What are the characteristics of extra short scary stories?

Well, they usually have a strong element of mystery. The reader is left with questions that are often more terrifying than answers. In 'The Lottery', the reason behind the lottery is not fully explained and the whole ritual is so mysterious and cruel. They also use simple yet effective settings. A dark road in 'The Hitchhiker' or a creepy old house can set the mood very quickly without a lot of description. And they can have a sudden and shocking ending, like the unexpected death in 'The Monkey's Paw'.

A hiker got lost in the woods. As night fell, he heard strange whispers. Looking around, he saw pairs of glowing eyes in the darkness. He ran, not knowing what was chasing him, and the whispers grew louder as he fled.

Very short scary stories often rely on common fears such as the dark, the unknown, and being alone. They use vivid but minimal descriptions to create a sense of unease. For instance, a story could say 'He walked into the empty house. The creaking floorboards were the only sound. Then he saw a shadow move.' This builds tension without a lot of extra words. Also, they can play on superstitions like ghosts or curses to make the reader feel scared.

They often have a quick build - up of tension. Since they are short, they can't waste time. So they start creating an uneasy feeling almost immediately. For instance, a story might start with a character in a dark and isolated place right away. There's also the use of sudden twists. A story might seem to be going one way, and then suddenly, there's a completely unexpected and terrifying turn of events.

They usually build up tension effectively. Take 'The Lottery' for instance. At first, it seems like an ordinary small - town event, but as the story progresses and the true nature of the lottery is revealed, the tension just keeps mounting until the shocking end. And there is often a sense of inevitability in these stories. The characters seem powerless to escape their fates, like in many classic horror short stories where the doom is slowly closing in on the protagonists.

Well, very short scary stories usually rely on creating an instant sense of dread. They don't have much room for complex character development. Instead, they focus on a single, terrifying moment or a short sequence of events. For instance, a story might be about a person opening a door to a room that was always locked, and inside there's a menacing figure. This sudden shock is what makes these stories effective. They can also use simple but powerful descriptions like 'the room was filled with a cold, damp air that smelled of death' to set the mood.

Most of them have a sense of the unknown. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', the family doesn't know what exactly will happen when they make a wish, and that mystery creates fear. They also often have a build - up of suspense. Like in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's growing paranoia before he finally commits the act keeps the reader on edge. And many of them deal with the darker side of human nature, such as in 'Lamb to the Slaughter' where the wife's sudden act of violence shows how people can snap under pressure.

One characteristic is the element of surprise. Stories like 'The Open Window' rely on a sudden twist at the end to shock the reader. A lot of these stories have morally ambiguous characters. Take 'Lamb to the Slaughter' for instance, the wife who kills her husband is not a typical villain. And they usually create a strong atmosphere. In 'The Masque of the Red Death', the vivid descriptions of the different rooms and the presence of the Red Death itself create a very spooky mood.

Often, they have a sense of the unknown. Like in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's madness makes his actions and the situation seem very unpredictable. Another characteristic is a strong atmosphere. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the gloomy and superstitious mood adds to the scariness.

Classic short scary stories often have a sense of the unknown. They introduce elements that are not easily explained, like the supernatural or the grotesque. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', the power of the paw and how it works is a mystery. Another characteristic is the build - up of tension. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's increasing paranoia creates a lot of tension before the final revelation. They also usually have a simple yet effective setting, like the small town in 'The Lottery' which makes the horror more relatable.