The Uncanny

Sigmund Freud's "The Uncanny"

• The main focus of Freud's paper is the concept of the uncanny and its relation to the unconscious mind.

The Term "Unheimlich"

• The word "unheimlich" directly translates to "unhomely" in English, but it has a more complex connotation of something being simultaneously familiar and strange.

E.T.A. Hoffmann's "The Sand-Man"

• Freud uses E.T.A. Hoffmann's short story "The Sand-Man" as a paradigm example in his essay to illustrate the concept of the uncanny.

Etymology of "Heimlich"

• The word "heimlich" has an etymology that is divided into two contradictory meanings: on one hand, it means "familiar" or "homely", but on the other hand, it also means "concealed" or "secret".

Exploration of Experiences and Situations

• In the second part of his essay, Freud explores experiences and situations that evoke a sense of the uncanny, such as dolls, automatons, and doubles, which blur the lines between reality and fantasy.

Test your knowledge on Freud's theory of 'The Uncanny' with this intriguing quiz. Explore concepts of fear, repulsion, and distress as you delve into inanimate figures, severed limbs, ghosts, and doppelgangers. Challenge yourself and discover the uncanny world of the human psyche.