The unknown. In many of these stories, like in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's unclear motives and the sense of something lurking in the shadows create fear. We don't fully understand why he is so obsessed with the old man's eye, and that mystery is scary.
The use of psychological elements is a big factor. In stories such as 'Carmilla', the psychological hold that the vampire has over the protagonist is very creepy. It's not just about physical harm but also about mental manipulation. And in 'The Masque of the Red Death', the inevitability of death, no matter how much one tries to avoid it, is a terrifying concept that the story plays on very well.
The fear factor in these 13 short scary stories often comes from the sense of isolation. When a character is alone in a spooky place like an old mansion or a dark forest, it makes us feel vulnerable. Also, the idea of the supernatural, such as ghosts or curses, plays a big role. We don't understand these things in our normal lives, so when they are presented in a story, it gives us a chill. For instance, a story where a person is haunted by a spirit that only they can see makes us wonder what we would do in that situation.
The element of the unknown. In these stories, often things are not fully explained. For example, a strange figure that appears in the corner of a room but you can't really see what it is. It leaves your imagination to fill in the blanks, and our minds can come up with some really terrifying things.
The characters in these stories often face situations that are beyond their understanding. For instance, they might encounter supernatural forces that they can't explain. And when they try to fight or escape, it seems hopeless. There's also the element of the unknown. You don't know what's going to happen next, and that anticipation of something truly horrible is what makes it so scary. Plus, the vivid descriptions of the settings, whether it's a creepy old mansion or a desolate cemetery, add to the overall fright factor.
The price of getting what you want in 'The Monkey's Paw' is extremely terrifying. We often wish for things, but in this story, it shows that wishes can have a very dark side. The family doesn't expect the horrible consequences of their wishes, and this unexpectedness and the high cost of wishes make the story very scary. It makes you think twice about what you might wish for if you were in a similar situation.
The unpredictability in these stories is a big factor. You don't know what's going to happen next. It could be a sudden appearance of a terrifying apparition or a strange event that defies logic. And the fact that they are based on real experiences (or at least claim to be) gives them an authenticity that makes them more effective at scaring us compared to fictional horror stories.
The unknown elements in 21 scary stories often make them frightening. When we don't know what's lurking in the dark or what will happen next, it creates fear.
Often, it's the combination of elements. It could be the setting, like a dark and isolated place in the stories. And the characters' vulnerability. If the main character in one of the 7 stories is all alone in a spooky old mansion with no way to escape, that's pretty frightening. Also, the use of suspense, like when the story builds up to a big scare moment but keeps you in suspense for a while.
The element of the unknown. In these stories, things happen that can't be easily explained. It's like a strange noise in the middle of the night with no obvious source. That makes our minds race with all kinds of scary possibilities.
The element of the unknown. For example, when there are strange noises in a story but no clear explanation of what's causing them. It makes the reader's imagination run wild, which is a big part of what makes it scary.
The way they play on our fears. A lot of the stories in '50 scary stories' involve common fears such as the fear of the dark, being alone, or something evil lurking just out of sight. They build up the tension slowly, making you feel more and more on edge until the big scare comes. For instance, there are stories where a character is home alone at night and starts to notice small, unexplainable things happening around them, like doors opening slightly by themselves. This gradually makes the reader or listener feel very uneasy. Another aspect is the use of vivid descriptions. When the author describes a spooky location, like a decrepit old cemetery with broken tombstones and mist swirling around, it really sets the mood and makes it scarier.