Here's a short one. A girl walks alone in the forest at dusk and feels like she's being followed. When she turns around, she sees a shadowy figure but can't make out its face.
There's one about a haunted house. A man enters an abandoned house at night and hears strange noises. Turns out, it's haunted by the spirits of its former occupants.
A good scary English story often has an eerie setting, like a dark forest or an old, dilapidated house. For example, in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow', the setting of the dark, mist - covered valley adds to the fear factor.
A short story in English is a piece of fictional writing that is relatively brief and focuses on a single event or a limited number of characters and their experiences.
A short story in English is a piece of fictional writing that is relatively brief, usually focusing on a single event or a limited number of characters and has a concise plot.
One English scary story is about a haunted house. There was an old, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of a small town. People said that at midnight, strange noises could be heard from it. A curious young man decided to explore it one night. As he entered, the door creaked shut behind him. He heard whispering voices and saw shadowy figures moving in the corners. His flashlight flickered and then went out. Terrified, he tried to find his way out in the pitch - black darkness, feeling as if something was reaching out for him all the time.
One classic is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. It's a very eerie story about a governess who believes the children she's taking care of are being haunted by the ghosts of their former servants. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. A family comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that can grant wishes, but with terrifying consequences. And 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker, which features the iconic vampire Count Dracula who is often associated with the undead and ghost - like qualities.
In English, a short story can also be called 'a short narrative' or 'a concise story'. These terms are commonly used to describe this literary form. The main feature of a short story is its relatively short length and focused plot.
A notable characteristic is the use of vivid language. Since there is limited space, every word counts. Writers of English short stories like Edgar Allan Poe use rich, descriptive language to create atmosphere. For instance, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', Poe's detailed descriptions of the old man's eye and the narrator's madness create a sense of horror in a concise story.
One convention is a clear plot structure. Usually, it has a beginning that sets the scene and introduces characters, a middle with rising action and conflict, and an end that resolves the conflict. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the beginning shows the couple's poverty, the middle has the dilemma of getting gifts with little money, and the end resolves it with their selfless love.
Well, the English elements of a short story typically start with characters. These can be protagonists, antagonists, or minor characters. Then there's the plot which has an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The setting, whether it's a small town in the 19th century or a futuristic city, gives context. And don't forget the theme, which could be about love, friendship, or the struggle between good and evil. It all comes together to create a short story in English.
An English short story is often concise. It usually has a clear plot. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', Poe quickly sets up the narrator's obsession with the old man's eye and then leads to the murder and the narrator's subsequent guilt.