Title: Lovecraftian cosmic horror and folklore in Malik's: Dead Lovers on Each Blade, Hung

Authors: Ghazal Firdous Shaikh; Aftab Ahmed Shaikh; Aneeqa Memon; Abdullah Ayub Khan

Addresses: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Bahria University Karachi Campus, Karachi, Pakistan ' Department of Computer Science, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi 74000, Pakistan ' English Faculty, DHA Suffa University, Karachi, Pakistan ' Department of Computer Science, Bahria University Karachi Campus, Karachi 75000, Pakistan

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to demonstrate parallels between the subgenre of Lovecraftian cosmic horror and Usman T. Malik's Dead Lovers on Each Blade, Hung by examining the parallels between the definition and explanations of the cosmic horror and Lovecraft's use of methods, themes and ideologies. The research focuses on the selected short story i.e., 'Dead Lovers on Each Blade, Hung' from the macabre collection Midnight Doorways in order to provide a thorough evaluation. It also delineates the use of South Asian tradition and folklore in conjunction with Lovecraft's own stance towards folklore. In order to achieve the objectives of this research, the theoretical framework is adapted from H.P Lovecraft's writings, specifically his detailed essay called "Supernatural Horror in Literature". Non-empirical method of analysis has been employed in this research. The researcher has demonstrated Malik's incorporation of the settings of Pakistan, taken inspiration from the epic Mahabharata of Hindus.

Keywords: Lovecraftian cosmic horror; folklore; emerging genre; South Asian literature; Pakistani society.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKMTH.2025.145016

International Journal of Knowledge Management in Tourism and Hospitality, 2025 Vol.4 No.1, pp.75 - 88

Received: 28 Mar 2024
Accepted: 22 Apr 2024
Published online: 17 Mar 2025 *

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