One of the best is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. It's about a family who comes into possession of a mummified monkey's paw that has the power to grant three wishes, but with terrifying and unforeseen consequences. Another great one is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. The narrator's descent into madness as he tries to convince the reader of his sanity while he has just murdered an old man because of his 'evil eye' is both chilling and thought - provoking.
Well, one characteristic is that they can play on our fears. They might involve things like ghosts, witches, or other supernatural entities. They also tend to be set in isolated or eerie locations, such as a deserted cemetery or an old, abandoned mansion. In addition, classic short ghost stories often rely on a sense of mystery. The reader is left wondering what exactly is going on until the end when all is revealed. They may also use elements of foreshadowing to build up the anticipation. For instance, a character might notice a strange symbol early on, and later it turns out to be related to the ghostly events. This keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat.
Some excellent classic ghost stories include 'The Canterville Ghost' by Oscar Wilde. It has a humorous take on a ghost trying to haunt a family. 'Ghost - Ship' is also a good one, with its tales of a haunted ship at sea. And 'The Mezzotint' by M. R. James, which often features in collections of the best classic ghost stories as it has a very spooky and mysterious plot.
Well, 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens has some ghostly elements. Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. These ghosts show him different aspects of his life and the lives of others, and ultimately lead him to change his miserly ways. It's a story that not only has a supernatural aspect but also a strong moral message.
There are many great classic short stories. For instance, 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor. This story is deep and complex, exploring themes of morality and grace. Another one is 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. It's a story with a great twist at the end, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Also, 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant is a classic that shows the consequences of vanity.
One of the best is 'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James. It has a very eerie atmosphere with its ambiguous ghosts and the psychological state of the governess. Another great one is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving. The spooky setting of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman create a truly atmospheric ghost story. And 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker also belongs to this category. The Transylvanian setting and the vampire's presence add to the chilling atmosphere.
They often have a strong sense of atmosphere. For example, in many of Poe's works, the setting is dark and gloomy, like old, decaying mansions. This helps to set the mood for the ghostly events. They also usually have a simple yet effective plot. A single, spooky incident or entity can be enough to create a great short ghost story.
It's the Ghost Festival again. You can refer to the following classic short ghost stories:
1 Mirror
There was a young woman who would walk alone on the street every night. She would always see herself in the mirror. She felt strange, but she continued walking. Until one day, she found herself in the mirror as a dead person. She was terrified, but soon found that the dead man in the mirror had not disappeared but had been watching her all this time.
2 "Zongzi"
On the Dragon Boat Festival, a boy gave his mother a dumpling. Mom ate happily but threw the dumplings away. That night, the boy's mother dreamed of a girl dressed in black. She told the boy that she did not want to give her mother any more dumplings because her family already had a dumpling spirit.
3 Lantern
There was a young girl who would light a lantern every night. One day, she found that the ghost in the lantern had been following her. She was very afraid but soon found out that the ghost in the lantern was actually her good friend who was afraid to talk to her.
4 " Spirit of the Mirror "
There was a boy who always looked at himself in the mirror before he went to bed. But he didn't know that the reflection of himself in the mirror was his deceased ancestor. Every time he saw his ancestors, he would always feel the terror and threat of his ancestors. Until one day, he realized that he could summon his ancestors through his reflection in the mirror.
These stories were all classic short ghost stories, hoping to bring some inspiration. Of course, they could also create their own ghost stories according to their own interests and preferences.
Well, 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Edgar Allan Poe is among the best. It's a dark and suspenseful tale of revenge. Then there's 'The Lady, or the Tiger?' by Frank R. Stockton. This story leaves the ending up to the reader's interpretation, which is really interesting. Also, 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London is a great classic short story that shows the power of nature and man's struggle against it.
The following are all classic short ghost stories:
In " Flowers in the Mirror ", a woman went for a walk in the garden at night and suddenly heard a woman's voice: " Hello, I'm a ghost. I'm here to chat with you." She walked closer and saw that it was a thin woman dressed in Qing Dynasty clothes. She had a mask on her face and her voice was gentle. The woman told her that her father had passed away a few years ago and that her mother had been by her side to take care of her. However, her mother suddenly disappeared when she was young, leaving behind a box with her long hair. The woman asked her to help her find her mother. She gave the woman a box and asked the woman to take the box to her mother.
In the Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, there was a short story called The Peony Pavilion, which told the story of a woman who met a ghost in the garden. The woman was singing and dancing in the garden. Suddenly, a ghost appeared in front of her and told her,"You are the most beautiful woman in my heart, but I can only appear in the dark." The woman didn't know what it meant. The ghost told her that her father was a scholar and his mother died when she was young, leaving behind a secret garden with many ghosts dancing and singing. The woman was deeply moved by the story of the ghost and decided to go to the garden to find the answer.
There was a legend in Dream of the Red Chamber about Lin Daiyu. According to legend, Lin Daiyu's soul was discovered by Grandmother Jia. Grandmother Jia wanted her to stay in the world, so she locked Lin Daiyu's soul in a bottle so that her soul could never leave. However, after the death of Grandmother Jia, Lin Daiyu's soul was released again. She went to the room where Lin Daiyu used to live and saw many familiar scenes, including Lin Daiyu's portrait and her former belongings.
In the Journey to the West, there is a story about Sun Wukong's battle with monsters. One of the monsters is called the Black Bear Spirit. Legend has it that the black bear spirit once met his past self in a cave and told him that he was once a scholar who had been demoted to the mortal world to become a black bear spirit because he had killed someone by mistake.