29 pages 58 minutes read

H. P. Lovecraft

The Colour Out of Space

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1927

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Essay Topics

1.

Some readers love the author’s use of language. Others consider Lovecraft excessively wordy and overblown. What is your opinion? Does the language eclipse other elements of storytelling, like character and plot? Are there places where the writing would be improved by brevity? Why or how?

2.

Lovecraft’s horrors are usually not supernatural, although the tools and the science may not yet (or ever) be available to explain them. Compare Lovecraft to writers who employ more supernatural horrors, such as ghosts, demons, and vampires. Which is more frightening? Why?

3.

Most horror stories begin with the monster unseen, but it is usually explained, or at least revealed, at the end. Lovecraft never reveals or explains the nature of the meteorite or the colour. Does this add or detract from the story? Does the “monster” remain frightening after the story is over? Compare to other authors/stories.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 29 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools