-become-science-fiction/) [Eli Of Kittim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-of-kittim/) ## More by Helen Marshall > [“Every writer dreams of a perfect language. Every writer dreams of a language that obeys, that comes to heel. For some this language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-marshall/every-writer-dreams-of-a-perfect-language-every-writer-dreams-of-a/) [Helen Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-marshall/) > [“I like to think of weird fiction as an unceasing distortion and buckling of ambient space and time; where plot, theme, atmosphere and voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-marshall/i-like-to-think-of-weird-fiction-as-an-unceasing-distortion-and/) [Helen Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-marshall/) > [“Weird fiction is a strange beast, an eclectic genre (or subgenre). It originated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century through the works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-marshall/weird-fiction-is-a-strange-beast-an-eclectic-genre-or-subgenre-it/) [Helen Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-marshall/) > [“a kind of story interested in using the language of dreams and fragments, vague impressions, snatches of scientific discourse, in order to interrogate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-marshall/a-kind-of-story-interested-in-using-the-language-of-dreams-and/) [Helen Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-marshall/) [Explore all 5 Helen Marshall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-marshall/) ## More Fantasy quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. 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When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [I like fantasy, but I don't live and breathe fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/i-like-fantasy-but-i-don-t-live-and-breathe-fantasy/) [Lauren Schmidt Hissrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I like to play people that are real, a real person, and then something that's interesting with that person. I think it's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-like-to-play-people-that-are-real-a-real-person-and-then-something/) [Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/) > [It's a hindrance in trying to get a serious acting role. The minute a producer has a script and my name comes up, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/it-s-a-hindrance-in-trying-to-get-a-serious-acting-role-the-minute-a/) [Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/) > [No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-will-ever-write-a-fantasy-novel-better-than-the-hobbit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) [Browse all 5,469 Fantasy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This kind of fantasy, in which “something is not quite right”, lends itself very well to Gothic sensibility, with its convoluted use of language and its tormented heroes. 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