Adult ghost stories usually have a more elaborate plot structure. They can be multi - layered, with different timelines and sub - plots related to the ghostly presence. Children's ghost stories, on the other hand, are more linear. The horror in adult ghost stories is more psychological and often based on the unknown and the fear of the mind. For kids, it's more about things that go bump in the night, like visible ghosts or monsters. Adult ghost stories may also draw on cultural and historical references that are more sophisticated, while children's stories are more basic in that regard.
Adult ghost stories tend to be darker in tone. They might explore themes such as death, loss, and the afterlife in a more profound way compared to children's ghost stories. Children's ghost stories are often designed to be spooky but not overly disturbing. Adult ghost stories may also contain more mature language and situations. For instance, they could involve relationships that are more complex, like affairs or family feuds that are intertwined with the ghostly elements. In contrast, children's stories usually focus on simple friendships or family bonds. Another difference is that adult ghost stories may not always have a happy ending, while children's ghost stories often do to avoid scaring children too much.
Adult ghost stories are often more complex in terms of themes. For example, they may deal with deeper psychological issues like guilt or trauma, while children's ghost stories are usually more straightforward about the scares. Also, adult ghost stories can have more nuanced characters. In a children's ghost story, the characters might be more one - dimensional, but in adult ones, the characters' inner lives are more fully explored.
The language used in adult ghost stories is also different. It can be more complex and use more sophisticated vocabulary. Adult ghost stories may also draw on real - life historical events or cultural superstitions in a more detailed way. For example, an adult ghost story might be based on a real - life murder or a local legend that has been passed down through generations. In contrast, children's ghost stories are written in simpler language and are more likely to be fictional creations that don't require a deep understanding of history or culture.
Winter ghost stories often have a distinct atmosphere. The cold, long nights and often desolate landscapes add an extra layer of spookiness. In other ghost stories, the setting might be more varied. For example, a haunted house in summer may not have the same sense of isolation as a haunted house in the middle of a snow - covered winter. Also, winter is associated with death in many cultures, so the idea of ghosts seems more fitting.
Well, black ghost stories might be more rooted in certain cultural fears. Take the Black Shuck. It's related to the UK's rural and superstitious past. Other ghost stories could be more about lost love or unfinished business. But black ghost stories seem to focus more on the sinister side. They often have a stronger connection to death and the afterlife in a more menacing way. For instance, the way La Llorona is associated with the death of her children and her eternal punishment is a lot darker compared to some other more 'gentle' ghost stories.
Ghost Time Stories often involve a connection to a specific time or time period. Regular ghost stories might just be about a spooky apparition in a house. But Ghost Time Stories could be about a ghost that only appears at a certain time of day, like 3 am, or during a particular historical era. For example, a ghost that haunts a battlefield only on the anniversary of the battle.
Traditional ghost stories usually follow a set formula with a haunted location, a clear antagonist in the form of a ghost, and a goal to either exorcise the ghost or solve the mystery behind it. In mumblecore ghost stories, it's more about the characters' day - to - day lives being affected by something intangible, like a past relationship that's 'haunting' them. The settings are often ordinary, everyday places rather than the spooky mansions of traditional ghost tales. Also, the dialogue in mumblecore is very naturalistic and might not focus as much on the 'ghost' aspect directly but more on how the characters are dealing with this 'haunting' in their normal conversations.
13th ghost stories often incorporate the number 13, which is considered unlucky in many cultures. So they might be more focused on themes of bad luck and doom compared to other ghost stories.
Onryo ghost stories are different because the onryo is typically a very vengeful spirit. In other ghost stories, the ghosts might be more benign or just lost souls. For example, a traditional Western ghost might be a friendly apparition just trying to communicate, while an onryo is out for revenge. Also, onryo are often associated with specific cultural beliefs, like in Japanese culture, where there are particular superstitions and rituals related to them. This is different from more general Western ghost stories that don't have such specific cultural ties.
In Murakami's ghost stories, the ghosts or the supernatural elements are not always clearly defined as in traditional ones. For instance, in his works, a 'ghost' could be a manifestation of a character's inner turmoil or a symbol of the alienation in modern society. It's more about the psychological exploration along with the supernatural feel.
Regular ghost stories mainly focus on the spooky and mysterious elements of the supernatural, like hauntings, apparitions, and solving mysteries related to the ghosts. However, the idea of 'ghost sex novels' is a very different concept which combines sexual elements with the ghost theme, which is not a common or accepted approach in traditional storytelling.
Adult animated stories usually deal with more complex and mature themes. For example, they might explore things like relationships in a more nuanced way, including romantic relationships and family dynamics that are more complex than the simple good - vs - bad relationships often seen in children's stories. They also can have more adult humor, like satire, sexual innuendo, and dark humor which are not suitable for children. In contrast, children's animated stories tend to be more focused on teaching basic values, like kindness and sharing, and have simpler storylines.