Eerie. This word can describe the strange and spooky atmosphere often found in ghost stories. For example, an old, abandoned house with creaking floors and dim lighting gives an eerie feeling.
Well, Edgar Allan Poe has some wonderful descriptive ghost stories. For example, 'The Fall of the House of Usher' is full of detailed descriptions that build a sense of doom and the presence of something otherworldly. The decaying mansion and the strange malady of the Usher siblings are all described in a very evocative way.
Macabre. This word is often associated with death and the grotesque. In a ghost story, it could describe a scene where there are decaying bodies or some sort of dark, death - related mystery. For example, a cemetery at midnight with strange noises coming from the freshly dug graves is macabre.
The detailed descriptions. For example, when a story vividly describes the ghostly apparition, like its appearance, the way it moves, and the cold air that surrounds it. It makes the reader feel as if they are actually there seeing the ghost.
A great descriptive scary story is 'The Monkey's Paw'. In this story, a family comes into possession of a mummified monkey's paw that has the power to grant three wishes. The description of the paw itself is quite eerie, with its shriveled appearance. When they make their first wish for a sum of money, they soon receive news that their son has died in a work - related accident, and the compensation is exactly the amount they wished for. The mood throughout the story is one of dread and unease as they consider their remaining wishes, fearing more unforeseen and horrible consequences. It's a story that makes you think about the consequences of interfering with fate and the unknown.
Some may argue that they can be a form of literature in a very narrow sense, as they do use descriptive language. But in general, they are not considered mainstream or high - quality literature due to their focus on sexual content which goes against the general moral and ethical standards of the literary world.
Well, start with a strong concept or idea. It could be something as simple as a day in the life of a stray cat or as complex as a magical world hidden within our own. Then, build your characters or elements in detail. If it's a character, describe their appearance, mannerisms, and personality. For good descriptive stories, don't rush the description. Take your time to paint a complete picture. Also, use analogies and metaphors. For instance, 'her eyes were like two deep pools of mystery' gives a more vivid image than just 'her eyes were dark'.
There's 'In a Dark, Dark Wood'. The repetitive use of 'dark' in the description builds a spooky atmosphere. It goes on to describe a house in the wood and all the creepy things that might be inside. There's a sense of anticipation and fear as the story unfolds. It's a simple story but the descriptive words like 'dark' and 'creaky' are enough to engage a child's imagination and give them a bit of a scare in a fun way.
Famous descriptive short stories usually feature detailed descriptions of characters' inner thoughts. In 'The Lady with the Dog', we get a deep look into the minds of the two lovers. They also tend to have strong descriptions of the time and place. Like in 'Araby', Joyce paints a vivid picture of Dublin at that time. Moreover, the use of descriptive words to create atmosphere is key. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', Poe's choice of words creates a really tense and spooky atmosphere.
A common characteristic is the sense of helplessness. The characters are often in situations they can't easily change. For example, in a story about a terminally ill person, they are helpless against the disease, and this powerlessness adds to the sadness of the narrative.