What makes an incredibly dark bedtime story so disturbing?
One factor is the presence of malevolent characters. When there are characters in a story that have no redeeming qualities and are just pure evil, like a serial killer who preys on the innocent in a small town in a bedtime story. Their actions and intentions are so cruel and immoral that it makes the story deeply disturbing as it goes against our basic sense of right and wrong and the hope for a just world.
The element of the unknown often makes a dark bedtime story disturbing. For example, in a story where there are strange noises in an attic but you never find out what's making them. It plays on our fear of the unknown and keeps our minds racing with all kinds of terrifying possibilities.
Can you share an incredibly dark bedtime story?
There was a boy named Tom who lived in a big, old mansion. His parents were always away. One night, he noticed a shadow moving on the wall. It took the shape of a tall, menacing figure. As he watched in horror, the figure grew closer and closer. It entered his room and whispered dreadful things in his ear. Tom was so terrified that he couldn't move or scream, and he felt his life draining away as the figure consumed his fear.
What makes incredibly scary stories so effective?
The element of the unknown makes incredibly scary stories effective. When we don't know what's going to happen next, our minds start to fill in the blanks with the worst - case scenarios. For example, in a story about a monster in the basement, not seeing the monster clearly but just hearing its growls makes it scarier.
What makes an incredibly sad true love story so poignant?
The sense of loss is a big factor. When two people are in love and then something like death or distance separates them, it creates a void. For example, if a couple is separated by a natural disaster and one loses the other, the sudden loss makes the love story heart - wrenching. There's also the aspect of helplessness. When they can't do anything to save their love, like in the case of a social or family pressure forcing them apart, it makes the story even more poignant.
What makes an incredibly sad true love story so impactful?
The element of lost hope. In a sad true love story, like when two lovers are separated by circumstances they can't control, such as a terminal illness or social barriers. The fact that they had love but couldn't hold onto it makes it impactful. It makes us realize how fragile love can be in the face of real - world problems.
What makes 'dark and disturbing short stories' so appealing to some readers?
The sense of shock value also plays a role. When you read a disturbing story, it jolts you out of your normal state of mind. It makes you question things and see the world from a different, often darker, perspective. For example, in 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator's act of burying his so - called friend alive is extremely shocking. It makes the reader think about revenge and the lengths some people might go to. Moreover, some readers enjoy the feeling of being on the edge while reading these stories, not knowing what truly dark turn the plot might take next.
What makes a creepy real story so disturbing?
Violation of the normal. When normal things start to act abnormally in a story, it becomes creepy. For instance, a doll that should be an inanimate object suddenly starts to move or make noises. Our brains are wired to expect certain things to be a certain way, and when that's violated, it creates a sense of unease and fear. This is what makes a lot of creepy real stories so disturbing.
What makes a sick horror story so disturbing?
One major factor is the violation of the natural order. In sick horror stories, we might see things like the dead coming back to life in a wrong or corrupted way, or the innocent being targeted in the most brutal fashion. The sense of helplessness it instills in the reader or viewer is also a big part. When we see characters being subjected to these sick and cruel situations and they can't escape easily, it makes us feel uneasy and disturbed.
What makes the most disturbing dystopian novels so disturbing?
For 'The Handmaid's Tale', the subjugation of women is a major factor. Women are stripped of their rights and treated as property. In 'Fahrenheit 451', the destruction of knowledge through book - burning is really scary. It shows a society that is afraid of thinking and learning. And in 'A Clockwork Orange', the random and senseless violence carried out by the main characters makes it a very disturbing read.
What makes 'aziraphale is incredibly smart' fanfics so appealing?
These fanfics are appealing because they often explore the contrast between his angelic nature and his sharp mind. For example, he might use his intelligence to find loopholes in the angelic rules. It's fascinating to see how his smartness interacts with his moral and ethical beliefs as an angel. Also, his intelligence can lead to some really unique interactions with other characters, like Crowley. They can have deep conversations or engage in elaborate schemes together, which makes for great storytelling.
Why are cursed bedtime stories so disturbing?
They are disturbing because they often involve elements of the unknown and the supernatural. These elements play on our deepest fears, like the fear of the dark or the fear of things that go bump in the night.