What are the common elements in dread short stories?

Sure. 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe is a great dread short story. It's about a narrator who is haunted by the vulture - like eye of an old man and eventually kills him. The growing sense of dread and the narrator's madness make it a classic.

One notable element is the exploration of psychological horror. Barker delves deep into the characters' minds, making the fear more internal and intense. The use of vivid descriptions also stands out. For example, the way he describes the settings creates a sense of dread that lingers. Another element is the unexpected twists in the plot, which keep the reader on edge throughout the story.

He uses dark and gloomy settings. For instance, a desolate alley or a decaying old building. These settings immediately set a mood of unease.

One popular dread game story is 'Silent Hill'. The fog - covered town is filled with all kinds of grotesque creatures and psychological terrors. The main character has to face his or her inner demons while trying to survive in this nightmarish place.

A girl with long, beautiful dreadlocks once slept over at a friend's place. In the middle of the night, her friend's cat got into her hair and made a huge mess. The cat's claws got tangled in the dreads, and when the girl woke up, she had a big struggle trying to get the cat out without hurting it or further damaging her hair. It was a very chaotic and unexpected situation.

One common element is treasure. Pirates are always on the hunt for gold, jewels or some other valuable loot. Another is the ship, which is their home and means of transportation on the high seas. Also, there's often a sense of adventure and danger.

One common element is the unknown. For example, in many stories like 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the main character is in a situation where she doesn't understand what's really going on, and that mystery creates fear. Another element is isolation. In 'The Lighthouse', the two lighthouse keepers are isolated from the rest of the world, which heightens the sense of dread when strange things start to happen. Also, death is often involved, whether it's an impending death like in 'The Masque of the Red Death' or a past death that haunts the present, as in 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.

One common element is the unknown. For example, in many short disturbing stories, there are strange noises or movements that can't be easily explained. Another is the presence of something that seems out of place, like a doll with a creepy look or a strange symbol. Also, a feeling of being watched is often included, which makes the reader or listener feel uneasy.

Common elements include the robber's intention which is to steal something. They often have a method of approach, like sneaking up on someone or using force right away. Take the jewelry store robbers. They used the element of shock to their advantage. Then there's the reaction of the people around. Sometimes it's fear, other times it's resistance like the woman who fought the mugger. And the setting also matters. A busy street or a quiet store can both be scenes for robberies.

Often, there is a sense of isolation in suspenseful short stories. The characters may be in a lonely place like a desolate house or a remote forest. This isolation heightens the feeling of danger and suspense. For instance, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the main character is confined to a room in an old house, and this isolation adds to the overall sense of unease and suspense as she descends into madness.