A more modern example is 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill. The titular ghost woman is a terrifying figure that haunts the characters in the story. The desolate setting of the marshlands and the old, dilapidated house enhance the sense of dread and the ghostly nature of the story.
For beginners, 'The Canterville Ghost' by Oscar Wilde is great. It has a bit of humor along with the spooky elements. The ghost in this story is more comical in his attempts to haunt the American family, but it still has that classic ghost story feel.
There might be a story of a haunted ship. Sailors on a ship start to notice strange occurrences, like objects moving by themselves and cold spots. It could be related to a past disaster on the ship where many lives were lost, and the souls are trapped on the vessel.
One of the best archetypes is the damsel in distress, which although often criticized for being a bit old - fashioned, still has its place. It can create a situation that drives the hero to act, like Princess Peach in the Mario games. The villain archetype is also essential. A well - crafted villain, like Voldemort in 'Harry Potter', provides the conflict necessary for a great story. Then there's the everyman archetype. It allows readers to easily identify with the character, as seen in many coming - of - age stories.
There's also 'The Bell Witch'. This story is based on a real - life haunting in Tennessee. The Bell Witch tormented the Bell family, making strange noises, moving objects, and even attacking family members. It's a long - standing and well - known ghost story that has been passed down through generations, and the details of the hauntings are very creepy.
Well, it's a bit of both. There are indeed some genuine accounts in ghost hunters stories. For example, in some old, haunted houses, multiple ghost hunters have reported similar paranormal activities such as cold spots or objects moving on their own. But, a large number of these stories are fictional. People might be influenced by horror movies and create stories that seem exciting but lack real evidence. Also, in the dark and eerie environments where ghost hunting often takes place, it's easy to misinterpret normal sounds and sights as something supernatural.
It's almost surely fictional. While there are many ghost stories in the world, the idea of a hundred billion of them is more of a creative exaggeration. Ghost stories are often part of folklore and superstition, and while some people claim to have had real experiences, the sheer number in this title is more for the sake of creating a sense of vastness and mystery, rather than indicating a real quantity of actual stories.
They are most likely fictional. Ghosts have no scientific basis to prove their existence, so these Norton Ghost Stories are probably made - up for entertainment or to pass on local legends.
One popular fictional ghost story is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. It tells a haunting tale of a governess who believes the children she is taking care of are being haunted by ghosts. Another is 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, where Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. And then there's 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving, with the infamous Headless Horseman which is a sort of ghostly figure that haunts the town of Sleepy Hollow.