What are the common themes in Doyle's horror short stories?

One common theme was the fear of the unknown. Stories often involved things like strange creatures or events that people couldn't explain. For example, in some stories, there were alien invasions which were a big fear during that time, as the idea of life beyond Earth was both fascinating and terrifying.

One of the main themes is community. The relationships and interactions within a community play an important role in his short stories. Also, social change is a theme. He might show how the society has changed over time and how it affects the characters.

Another theme might be the idea of being trapped. For example, a character could be trapped in a haunted place, either physically, like being locked in a spooky old building, or mentally, like being haunted by a past trauma that keeps repeating in their mind. There could also be a theme of the supernatural, with ghosts, demons, or other unworldly entities making appearances in the stories, causing fear and chaos for the characters.

Well, in '20 short horror stories', a recurring theme is isolation. Characters often find themselves alone in spooky situations, like in the old asylum or lost in the forest. This isolation heightens the sense of fear. Madness is another theme. Some characters go insane due to the terrifying things they experience, such as in the underground tunnels story. And death is a common theme too. Whether it's the threat of death or the mystery surrounding it, as in the story of the cursed object that seems to bring death closer to those who touch it.

Well, isolation is a theme. In many horror short stories, the characters are often alone or in isolated places. This can be like in 'The Cask of Amontillado' where Fortunato is trapped deep in the catacombs. Supernatural elements are also common. Stories such as 'Ligeia' have elements of the supernatural, like the return of the dead wife. And guilt is another theme. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's guilt over his murder is part of what makes the story so horrifying.

One common theme was the supernatural. A lot of the stories had elements like ghosts, demons, or otherworldly creatures.

Fear of the unknown is a common theme. Many stories play on the idea that there are things out there we can't understand, like in stories with supernatural elements.

One common theme is the unknown. Things that are not understood or are hidden in the shadows often create fear. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's madness is an unknown factor that scares the reader. Another theme is death. Many horror short stories revolve around death, either the fear of it or the aftermath, like in 'The Monkey's Paw'. And the theme of isolation is also prevalent. When characters are alone, they seem more vulnerable to the horror, as seen in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where the woman is isolated in her room.

Often there are ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary and terrifying situations. They could be simple villagers or city - dwellers.

One common theme is the unexpected. Dahl often throws in twists that the reader doesn't see coming. For example, in some stories, characters who seem ordinary turn out to have a dark side. Another theme is the blurring of reality and the supernatural. There are elements that make you question what is real and what is not. Also, there is often a sense of isolation, where the characters are alone in their terrifying situations, heightening the horror.