A short story is deemed weird when it goes against the norm. It could have odd settings, bizarre dialogues, or themes that are not commonly explored. Maybe the story makes you question reality or has very unconventional plot developments.
A weird short story often has unexpected plot twists or strange characters. Maybe it's set in an odd world or has a really unique ending.
A setting that is not of the ordinary can make a short story weird. Consider a story set in a post - apocalyptic world where the laws of nature seem to be different. For instance, the sky is always red and water flows uphill. These strange settings that deviate from our real - world experience create an atmosphere of 'weirdness'. They force the reader to suspend their disbelief and enter into a world that is both fascinating and strange.
Unexpected twists can make a short story both weird and funny. For example, if a character who is supposed to be a very serious detective suddenly starts dancing the tango in the middle of an investigation. It's not what you'd expect and that's what makes it weird and funny.
The unexpectedness. In 'weird short stories', things don't follow the normal rules. For example, in 'The Metamorphosis', a man becoming an insect is so out of the ordinary. It makes you think and question the norms. Also, they often explore the darker side of human nature or society in a unique way.
A bedtime story can be 'weird' if it has unusual characters or settings. For example, if the story has a talking frog who lives in a cloud castle, that's pretty weird. Also, strange plot twists can make a story weird. Like if a character who is supposed to be a hero suddenly turns into a villain for no good reason.
It could be things like unexpected plot twists, unconventional characters or strange circumstances. Sometimes, it's a combination of all these that make it weird.
A story can be considered weird if it has strange or unconventional plot elements, like unexpected twists or unusual characters and settings.
The mystery. In scary weird short stories, there are often elements that are not fully explained. It's like a puzzle that our minds can't help but try to solve. For example, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the woman's hallucinations of a woman trapped in the wallpaper are so strange that it makes us wonder what is really going on. It draws us in.
One thing that makes really weird short stories interesting is their ability to break the rules. They don't follow the typical narrative structures. Take 'The Lottery' for example. It starts off like a normal small - town story but then takes a dark and unexpected turn. They also allow for a lot of interpretation. Different readers can take different things from these stories, like in 'The Masque of the Red Death' where the symbolism can be interpreted in various ways, which makes the story rich and engaging.
They allow us to experience fear in a safe way. We can read about the scariest situations, like in 'The Pit and the Pendulum' where the protagonist is facing a slow and torturous death, but we know we are not actually in danger. It's a form of thrill - seeking from the comfort of our own space.
The best weird short stories are appealing because they break the norms. They take the readers to places they've never expected. For example, in Kafka's works, the absurd situations like a man turning into an insect make us question our own existence and the world we live in. It's like a jolt to our normal thinking patterns.