greatest scary short stories

Another great one is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. In a seemingly ordinary small town, there is an annual lottery. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this lottery has a very dark and disturbing outcome, which shows how blindly following tradition can be terrifying.

One of the greatest short scary stories is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is haunted by an old man's vulture - like eye and ultimately murders him, only to be driven mad by the sound of the dead man's heart still beating in his head.

Edgar Allan Poe is a well - known author of great short scary stories. His works, such as 'The Fall of the House of Usher' and 'The Cask of Amontillado', are filled with dark themes, psychological horror, and a sense of impending doom.

Sure. H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Call of Cthulhu' is a classic. It has a Lovecraftian horror that features an otherworldly and ancient evil. The very idea of this powerful and incomprehensible being lurking beneath the surface of our world is terrifying.

Some of the top 10 might include 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a beautiful story about a young couple who sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another could be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which is a chilling tale that makes you question the dark side of human nature. 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is also often considered great, with its complex characters and exploration of morality.

Authors like O. Henry, he wrote 'The Gift of the Magi'. Guy de Maupassant, known for 'The Necklace'. And Edgar Allan Poe who penned 'The Tell - Tale Heart' are among the authors of the greatest short stories. These authors have a unique ability to tell engaging stories within a short span, using vivid language and deep insights into human nature.

Some of the greatest short stories include 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a chilling story that reveals the dark side of human nature and blind obedience to tradition. Then there's 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, a classic horror short story that delves into the mind of a deranged narrator. Also, 'Hills Like White Elephants' by Ernest Hemingway is great as it conveys so much through its sparse dialogue about a difficult relationship.

The themes they explore. For example, many of them touch on universal human experiences such as love, loss, and the search for meaning. This makes them relatable to a wide range of readers.

Well, one characteristic could be their strong character development. In many of these great short stories, the characters are vividly portrayed in a short span. For example, in some stories, the main character's personality is revealed through their actions and decisions in just a few pages. Another aspect is the concise yet impactful plot. These stories manage to tell a complete and engaging story without being long - winded. Also, they often deal with universal themes like love, loss, and the human condition, which makes them relatable to a wide range of readers.

One of the greatest is 'The Lady with the Dog' by Anton Chekhov. It beautifully portrays an extramarital affair with great psychological depth. Another is 'The Nose' by Nikolai Gogol, a surreal story about a man whose nose takes on a life of its own. And 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' by Leo Tolstoy, which is a profound exploration of a man facing his mortality.