What are the characteristics of the top 20 scary short stories?

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.

Well, one characteristic is that they tend to have a strong sense of atmosphere. In stories like 'The Woman in Black', the fog - covered marshlands and the old, decaying house create a really eerie feeling. Another aspect is that they often involve some kind of psychological horror. In 'Rebecca', the new wife is haunted by the memory of the first wife, and it messes with her mind. And many of these stories have a moral undertone, like in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' where the pursuit of vanity has a terrifying end.

One of the top 5 scary short stories could be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and eventually kills him. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw' where a family gets a cursed paw that grants wishes but with horrible consequences. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also very scary, it shows a woman's descent into madness due to her isolation and the strange wallpaper in her room.

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'.

The top 10 scary Christmas stories usually have an element of the supernatural. This could be ghosts, demons, or cursed objects. They also tend to play on the expectations of the Christmas season. So, instead of presents bringing happiness, they bring doom. The settings are often familiar Christmas scenes like a family gathering around the fireplace or a church on Christmas Eve. But then something terrifying disrupts the peace. There's also often a sense of mystery, like why is this happening during Christmas? What has been disturbed to cause this horror?

In scary short stories, a sense of isolation is often created. This makes the protagonist seem more vulnerable. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator is alone in his madness. Also, the pacing is important. A slow build - up can increase the tension until it reaches a terrifying climax. Symbolism is another aspect. In 'The Black Cat', the black cat could symbolize the narrator's guilt and the evil within him. These elements work together to create a truly scary short story experience.

One characteristic is their ability to convey deep themes in a concise manner. For example, many of them can explore complex human emotions like love, jealousy, and fear within just a few pages. Another is their diverse settings. They can be set in different time periods and places, from the cold Yukon in 'To Build a Fire' to a small village in 'The Lottery'.

One characteristic is their ability to surprise. In 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge', the ending is completely unexpected. They also often explore human nature in different ways. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' shows how a person's mental state can be affected by their environment. And they are diverse in terms of genre, from realistic to magical realism, which makes them appealing to a wide range of readers.

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.

Often, they have a quick - paced plot. Since they are short, they need to get to the scares fast. For instance, they might start with a strange event right at the beginning to hook the reader.