Characteristics? Well, the first - person POV in these stories can make the reader empathize deeply with the narrator. We are basically in their shoes. They tend to have a lot of internal monologue which can be used to heighten the sense of horror. For example, in 'The Cask of Amontillado', the narrator's thoughts as he lures his victim into the catacombs are quite chilling. Another thing is that the first - person perspective can be used to create a sense of claustrophobia. The narrator might be trapped in a room or a situation, and we feel that confinement along with them. And often, there's a sense of impending doom that is conveyed through the narrator's eyes.
One characteristic is the intense sense of immediacy. Since it's from the first - person point of view, the reader feels like they are right there with the narrator experiencing the horror. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', we can almost feel the narrator's racing heartbeat as he becomes more and more paranoid.
I walked into the old, creaking house. The air was thick with a musty smell. Every step I took on the warped floorboards seemed to echo like a death knell. As I entered the living room, a cold draft brushed past me. The shadows in the corner seemed to move on their own. I could feel eyes watching me from every dark corner. Suddenly, a loud bang came from upstairs. My heart raced as I slowly made my way up the rickety staircase. I knew I should leave, but something was drawing me deeper into this nightmare.
One excellent first - person horror short story is 'The Masque of the Red Death' by Poe. The narrator's description of the events during the masquerade ball in the face of the Red Death is very spooky. 'The Veldt' by Ray Bradbury is also good. Told from a parent's first - person point of view, it shows how technology can turn into a horror in a family. And 'The Most Dangerous Game' has elements of horror as the first - person narrator finds himself hunted on an island.
One great first person horror short story is 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It tells the story of a woman's descent into madness from her own perspective. Another is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. The narrator's guilt - ridden and unhinged mind as he describes his actions towards the old man is truly terrifying.
The first or third person of a short story depends on the author's personal preference and writing style.
First-person writing usually allows the readers to participate in the story more directly, allowing them to understand the characters and plot more deeply. This kind of writing style could enhance the realism and sense of immersion of the novel. It was more suitable for novels with strong emotional descriptions and character creation.
Third-person writing could better show the characters and plot in the story, but at the same time, it would lose some of the realism brought by first-person writing. Compared to first-person and third-person writing, it was more objective and calm to present the story, which helped to build a more rational and logical world.
Therefore, the choice of first or third person depended on the type of novel and the author's writing style. Different novels needed different writing styles to better convey the feelings and thoughts that the author wanted to express.
One characteristic is immediacy. Since it's in the first person, it gives the sense that the events are happening right now or just happened. Also, they tend to be concise. They focus on a particular moment or a short sequence of events. For instance, a short first person story might be about a single encounter with a stranger on the street and how that made the narrator feel. It won't go into a long - winded backstory but just capture the essence of that one moment.