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As a poetic term, darkness can also mean the [[presence]] of [[shadow]]s, [[evil]], or [[depression]].
As a poetic term, darkness can also mean the [[presence]] of [[shadow]]s, [[evil]], or [[depression]].
Darkness can have a strong [[psychological]] impact. It can cause depression in people with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder seasonal affective disorder], fear in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyctophobia nyctophobics], comfort in lygophilics, or attraction as in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_fashion gothic fashion]. These emotions are used to add power to literary imagery.
Darkness can have a strong [[psychological]] impact. It can cause depression in people with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder seasonal affective disorder], fear in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyctophobia nyctophobics], comfort in [http://www.allwords.com/word-lygophilia.html lygophilics], or attraction as in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_fashion gothic fashion]. These emotions are used to add power to literary imagery.
[[Religious]] [[texts]] often use darkness to make a visual point. In the [[Bible]], darkness was the second to last plague (Exodus 10:21) and the location of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12)[3] The [[Qur’an]] has been interpreted to say that those who transgress the bounds of what is right are doomed to “burning despair and ice-cold darkness.” (Nab 78.25)[4] In Greek Mythology, three layers of night surround Tartarus,[5] a place for the worst sinners as far beneath Hades as heaven is high above earth.[6]
[[Religious]] [[texts]] often use darkness to make a visual point. In the [[Bible]], darkness was the second to last plague (Exodus 10:21) and the location of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12)[3] The [[Qur’an]] has been interpreted to say that those who transgress the bounds of what is right are doomed to “burning despair and ice-cold darkness.” (Nab 78.25)[4] In Greek Mythology, three layers of night surround Tartarus,[5] a place for the worst sinners as far beneath Hades as heaven is high above earth.[6]
The use of darkness as a [[rhetoric]]al device has a long standing [[tradition]]. Shakespeare, working in the 16th and 17th centuries, made a [[character]] called Satan, the “prince of darkness” (King Lear: III, iv) and gave darkness jaws with which to devour [[love]]. (A Midsummer Night’s Dream: I, i)[7] Chaucer, a 14th century Middle [[English]] writer, wrote that knights must cast away the “workes of darkness.”[8] [[Dante]] described hell as “solid darkness stain’d.”[9]
The use of darkness as a [[rhetoric]]al device has a long standing [[tradition]]. Shakespeare, working in the 16th and 17th centuries, made a [[character]] called Satan, the “prince of darkness” (King Lear: III, iv) and gave darkness jaws with which to devour [[love]]. (A Midsummer Night’s Dream: I, i)[7] Chaucer, a 14th century Middle [[English]] writer, wrote that knights must cast away the “workes of darkness.”[8] [[Dante]] described hell as “solid darkness stain’d.”[9]
Even in Old English there were three words that could mean darkness: heolstor, genip, and sceadu.[10] Heolstor also meant “hiding-place” and became holster. Genip meant “mist” and fell out of use like many strong verbs. It is however still used in the Dutch saying "in het geniep" which means secretly. Sceadu meant “shadow” and remained in use. The word dark eventually evolved from the word deorc.[11]
Even in Old English there were three words that could mean darkness: heolstor, genip, and sceadu.[10] Heolstor also meant “hiding-place” and became holster. Genip meant “mist” and fell out of use like many strong verbs. It is however still used in the Dutch saying "in het geniep" which means secretly. Sceadu meant “shadow” and remained in use. The word dark eventually evolved from the word deorc.[11]
==Artistic==
==Artistic==
Artistically, darkness can also be used to emphasize or [[contrast]] with [[light]]. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro chiaroscuro] for a [[discussion]] of the uses of such contrasts in visual media.
Artistically, darkness can also be used to emphasize or [[contrast]] with [[light]]. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro chiaroscuro] for a [[discussion]] of the uses of such contrasts in visual media.