I think the story about the ghostly figure in the graveyard is really spooky. It plays with the idea of the afterlife and the unease of being near the dead. The author's use of atmosphere in that story is great. There are dark shadows, a sense of mystery, and the feeling that something is always watching.
Well, there are many. One that stands out might be the story where a specter haunts an old mansion. The way it's described makes you feel the cold and dread.
In the book, there's a tale about a haunted carriage. The passengers experience strange occurrences like cold gusts of wind inside the closed carriage and the sound of hoofbeats when there are no horses around. The details of how the characters react to these events, their growing fear and paranoia, add to the overall scariness of the story.
Well, many of the stories in the 'Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories' are set in old English villages or castles. One story that stands out is about a phantom rider that rides through the village every full moon. The villagers are terrified, and the way the story unfolds, with the build - up of suspense and the final revelation about the rider's identity, is really captivating.
One of the memorable ones could be the story where a specter haunts an old manor. It creates an eerie atmosphere with its cold presence and strange noises at night.
One notable feature is its collection of classic English ghost stories. It likely includes a variety of spooky tales from different eras in English literature, each with its own unique atmosphere and set of characters.
Some of the stories in 'Oxford Horror Stories' are about vengeful spirits. There's this one story where a student unknowingly disturbs the resting place of an old spirit on the campus. After that, he starts experiencing all kinds of terrifying things, like cold drafts in the middle of warm rooms, and seeing a shadowy figure following him everywhere. The stories use the familiar Oxford settings, like the old libraries and hallways, to create a sense of unease and horror that hits close to home for those who know the place.
There could be a variety of authors. Since it's an Oxford collection, it may include some classic authors. It might have works from Sheridan Le Fanu, who is known for his gothic and supernatural stories. Also, perhaps some less well - known but still important writers of English ghost stories whose works contribute to the overall richness of the collection.
One that stands out is 'The Garden Party' also by Katherine Mansfield. It shows the contrast between the upper - class world of a garden party and the poverty and death that exists just outside. And then there's 'The Open Window' by Saki. It's a brilliant short story with a great twist at the end that keeps readers on their toes.
There could be ghost stories in it that involve apparitions. You know, a figure that suddenly appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a misty form. It might be the spirit of someone who met a tragic end in the past. Such stories can be really scary as they play on our fear of the unknown and the afterlife.
It contributes by gathering some of the best English ghost stories. It showcases different writing styles within the genre.
The 'Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories' contributes to the genre in several ways. It brings together different voices and writing styles. For example, some stories might focus on the psychological horror of encountering a ghost, while others might be more about the physical manifestations. It also helps preserve classic ghost stories from English literature, which can inspire new generations of writers to explore the genre further. By having a compilation like this, it allows for a comparison and study of different elements in ghost stories such as setting, character, and the nature of the ghosts themselves.
I really like 'The Monkey's Paw' in it. It's a very well - known story. The idea of a magical paw that grants wishes but with a horrible twist is quite fascinating.