favorite classic horror short stories

H.P. Lovecraft's 'The Call of Cthulhu' is also a classic. It tells of an ancient and powerful being that lies dormant but is capable of driving those who discover it to madness. Lovecraft's use of cosmic horror and the unknown makes this a truly terrifying short story.

Edgar Allan Poe is a well - known author of classic horror short stories. His works, like 'The Fall of the House of Usher', are full of psychological horror and a sense of impending doom. His use of vivid descriptions and unreliable narrators adds to the horror element.

One popular horror short story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a disturbing tale of a man's descent into madness as he is haunted by the sound of his victim's beating heart. Another is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which has a shockingly cruel ending that makes you question the nature of society. And 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs, where a family's wishes on a cursed paw lead to tragic consequences.

They often have a sense of the unknown. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', the power of the paw is mysterious and the consequences of the wishes are unexpected. Another characteristic is the use of atmosphere. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', Poe builds a tense atmosphere through the narrator's paranoia. Also, they usually have a quick - paced plot to keep the horror building. Like in 'The Cask of Amontillado', the events unfold rapidly as Fortunato is led deeper into the catacombs.

Classic short horror stories have influenced modern horror in many ways. For example, the use of psychological horror in Poe's works like 'The Tell - Tale Heart' is often seen in modern horror movies and books. The idea of a character's mind being their own worst enemy. Also, the concept of a cursed object from 'The Monkey's Paw' has been repeated in various modern horror tales.

For beginners, I'd recommend 'The Most Dangerous Game' by Richard Connell. While not strictly a horror story in the traditional sense, it has elements of suspense and danger that can ease you into the horror genre. 'The Canterville Ghost' by Oscar Wilde is also a great choice. It's a humorous yet spooky story about a ghost trying to haunt a family who doesn't believe in ghosts. And 'The Open Window' by Saki, which has a clever plot twist that gives it a bit of a horror - like feel.

A lot of these stories play with psychological horror. Take 'The Black Cat' by Edgar Allan Poe. The narrator's own guilty conscience and his deteriorating mental state are the main sources of horror. It shows how a person's inner demons can be as terrifying as any external monster.

One classic is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a story full of psychological horror. The narrator's descent into madness over the old man's 'vulture - like' eye is both terrifying and suspenseful.

One classic is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a story of a man's descent into madness as he is haunted by the eye of an old man he kills. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs, which shows the dangerous consequences of interfering with fate through a cursed monkey's paw. And Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' is also a great example. It's set in a small town where an annual lottery has a very dark and unexpected outcome.

One of the best is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a chilling tale of a man's descent into madness as he is haunted by the sound of his victim's heart. Another great one is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs, which shows the consequences of interfering with fate through a cursed monkey's paw. 'Carmilla' by Sheridan Le Fanu is also notable, as it's an early example of vampire fiction.