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In fiction, characters are usually considered grotesque if they induce both empathy and disgust. (A character who inspires disgust alone is simply a villain or a monster.) Obvious examples would include the physically deformed and the mentally deficient, but people with cringe-worthy social traits are also included.
Herein, what is grotesque in literature?
The grotesque in literature can be broadly defined as “a written form of expression which described that which could not be controlled by reason, was unnatural, and arose in opposition to the classical imitation of 'beautiful nature' and the rationalism and optimism of the Enlightenment” (Perttula 2011, 22).
Beside above, what is the purpose of a grotesque?
A grotesque or a chimera is a mythical figure that is used for decoration. For centuries, both, the grotesques and gargoyles were used as protective figures which chase away evil spirits. They are mostly guardians of churches and cathedrals.
adjective. odd or unnatural in shape, appearance, or character; fantastically ugly or absurd; bizarre. fantastic in the shaping and combination of forms, as in decorative work combining incongruous human and animal figures with scrolls, foliage, etc.