Ghosts are a common element. For example, the ghost of a student who passed away in a school accident. Another element could be strange noises like creaking floors or howling winds in the school corridors at night. Haunted rooms are also in there, like a storage room where things seem to move on their own.
One of the scariest elements is the sense of helplessness. When students got locked in a room in the old castle during a school trip, they couldn't do anything to get out immediately. Another is the fear of the dark. In the museum when the power went out, the darkness made the situation much scarier. And the fear of wild animals, like the bear at the campsite during the camping school trip.
Elements in the top 10 scary real stories can include haunted locations. Take the Winchester Mystery House, it was a place full of mystery and the idea that spirits were involved made it scarier. Another element is curses, like with the Hope Diamond. People believed that a curse was attached to it, which brought misfortune. And often, there are apparitions. In the Sallie House story, the apparition of the little girl added to the scariness. These elements combine to create a sense of unease and fear that makes these stories so spooky.
In the top 10 real scary stories, one element is the setting. Dark and isolated places like old forests, abandoned buildings, and cemeteries are often the backdrop. These places create a sense of dread. Another element is the feeling of being watched. Victims in the stories often feel that there is an unseen presence observing them. And then there are the strange occurrences, such as objects moving on their own, or lights flickering for no apparent reason. All these elements combine to make the stories really scary. For instance, in a story about an abandoned asylum, the dark hallways, the feeling of being watched by the former patients' spirits, and the strange noises from the empty rooms all contribute to the overall scariness.
For 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the key element is the oppression of women. The woman is trapped in a room, not allowed to do much, and her mind starts to break. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the obsession with the old man's eye is a crucial part that drives the story forward. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the element of fate and the uncontrollable consequences of interfering with it through the wishes are central to the horror.
Another element is vehicle trouble. When your car breaks down, you feel vulnerable. You're stuck in a place you might not know well, and that's when all sorts of fears start to creep in, like the fear of being attacked or something supernatural happening.
Unusual noises are common. For example, footsteps in an empty hallway when no one else should be there. It makes the person home alone feel like they're being watched or there's an intruder.
Another common element is the use of things related to the school's past. It could be a former student or teacher who met an unfortunate end. Their spirits are said to haunt the school. For instance, a student who died in a school accident might be the source of the scary events. Also, the time of day matters. Most of the spooky things happen at night or during quiet times when there are few people around, like during a break or after school hours.
One story could be about a strange figure seen outside the school during lockdown. Students huddled in fear as they peeked through the windows and saw this shadowy form that seemed to be lurking around. Another might be a false alarm lockdown where the panic and chaos that ensued made it seem like a real horror situation. There could also be a story where a lockdown was due to a dangerous animal on the school grounds and the fear of it getting into the building.
One element is the unknown. In many of these stories, like in 'The Monkey's Paw', we don't know exactly how the cursed paw will bring about misfortune. It's this sense of not knowing what will happen next that scares us. Another is the use of psychological horror. For example, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the woman's slow descent into madness due to her confinement is terrifying because it plays on our fears of losing our minds.
Haunted locations are often in these stories, like old houses or cabins. Strange noises such as creaking, whispering or howling are also common. Unusual sightings like shadowy figures, ghost - like apparitions are elements. And things moving on their own, like dolls or musical instruments, are often part of these scary sleepover tales.