gothic short stories essay

10 of the Best Gothic Horror Short Stories to Read Online

Whether it’s vampires or werewolves or mysterious patterns in wallpaper, writers of Gothic short stories have used all sorts of horrors and frights to chill our blood, ever since the horror short story developed in the early nineteenth century. Below, we pick ten of the very best Gothic horror tales which you can find online. None of these is a particularly long read, and they’re all classics of the genre.

1. E. T. A. Hoffmann, ‘ The Sandman ’.

The character of the Sandman from folklore supposedly throws sand into the eyes of children to get them to go to sleep, but Hoffmann’s creation is much more unsettling – indeed, ‘uncanny’, as Freud realised.

In Hoffmann’s tale, published in 1816, the Sandman can supposedly steal the eyes of children, at least according to Nathanael, the story’s doomed protagonist. Hoffmann’s tale features romance, death, sinister visits to children’s bedrooms, and lots of other things to keep anyone awake at night!

2. Washington Irving, ‘ The Legend of Sleepy Hollow ’.

Memorably filmed by Tim Burton in a 1999 adaptation that changed a number of details of Irving’s original story, this tale is, along with ‘Rip Van Winkle’, Irving’s best-known work, and was first published in 1820.

A classic American Gothic story, ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ is about a secluded grove (the ‘Sleepy Hollow’ of the title) in a fictional New York town, which is reportedly full of ghosts – most famously, a spectral figure known as the Headless Horseman. However, the protagonist of this American folk tale is Ichabod Crane, a schoolmaster, who has designs on a local girl whom he wishes to marry so he can acquire her father’s wealth.

These two elements – the ‘courtship plot’ and the ghostly atmosphere of Sleepy Hollow – come together in a story shot through with peculiarly American detail, making it the New World’s answer to the European tales of the Brothers Grimm. Indeed, Irving was influenced by German folk tales for both this and ‘Rip Van Winkle’, and he actually wrote the story while living in Birmingham, England.

3. Edgar Allan Poe, ‘ The Fall of the House of Usher ’.

No pick of the best Gothic horror short stories would be complete without something from Poe (1809-49), who helped to pioneer the short story form (and has even been credited with introducing the term ‘short story’ itself into the language).

Many of Poe’s finest Gothic stories can be viewed as Gothic novels in miniature, and ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ are prime examples. The latter of these is regularly named one of Poe’s best stories. The story combines the Gothic house, the old aristocratic family on its last legs, the idea of the dead returning to life, and various other hallmarks of classic Gothic fiction. Go and have your spine chilled with this classic tale.

4. Charles Dickens, ‘ The Signal-Man ’.

5. Robert Louis Stevenson, ‘ The Body Snatcher ’.

This 1884 tale, written after Stevenson had become a huge celebrity following the success of Treasure Island a year before, features characters based on criminals who were employed by the real-life surgeon Robert Knox (1791–1862) around the time of the notorious Burke and Hare murders (1828). The story predates Stevenson’s 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde , and shows his skill at creating an authentic setting against which the tale’s grisly events take place.

6. W. W. Jacobs, ‘ The Monkey’s Paw ’.

‘The Monkey’s Paw’ is a modern fairy tale, and indeed fairy tales and magical stories from the Arabian Nights (featuring djinn, or genies, who can grant wishes) are both mentioned by characters in the story. As in many classic fairy tales, the number three is invested with great narrative significance: there are three members of the White family, three men can use the monkey’s paw to request wishes, and each man gets three wishes.

It was first published in Harper’s Monthly Magazine in September 1902 and proved instantly popular, being reprinted later that same year and adapted for the stage a year later. The story inspired similar story-lines in both The Monkees and The Simpsons .

We have analysed this classic horror story here .

7. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘ Lot No. 249 ’.

One of the best Gothic short stories on the subject of Egyptology, this 1892 tale shows why Conan Doyle was such a master of the short-story form.

Written when ‘Egyptomania’ – European interest in all things from ancient Egypt – was at its height in late Victorian England, this tale features a reanimated mummy in what might be regarded as a riff on both Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Conan Doyle’s own Sherlock Holmes stories (there is an element of mystery and suspense in the story, with the full truth only become apparent during the story’s dramatic denouement).

8. Rudyard Kipling, ‘ The Mark of the Beast ’.

Perhaps no pick of classic Gothic horror stories would be complete without at least one werewolf tale, or story about lycanthropy. This early story by Rudyard Kipling, written when he was still in his early twenties and living in India, is our choice. Andrew Lang called the story ‘poisonous stuff which has left an extremely disagreeable impression on my mind’, while William Sharp recommended the story be burnt as a ‘detestable piece of work’.

9. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, ‘ The Yellow Wallpaper ’.

‘The Yellow Wallpaper’, an 1892 short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, has the structure and style of a diary. This is in keeping with what the female narrator tells us: that she can only write down her experiences when her husband John is not around, since he has forbidden her to write until she is well again, believing it will overexcite her. Through a series of short instalments, we learn more about the narrator’s situation, and her treatment at the hands of her doctor husband and her sister-in-law.

‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ is a Gothic horror story – it ends with the husband taking an axe to the bedroom door where his cowering wife is imprisoned – but the twist is that she has imprisoned herself in her deluded belief that she is protecting her husband from the ‘creeping women’ from behind the wallpaper, and he is prepared to beat down the door with an axe out of genuine concern for his sick wife.

We have analysed this story here .

10. Algernon Blackwood, ‘ The Wendigo ’.

Blackwood (1869-1951) was an important figure in early twentieth-century horror fiction: among other things, he created John Silence, a doctor-cum-paranormal-detective, for a series of entertainingly weird stories.

But Blackwood’s standalone horror stories are also well worth reading. Here, we’ve selected ‘The Wendigo’ (1910), which is one of the longer short stories on this list. Set amongst the Canadian wilderness, the story is about a group of men who go camping and the mysterious disappearance – and return – of one of their group.

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4 thoughts on “10 of the Best Gothic Horror Short Stories to Read Online”

Mmmm I’d have included at least one more of Poe’s (The Masque maybe? The pit and the pendulum?) and possibly Young Goodman Brown, by Hawthorne.

Excellent selection. I’d vote for The Queen of Spades by Pushkin too. Is it significant how many of these writers had miserable lives ? This may have given them an affinity for the gothic.

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My goodness…no Angela Carter? Surely ‘The Company of Wolves’ deserves putting on the list?!

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VICTORIAN GOTHIC  LIBRARY

• Georgina Gale
• May 31, 2021

10 excellent gothic short stories you can read for free

Updated: Feb 25

It's a shame that it's taken me so long to realise – 5 years, in fact – just how much I love a good short story. On balance, I find that I tend to prefer gothic short stories and novellas to gothic novels, even when written by the same author. I know I’m not alone here, as one of the champions of horror, Stephen King, has a similar love of them, lamenting in his introduction to Skeleton Crew (1985) that “most of [us] have forgotten the real pleasures of the short story”. He goes on to say

“a short story is like a quick kiss in the dark from a stranger. That is not, of course, the same thing as an affair or a marriage, but kisses can be sweet, and their very brevity forms their own attraction.”

Don't agree? Perhaps you're reading the wrong ones. Whether you’re a sceptic or simply at a loss as to where to start, here are 10 excellent and less-known Victorian gothic short stories you can find in the library and read for free:

IRISH VAMPIRES

'Ken’s Mystery', Julian Hawthorne (1888)

“This is November-eve, when, as tradition asserts, the dead arise and walk about, and fairies, goblins, and spiritual beings of all kinds have more freedom and power than on any other day of the year. One can see you’ve never been to Ireland.”

An American artist visits the UK during his travels through Europe, but cuts his trip short after a strange encounter on Halloween in Ireland. Fascinated and amused by Irish folklore, he ignores the local’s warnings and superstitions, thereby falling foul of a centuries-old vampire who seems able to bend the laws of time. His bewitching experience haunts him every Halloween since.

HAUNTED CEMETERIES

'The Dead and the Countess', Gertrude Atherton (1902)

“All the earth beneath him was filled with lamentation. They wailed for mercy, for peace, for rest; they cursed the foul fiend who had shattered the locks of death”

A concerned priest tends to the deathbed of a local countess, who fears the fate of her soul after a railway is built through the nearby church grounds. After returning to his cemetery to bless those buried there, the priest is shocked to learn that, for the dead in his graveyard, the afterlife is not as peaceful as he imagined.

Although not the scariest I've read, it is a more creative take on a ghost narrative, and there is a melancholy sweetness about this story which stayed with me.

SINISTER FAE

'The White People', Arthur Machen (1904)

“there were other rocks that were like animals, creeping, horrible animals…others like dead people lying on the grass. I went on among them, though they frightened me, and my heart was full of wicked songs that they put into it”

If you love 'The Great God Pan' (1894), then this should be next on your TBR list. An equally horrible and fantastic narrative, 'The White People' describes the diary entries of a young woman introduced to the fae as a baby. Growing up, she witnesses and is taught about various strange, ancient rituals and magical practices, which she relays to the reader in detail. The strange things she sees and beings she meets both haunt and fascinate her throughout her short, surreal life.

I always wondered what Helen Vaughan might have said if we heard her tell her own story – this story feeds that fantasy. Also highly recommended for any fans of the film Pan’s Labyrinth (2006).

MASKED ENTITIES

'The Woman in Red' and 'Unmasked', Muriel Campbell Dyar (1899, 1900)

“There was a sharp click, as of a metal catch, and the velvet mask, loosened, fell softly to the ground...There, in the bright white moonlight, he looked full at the face of the Woman in Red and, with a terrible cry of horror, fell like one dead upon the grass.”

The first of this pair features an enchanting masked woman who enraptures the men around her after suddenly arriving at Monte Carlo with no name and only an old woman for company. It’s not long before the men begin to speculate about who the lady might be, and after one succeeds in peering behind the mask, a series of tragedies follow. It’s sequel, 'Unmasked', reveals an excellently chilling twist which makes a rather poignant remark on men’s treatment of women, which still resonates to this day.

TWISTED PLANTS

'The Giant Wisteria', Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1891)

“He strode heavily across the porch, till the loose planks creaked...his brows fiercely knit above his iron mouth. Overhead the shadows flickered mockingly across a white face among the leaves, with eyes of fire”

You may know her as the author of 'The Yellow Wallpaper' (1892), but Gilman also wrote other great short stories. This one kicks off with a teenage girl in the 1600s telling her mother in Ye Olde Pilgrim Tongue exactly where she can shove her judgement, but it quickly turns into a disturbing tale of secrecy and death. Centuries later, a group of holiday-goers in search of a ghost decide to stay in a decrepit house overrun with an unruly wisteria plant, which threads through the bones of the place and eventually reveals its secrets to the unsuspecting guests.

RUSSIAN WEREWOLF

'The White Dog', Fyodor Sologub (1903, translated into English 1915)

“The moon rose clear and full, that very same moon which rose long ago at another place, over the broad desolate steppe...now, as then, glowed eyes sick with longing; and her heart, still wild, not forgetting in town the great spaciousness of the steppe, felt oppressed; her throat was troubled with a tormenting desire to howl like a wild thing.”

Another quieter, melancholy gothic tale. This story follows a young Russian girl living with a secret she soon sees in others around her. However, as she eventually learns, it can be dangerous to embrace your true nature when so many misunderstand your existence. It’s a very brief story, but I found its unusual narrative and depiction of monstrous women (if you can call them that) to be intriguing and rather beautiful.

WITCHES IN SALEM

'Young Goodman Brown', Nathaniel Hawthorne (1835)

“The cry of grief, rage, and terror...pierc[ed] the night...There was a scream, drowned immediately in a louder murmur of voices, fading into far-off laughter, as the dark cloud swept away, leaving the clear and silent sky”

Hawthorne claimed to be descended from the notorious John Hathorne, the only Judge overseeing the Salem witch trials who refused to repent his role in the murders of various women.* Whether this is true or false, Hawthorne’s fascination and abhorrence of Salem’s history are rife in 'Young Goodman Brown', which features his rumoured ancestor. The story follows the eponymous character, who ventures out of the comfort of his wife's home in Salem village, and into the woods on an unknown mission with a mysterious companion. The further he progresses into the forest at night, the further we venture into the dark and sinister secrets of the seemingly innocent townspeople he encounters there.

* I've never been entirely clear if this was hearsay perpetuated by Hawthorne to sell his stories, or if it's a proven fact – let me know if you have the answer!

PAGAN REINCARNATIONS

'Dionea', Vernon Lee (1890)

“I saw the storm rush down the valley, a sudden blackness, and then, like a curse, a flash, a tremendous crash, re-echoed by a dozen hills. ‘I told him,’ Dionea said very quietly, when she came to stay with me the next day…‘that if he did not leave me alone Heaven would send him an accident.’”

This tale follows the chaos that ensues in a rural Italian village when, after a terrible storm, a young girl washes up on its shores and is taken in by locals. The only clue to her identity is a piece of parchment with 'Dionea' written on it. As she becomes a woman, Dionea is both admired for her beauty and feared for her strange and unconventional behaviour, with rumours flying about her origins. Eventually, pagan magic seems to resurface within the village, and lust and mischief overwhelm the villagers – young lovers elope, obsessions develop and men meet terrible fates, possessed by a fascination with the bewitching Dionea.

If you love stories with suggestions of witchcraft and pagan lore, give this one a go.

DARK COMEDY

'Curse of the Catafalques', F. Anstey (1882)

“‘It is simply astonishing to me!’ I said, ‘that you can calmly allow this hideous Curse...to have things all its own way up to the present, in the nineteenth century, and not six miles from Charing Cross!’”

Upon arriving in England for the first time, an Australian traveller spontaneously decides to assume a false identity and marry the pitiful but wealthy Chlorine Catafalques. Unfortunately for him, he gradually learns she has a family secret of the satanic variety. Having lost the set of instructions that detail how to vanquish this evil, he struggles to unearth the mystery whilst maintaining both his false identity and his bravado. Eventually, a string of comical misunderstandings lead him to the ultimate question: is it bad etiquette to have your father-in-law's demon arrested?

DISTURBING AND BIZARRE

'The New Mother', Lucy Clifford (1882)

“From beneath the bonnet there flashed a strange bright light…[her] heart sank and her cheeks turned pale, for she knew it was the flashing of two glass eyes…‘it is the new mother! She has come’”

This twisted fantasy follows two sisters' descent into darkness after they meet a mysterious girl toying with a strange box and pear drum in the woods. Wishing to gain her favour, see the box’s contents and listen to her play the instrument, the sisters become increasingly disruptive at home, not heeding their mother’s warning about the consequences of their actions.

Neil Gaiman praised this story in his review of a collection of folk tales, and it has been compared to his similarly eerie work, Coraline.

Have a different opinion of these dark tales or a favourite missed out in this list? Let me know with a comment below, or via Twitter .

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14 of My Favorite Short Stories for Teaching Gothic Literature

Gothic short stories have always been a favorite with my students. From the mystery and suspense to the old creepy buildings, to the heightened emotions and the hints of the supernatural… there is just something about the gothic genre that kids gravitate towards.

“The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury

This modern day “science fiction” gothic tale will certainly give your students the shivers. George and Lydia let the virtual reality world do everything for their children, from bathing them to entertaining them. Soon they begin to notice that the virtual reality scene is continuously stuck on the African veldt, and the lions are devouring a carcass at the edge of the screen. Concerned, the parents send their children Peter and Wendy to a psychologist, who suggests turning off the virtual reality entirely. The parents do not heed this advice; this tragically results in their death when their own children feed them to the lions.

This gothic tale is rife with suspense and horror, and students love the altered vibe as they read, and the way the characters communicate so poorly. My students find the virtual reality aspect utterly relatable with today’s technology becoming so advanced. Many great discussions can come into play about our dependence on technology. And although there is no old castle, the African veldt provides the equivalent of secret doors and the supernatural, which lure the reader in a gripping way. 

“Luella Miller” by Mary Wilkins Freeman

Luella Miller, through a series of roommates who end up withering away while Luella herself thrives, is a new world vampire in an old world town. Though a little bit longer than the other stories on this list, the unsettling development of person after person losing their lives after being with Luella is very gripping for students. After marrying Erastus, he soon died. And although Luella was a teacher, one of her students did most of the work. The student soon deteriorated and died too. They are not the only casualties. 

The entire story is filled with unease, and students love to wonder about what is really going on. Make sure to point out the inexplicable events in the story and how they relate to the gothic theme of gloom and horror. Luella is a vampire and seems to be sucking the life out of those around her. This is also a great story to use to delve into the vocabulary of the gothic.

“Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

In this unsettling tale, an unnamed narrator is locked in a bedroom on the second floor of a mansion her husband John rented. John is a doctor and claims his wife has a nervous disorder, but readers can infer she has depression, possibly postpartum depression. The yellow wallpaper mutates in front of her eyes, and she is certain she sees a woman crawling behind the intricate design, so she decides to strip all of the wallpaper down in order to free this woman. When her husband finds her, she is scuttling around the room in a crazed manner and he promptly faints. She continues to crawl around the room and move around her husband’s unmoving body. 

This psychological thriller is the epitome of a woman being overtaken by a tyrannical abusive male, and students will appreciate this vivid example. Make sure to point out the elements of the supernatural with the questionable maneuvers of the wallpaper itself, as well as the gloomy mood and setting of the story. This tale also lends itself to a great conversation on the importance of mental health. 

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving

The private glen where the story is written is known to be haunted, which adds to the mysterious atmosphere of this story. Many people who live there are overcome by supernatural happenings, and strange things are known to occur. The story surrounds Ichabod Crane, who comes to the town to help out and is courting a woman named Katrina. Losing her hand to Abraham Van Brunt, he is riding home through a dark swamp region, a place ripe with superstitions, when he meets the Headless Horseman, who throws his head like a rocket at Ichabod while Ichabod is trying to escape. Ichabod is never seen again.

Students love to wonder if Van Brunt is the Horseman who drives Ichabod away, and the whole story is high on the creep-o-meter in my class. Teaching this story is a good chance to show how history and superstitions relate, and to talk about the elements of a gothic landscape. 

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs

When a cursed talisman (a monkey’s paw) falls into the hands of the White family, Mr. White is tempted to make any three wishes come true. Curiosity and greed get the best of him. He tries to remain somewhat modest and wishes for 200 pounds. That night there is a knock at the door with news that the Whites’ son, Herbert, died at work and there is a 200 pound goodwill payment. The second wish is used to wish Herbert back to life, but when he appears at the door as an undead creature, Mr. White quickly wishes him away, and the family is left broken-hearted.

My students love connecting to the three wishes motif and sharing what they would choose if they had a chance at three wishes. The elements of the macabre when the “creature son” appears at the door adds to the mystery. This is a great time to teach students about theme, foreshadowing, irony, and symbolism. It is ironic that three wishes are meant to bring you happiness not despair. Students will also recognize the number three is repeated throughout the story and realize its symbolism with misfortune.

“The Mark of the Beast” by Rudyard Kipling

The main character Fleete—in a drunken stupor on New Year’s Eve—puts out his cigar on a temple of Hanuman the monkey god, setting a chain of events into motion. A leperous priest bites him in retaliation and casts a spell which causes Fleete to begin acting crazy. After forcing the priest to reverse the spell, Fleete finally returns to normal. 

This gothic tale is gripping for students who can also learn some history of the time about lepers and rabies. My students delve into other stories of curses and spells as we discuss this story. The ancient prophecy and high emotion is also definitely part of the appeal for the students in my class. Doesn’t every kid enjoy a good werewolf story?

“The Outsider” by H.P. Lovecraft

In this psychological thriller, the narrator is ensconced in a castle surrounded by trees and cannot remember the last time he has encountered a human. The narrator struggles to free himself by climbing to the top of the castle. As he arrives, the crumbling stairs lead him somehow to a basement where there are many people terrified of a beast. He joins them in their fear, running from the castle, as the reader understands he has seen the beast in the mirror, which is himself. 

The crumbling castle is a huge symbol in this piece and mirrors the crumbling narrator himself. My students love the heightened emotion as the man struggles to free himself from the beast, when all along the beast was himself. Point out the gloomy vocabulary and descriptions of the castle, as your students can enjoy debating whether he will ever recover from being an outsider. 

“A Vine on a House” by Ambrose Bierce

For a very short gothic tale, turn to the story of Matilda Harding, a one-legged protagonist who goes to visit her mother and never returns. Her husband and sister are left behind in the house, but eventually they too disappear. A larger-than-life vine grows on the house that is strangely reminiscent of Matilda. When townspeople later try to pull up the vine, they realize it looks just like Matilda. No one wants to go to the house after that. 

This story has the gothic element of gloom and suspense and a feeling of unease for the reader. This also reflects the women in distress motif, though in a mysterious way that makes the reader wonder what is going on. The giant vine is otherworldly and adds to the sense of mystery. Students love to debate what could have happened to Matilda, and what the giant vine represents, especially with the way gothic stories often portray women. 

“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe

Students love this tale of the very creepy, depressed Roderick who calls his boyhood friend to his dilapidated house because he needs some help. Once the unnamed friend/narrator arrives, Roderick’s sister Madeline falls into a death-like trance and the two men entomb her in the walls, supposedly alive. The men spend their time listening to somber music and looking at Roderick’s art. Eventually the entire house falls into the lake, and the Usher family is no more.

This classic tale has it all: the family is falling apart, as is the house. Although not quite a castle, the house is dark, mysterious, and decrepit. There are definitely supernatural events and the overall other-wordly feeling that pervades the story. Another gothic element is the intense emotion of Roderick and the “woman in distress” angle, and my students love to point out the foreshadowing clues that show Madeline’s distress as they read. 

“The Body Snatcher” by Robert Louis Stevenson

In this macabre tale, Doctor Wolfe Macfarlane and his friend Fettes become reacquainted after a long time apart. They had previously worked together cataloguing bodies for dissection, and supposedly covered up a murder to avoid being implicated themselves. When Fettes is certain Macfarlane has murdered their friend Gray, he again keeps his mouth shut while they destroy the evidence. The story ends with the body of Gray put back together and sitting in the front seat of the car. 

Students love to hate this ambiguous ending as they decide how a chopped up body could end up whole again in the front seat. This supernatural event is at the heart of the story, as are the elements of mystery and suspense peppered throughout. The gloom and darkness keeps the mood gothic, as well, and this is another story that is excellent for teaching gothic vocabulary.

“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

Last but not least is “The Tell-Tale Heart”—arguably one of the most popular gothic short stories ever taught in school. An unnamed narrator, who claims he is not insane, makes a plan to kill an old man under the belief that this man has an “evil eye.” After stalking the old man and watching him sleep, he finally commits the crime that rids him of evil and makes the world a better place. Right?

The police stop by after someone reported a scream, but the narrator is unphased. Although he dismembered the body and hid the limbs under the floorboards, the narrator arrogantly invites the officers in to search his home and even sit above the very spot the body is concealed. The narrator succumbs to his guilt and confesses the crime after believing he can still hear the old man’s heart beating from under the planks.

This story is a staple for a reason. Mood, suspense, symbolism, theme, and figurative language all are perfect literary elements to teach students while reading this classic gothic story. Students are excited by the concept of an unreliable narrator and the bizarre motivation behind the crime. I love to have my students debate whether or not the narrator should be charged with first degree murder for his premeditated crime or if the narrator should be found not guilty by reason of insanity, since he clearly is a person that requires serious psychological help. Attachments area

“The Hand” by Guy de Maupassant

In this embedded narrative, M. Bermutier, a judge, tells credulous listeners about the mysterious murder of Sir John Rowell. Rowell was an odd man who kept to himself in the mountains. He liked to go hunting…  man -hunting. In even more peculiar fashion, he kept a severed hand chained up in his home, as if it could break away at any moment. A year after Bermutier’s encounter with Sir Rowell, the hunter is found dead, strangled… and the hand… missing!

In this unnerving tale, let your students decide… is it mere coincidence or is there supernatural elements at play?

“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe

From his prison cell the night before he is set to be executed, the narrator shares how his whole life fell apart. Once a gentle, loving man and husband, the narrator is overcome by alcoholism. He began divulging into atrocious and perverse acts. His love for animals dissipated. After brutally killing his dear cat Pluto, the narrator’s house sets fire… but mysteriously, an apparition of a cat is left behind. The horror does not end there.

The police arrive on scene after the narrator’s wife disappears. They are shocked to discover what they find! You’ll just have to keep reading to find out the rest. You have to love Poe’s creative take on unreliable narrators! Is the narrator insane, or is he telling the truth?

“The Landlady”    Roald Dahl 

In this story, your students will learn to be careful who they trust! An old, helpless woman who runs a cheap bed and breakfast has a dark, sinister secret. When you first read the short story, it may seem like there’s no imminent danger, but that would be naïve, just like the protagonist Billy Weaver. Two words about what’s happening behind closed doors in this tale: human taxidermy. 

This story is so engaging for students because all the gruesomeness is implied and Dahl leaves readers with a suspenseful cliffhanger. Your students will love to go back into the text and realize all the clues that led to Billy’s fate.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Cask of Amontillado — Short Gothic Story Analysis Example

Short Gothic Story Analysis Example

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Themes in gothic stories, settings in gothic stories, characters in gothic stories, bibliography.

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Gothic Short Stories + PDF

Death and elements of horror feature prominently in gothic short stories. They often contain decayed settings, human psychology, and strong evocations of nature. They are scary but usually not as graphic as horror stories, although there is definite overlap between the two, and this page also includes some regular horror stories. Some of the other mainstays of gothicism include young maidens, clergy and other religious figures, castles, monasteries, night-time journeys, insanity, and violence. The gothic short stories with PDF links are in a separate section a little ways down. See also:

Got hic S hor t Sto ries

“a casual encounter” by quinn fern.

A young woman targets older men on a forum. They’re easy to catch because they’re bored and lonely. She agrees to meet a professor at a motel in two hours.

“The Handler” by  Ray Bradbury

“the monkey’s paw” by w. w. jacobs.

The Whites live in an out-of-the-way place, and the weather is bad. Despite this, they receive a visit from Sergeant-Major Morris, who tells them interesting stories. Mr. White urges him to tell the story of something he had only mentioned before, a monkey’s paw. The visitor is hesitant, but he tells it.

“A Vine on a House” by Ambrose Bierce

“duel” by richard matheson.

Mann is driving to San Francisco for an appointment. He passes a semi pulling a trailer. Shortly after, the semi roars past and abruptly cuts in front of him. He’s not sure what to make of it. He has to slow down a bit. He doesn’t have any spare time. Mann decides to pass again.

“Vanishers” by Josh Allen

Jacob and Jakob, sixth graders, live next door to each other and are best friends. They do everything together and don’t want other friends. Jakob has to write a story for class. They collaborate on what it could be about.

“The Boarded Window” by Ambrose Bierce

A man who lives in the wilderness prepares his wife’s body for burial. There is an incident that night, which the narrator claims explains the mystery of why his cabin had a boarded window. ( Summary )

“The Heart” by Theodore Sturgeon

“welcome to the club” by r. l. stine.

JJ is working the night-shift at the restaurant. He goes outside for a five minute break even though the owner, Florian, doesn’t like it. He sees some kids from his high school hanging out in the parking lot. JJ’s the new kid in town and he doesn’t know the group. A little before closing time, the kids from the parking lot come in. They have a favor to ask.

“The Terrible Old Man” by H. P. Lovecraft

Three thieves decide to visit the Terrible Old Man, known for being rich and feeble. There are many rumors about him in Kingsport and people usually stay away. The three thieves aren’t from Kingsport, so they see him only as a target.

“The Colomber” by Dino Buzzati

When Stefano turns twelve his father takes him aboard his ship. While they’re out sailing, Stefano spots something mysterious. His father turns pale when he sees what it is—a colomber, which is bad news for Stefano. ( Summary )

Read “The Colomber”

“Born of Man and Woman” by Richard Matheson

“autopsy room four” by stephen king.

Howard has been in the dark for a while, and has the sensation of movement. He hears a squeaky wheel and feels contact on his body. There are voices. Now he’s being moved. He thinks he’s in a hospital. He can’t move or speak. Everything feels too real to be a dream.

“The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles” by Margaret St. Clair

Mortensen, a rope salesman, prepares to call on the gnoles. They have a bad reputation, but he figures they must have need of rope, and a big sale would help him reach his quota. He reviews his sales manual and then sets out for the house of the gnoles.

“The Queen of Spades” by Alexander Pushkin

Hermann is an engineer in the Russian army. Tomsky tells him a story about his grandmother, a countess, who won a large sum playing cards because she knows a three card secret. The countess is still alive, so Hermann schemes to learn the secret from her.

“Oil of Dog” by Ambrose Bierce

The narrator tells the story of his parents. His father manufactured dog oil and his mother disposed of unwanted babies. The narrator would assist his father by procuring neighborhood dogs and his mother by carrying away the remains of her work. One day, he inadvertently improves his parents’ businesses. ( Summary )

“In at the Birth” by William Trevor

This story can be read in the preview of  The Collected Stories .  (84% into Kindle preview)

“The Wedding-Knell” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

“cargo” by e. michael lewis.

Tech Sergeant Davis, a Loadmaster, is assigned to a crew headed for Jonestown to evacuate Americans. They’ll be taking a C-141 StarLifter, the largest freighter and troop carrier in the military. As Loadmaster, his job is to secure the cargo. There’s a last-minute change of plans—the Med crew won’t be accompanying them. When they arrive at the airport, there are rows of coffins.

“Dry” by Brady Golden

Cashell is on Lake Tanner in a motorboat. It’s a drought year, and the water is low. Earlier, a ski boat was punctured by something and got hung up. His customers had to be brought in by the park ranger. Cashell gets out a mallet and crowbar to break it free. He bangs his hand against the underwater object and suffers an odd injury.

“The Hanged Man” by Edward Bryant

“rise, my love, rise” by heinrich böll.

This story can be read in the preview of The Collected Stories of Heinrich Böll . (26% in)

“Trapped” by Yukari Kousaka

“the case of lady sannox” by arthur conan doyle, “marmalade wine” by joan aiken.

Blacker, a writer, leaves his country house for a walk in the woods. Before he’s gone far, he’s surprised to see a dead pheasant on the path. He thinks about how to turn the incident into a poem. With his thoughts distracted, he almost walks on another dead pheasant. He’s curious to know what’s happening to them.

“The Green Letter” by Steven Hall

“a haunted house” by virginia woolf.

All through the night, there are doors shutting and a ghostly couple walks hand in hand through the house, looking for something. If the couple living there get up to look, the house will be empty.

This story can be read in the preview of  The Complete Works . (71% in, or select  Monday or Tuesday  in TOC )

“Click-Clack the Rattlebag” by Neil Gaiman

“the torturer’s apprentice” by john biguenet, gothic short stories on pdf, “the wife’s story” by ursula k. le guin.

Read “The Wife’s Story”

“The Feather Pillow” by Horacio Quiroga

“luella miller” by mary wilkins freeman, “dr. heidegger’s experiment” by nathaniel hawthorne.

A doctor claims to have water from the legendary Fountain of Youth. He invites four elderly acquaintances over for an experiment. He offers them a drink of the special water.

“The Adventure of the German Student” by Washington Irving

“the anatomy of desire” by john l’heureux.

Read “The Anatomy of Desire”

“The Dead Valley” by Ralph Adams Cram

More gothic short stories, “the boogeyman” by stephen king, “the road virus heads north” by stephen king, “the lame priest” by s. carleton.

As the narrator is walking back to his cabin, he sees a priest hurrying to the village. Later, the narrator’s friend warns him that a dangerous wolf is in the woods, and when he encounters the priest again, he gives a similar warning.

“A Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter” by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

“ethan brand” by nathaniel hawthorne.

Read “Ethan Brand”

“The Body Snatcher” by Robert Louis Stevenson

“the mummy’s foot” by theophile gautier, “the outsider” by h. p. lovecraft, “the artist” by joyce carol oates, “august heat” by w. f. harvey, “the coffin-maker” by alexander pushkin.

Adrian Prokhoroff attends an anniversary party where there is a lot of drinking. The men poke some fun at his profession of coffin making. His agitated state leads to an unusual incident.

“Mister Taylor” by Augusto Monterroso

“markheim” by robert louis stevenson, “white rabbits” by leonora carrington.

Read “White Rabbits”

“The Doctor’s Heroism” by Villiers De L’isle Adam

“the tarn” by hugh walpole, “the hospice” by robert aickman, “the voice” by silvina ocampo.

The narrator, a young woman, goes to her boyfriend’s house with her new cat. She doesn’t want to marry Romirio. She can’t stand his voice.

“The Fall River Axe Murders” by Angela Carter

“the bookbinder’s apprentice” by martin edwards, “the desire to be a man” by auguste villiers de i’isle-adam, “the hand” by guy de maupassant.

A judge relates an inexplicable incident from his past. An Englishman moved to a villa in France with a servant. Rumors spread about the man, so the judge found a way to get to know him. One evening the man shows the judge into his parlor, which contains an interesting item.

“The Secret of City Cemetery” by Patrick Bone

“third wind” by richard christian matheson, “the demon lover” by elizabeth bowen.

Read “The Demon Lover”

10 Gothic Short Stories You Can Read Online Right Now

Today marks the birthday of literature’s dark romantic and master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. The mad, mustachioed author initiated the modern detective story, helped define early science fiction, and embodied the definition of “troubled writer” — but it was his horror stories that marked his legacy. It’s a testament to the power of his work that Poe was able to frighten his readers with fewer pages than most authors. Inspired by his gothic greats, we’ve handpicked ten short tales of classic terror you can read online right now.

“The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar” by Edgar Allan Poe

My attention, for the last three years, had been repeatedly drawn to the subject of Mesmerism; and, about nine months ago, it occurred to me, quite suddenly, that in the series of experiments made hitherto, there had been a very remarkable and most unaccountable omission: — no person had as yet been mesmerized in articulo mortis .

Poe’s 1845 story about a mesmerist who attempts to suspend a man’s life on the brink of death caused a huge sensation. His use of medical (and pseudoscientific) terminology convinced readers the story was real, and initially the macabre author didn’t refute the claims. It was eventually revealed to be a hoax. “M. Valdemar” was written during the spiritualist craze and traded Poe’s dark descriptors for overtly grotesque language.

Read it here .

“The Mummy’s Foot” by Théophile Gautier

From disemboweled cabinets escaped cascades of silver-lustrous Chinese silks and waves of tinsel, which an oblique sunbeam shot through with luminous beads; while portraits of every era, in frames more or less tarnished, smiled through their yellow varnish.

Everyone knows exotic curiosity shops are bad news. You always get more than you bargained for. In this 1840 tale from French novelist and art critic Théophile Gautier, a man happens upon a mummified foot belonging to an Egyptian princess. Despite her embalmed state, she doesn’t want to part with it so easily.

“The Dream Woman” by Wilkie Collins

Her perverted nature set some horrid unacknowledged value on the knife. Seeing there was no hope of getting it by fair means, I determined to search for it, later in the day, in secret. The search was unsuccessful. Night came on, and I left the house to walk about the streets. You will understand what a broken man I was by this time, when I tell you I was afraid to sleep in the same room with her!

Told in four narratives, Wilkie Collins’ “The Dream Woman” was originally intended for Charles Dickens’ weekly, Household Words , where a number of successful supernatural tales were first published by prominent authors. Collins’ work tells the story of a man who marries the woman of his dreams — except his fantasy girl haunts him in his sleep and carries a rather large knife.

“The Ebony Frame” by E. Nesbit

I hope I shall never again know a moment of terror as blank and absolute. I could not have moved or spoken to save my life. Either all the known laws of nature were nothing, or I was mad. I stood trembling, but, I am thankful to remember, I stood still, while the black velvet gown swept across the hearthrug towards me.

English author Edith Nesbit (E. Nesbit) is known today for her children’s books, but she penned a number of supernatural short stories — like this one about a man who becomes infatuated with a portrait of a woman he prays will come to life.

“The Vampyre” by John William Polidori

When he entered into a room, his haggard and suspicious looks were so striking, his inward shuddering so visible, that his sister was at last obliged to beg of him to abstain from seeking, for her sake, a society which affected him so strongly.

John William Polidori’s landmark short story “The Vampyre” transformed the fabled undead creature from a monster into an aristocratic gentleman. It was conceived when the English writer and physician spent time at the Villa Diodati with Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, and Claire Clairmont, sharing ghost stories — the same gathering where Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein .

“The Wedding-Knell” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Still the death-bell tolled so mournfully, that the sunshine seemed to fade in the air. A whisper, communicated from those who stood nearest the windows, now spread through the church; a hearse, with a train of several coaches, was creeping along the street, conveying some dead man to the churchyard, while the bride awaited a living one at the altar.

Edgar Allan Poe heaped praise upon Nathaniel Hawthorne’s collection of shorts, Twice-Told Tales , which included a story about a morbid union, “The Wedding-Knell.” He wrote:

The style of Hawthorne is purity itself. His tone is singularly effective — wild, plaintive, thoughtful, and in full accordance with his themes. . . . We look upon him as one of the few men of indisputable genius to whom our country has as yet given birth.

“The Old Nurse’s Story” by Elizabeth Gaskell

We bolted the doors and shut the window-shutters fast, an hour or more before dark, rather than leave them open five minutes too late. But my little lady still heard the weird child crying and mourning; and not all we could do or say could keep her from wanting to go to her, and let her in from the cruel wind and the snow.

A toxic relationship between sisters, family pride, and a terrible death invokes the spirits that linger in Elizabeth Gaskell’s classic Victorian ghost story. The tale has sometimes been compared to Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw :

“In both cases the ghosts show a diabolical determination to get hold of the children [while] the children themselves are responsive to the ghostly influence and rebel against the attempts of nurse of governess to protect them.”

“The Phantom Rickshaw” by Rudyard Kipling

The dead travel fast, and by short cuts unknown to ordinary coolies. I laughed aloud a second time and checked my laughter suddenly, for I was afraid I was going mad.

A master and innovator of the short story, it’s said that English author Rudyard Kipling may have written this nineteenth-century tale about a persistent female spirit after feeling rejected and haunted by his relationship (or lack thereof) with Flo Garrard — Kipling’s first love .

“Casting The Runes” by M. R. James

Every child in the room could recognize the place from the pictures. And this poor boy was followed, and at last pursued and overtaken, and either torn to pieces or somehow made away with, by a horrible hopping creature in white, which you saw first dodging about among the trees, and gradually it appeared more and more plainly.

Adapted numerous times (most famously as Night of the Demon from Jacques Tourneur) and featuring a character who bears an uncanny resemblance to the “Great Beast” himself, Aleister Crowley, “Casting the Runes” is a fine introduction to one of literature’s greatest ghost story writers.

“The Striding Place” by Gertrude Atherton

He stepped as close to the edge as he dared. The hand doubled as if in imprecation, shaking savagely in the face of that force which leaves its creatures to immutable law; then spread wide again, clutching, expanding, crying for help as audibly as the human voice.

Nineteenth-century San Francisco author Gertrude Atherton was an eccentric character who favored fictional characters as independent and controversial as she was. She reportedly passed up an opportunity to meet Oscar Wilde, because she found him unattractive. And then there’s a story about her gossiping behind Edith Wharton’s back, questioning the authorship of The House of Mirth . She also reportedly humiliated friend and fellow author Ambrose Bierce when he attempted to kiss her, sharing the story of his rejection with all she knew. Perhaps it’s fitting that her shocking exploits mirrored the terror of her short story, “The Striding Place.” Atherton was inspired to write the tale after a trip to England. There, after reading up on the local history, she learned of the River Wharfe and a spot known as the Strid. Its rapids are deceptively narrow and shallow, but the powerful undercurrent is dangerous and hides a vast network of underwater caves and tunnels. The dark poem “The Force of Prayer; or, the Founding of Bolton Priory. A Tradition” by William Wordsworth also encouraged her to put pen to paper.

7 Classic Gothic Short Stories You Can Read Right Now

Looking for a quick read that’ll send a shiver up your spine? I put together some of the best classic Gothic short stories you can read for free, with stories from beloved authors like Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allan Poe.

What is Gothic literature?

Gothic literature, also known as Gothic fiction or Gothic horror, is a genre that centers around dark and spooky elements such as hauntings, creepy settings, and unsettled characters.

Often, there are supernatural works at play, such as ghosts, monsters, or curses – but not always. Gothic stories are also known to play with themes such as isolation and power.

The Gothic genre was the predecessor to the modern horror genre we know today.

Here are some of the best modern Gothic novels to read!

Why read short stories?

Our lives are busy. It’s easy to get sidetracked while reading or overwhelmed by doorstop-sized novels. Sometimes, it’s nice to just sit down and read a quick story all the way through.

For times like these, I’ve collected a list of gothic horror short stories perfect for a cold winter night. Some are just slightly chilling, and others may prompt you to double-check that all the doors in your house are locked. Some widely-loved classics are also included.

The best part is: most (if not all) of these classic short stories are in the public domain and can be read online for free! What could be better than that?

Just type the title and author into Google, and you should be able to find a site that has the story published and available to read.

Some sources for reading public domain books include Google Books , Authorama, and Fullreads.

Check out this post about Stephen King’s short story collections (& adaptations) or this post with enchanting fantasy short story collections for more reading inspiration!

Classic Gothic Short Stories

1. the lottery by shirley jackson.

Even if you aren’t a horror fan, you should read this story. It’s one of the most well-known and discussed short stories of all time.

And the less you know going into this classic, the better. Trust me.

If you loved Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, check out these other spine-tingling haunted house novels !

2. The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

What would you do if you were stuck in a room with nothing to do but stare at the crumbling yellow wallpaper?

This Victorian classic, written in 1892, centers around postpartum depression and the lack of independence available for women at the time.

3. The Birds by Daphne du Maurier

Yes, this story is the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s film of the same name. But even if you’ve seen the movie, this is a must-read story.

4. William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe

I could recommend a number of Poe’s stories, because they’re all wonderful: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, The Pit and The Pendulum, etc.

But, I chose to go with a lesser-known work with just as much of a chill factor. This one’s about a man’s reaction to seeing his doppelganger.

5. A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor

This one is widely known and loved, and for good reason. It’s a tautly executed story with a dash of Southern charm.

6. The Willows by Algernon Blackwood

When a horror story is known for being admired by H.P. Lovecraft himself, you know it’s going to be good.

7. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

A classic haunted house story about a woman who’s hired to take care of two young children in an old mansion. But soon, the children’s behavior starts to change. Is it them, or could it be the house?

Whichever of these gothic short stories you choose to read, I hope you enjoy them!

More posts you might enjoy:

• 10 Eerie & Atmospheric Gothic Fantasy Books
• 21 Spooky Books for Halloween (for Adults)
• 15 Spellbinding Witchy Fiction Books (Cozy & Spooky)
• Stephen King Short Story Collections In Order (+ Best Adaptations)

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Eleven Scary Stories of the Gothic in Literature

• September 21, 2022
• AP Literature , English 11 , Short Stories

High school students LOVE gothic in literature.  There is just something about the darkness of the setting, characters and plot that high school students fall for, every time.  So here is a list of eleven gothic stories for high school English class that will be just the thing.

What’s Gothic in Literature?

When we think about gothic in literature, the definition tends to connect a series of common elements. Gothic literature features dark settings, dark characters and dark plot lines.  The stories often revolve around death, horror and decay and the main characters are often self destructive.  They tend to have once grand settings that are now in disrepair and the diction in the stories is used to highlight this decay through macabre vocabulary.

And, high school students eat these stories up.

Favorite Gothic Short Stories for High School Students

“a rose for emily” by william faulkner.

This is Southern Gothic at its finest.  The story opens with the death of Miss Emily Grierson and the town is giddy with interest.  No one, save her one servant, has been in her house for decades.  Their curiosity is palpable.  The story jumps from the present to Emily’s back story which includes her controlling father, a suitor who just disappears, a strange odor coming from her house and her reclusive lifestyle.  And the twist at the end gets the students every time.

Teaching ideas for “A Rose for Emily”:

• Consider the Point of View —the story is told through a collective first person
• The group as a character —the town acts as one character who is quite influential on Emily’s life
• Non-linear timelines —for more, check out this post . 

“The Moonlit Road” by Ambrose Bierce

Another Souther Gothic, this story of a murder told in three voices.  The son of the murder victim starts it.  Then is the presumed murderer followed by the victim (through a medium).  Each narrator adds details to the story so that the reader can piece together what really happened.

Teaching ideas for “The Moonlit Road”

• Consider Point of View —the story is told through multiple first person narrators, so narrator reliability is big
• Plot Structure —Since each narrator reveals a little more, it opens discussions of why Bierce would structure the story this way

“Strawberry Spring” by Stephen King

It’s 1968.  On a college campus in Maine, a serial killer named “Springhill Jack” has resurfaced, after years of being dormant, a body is found by a janitor on a foggy night.  The students are all a buzz with “did you know her” and “who do you think did it” and “I heard it was her boyfriend.”  

Teaching ideas for “Strawberry Spring”

• Focus on Setting —the details of the setting are brilliant in this Stephen King short story: have students examine how he uses the setting to develop the mood
• Focus of Details —have students gather the details to see how King sets them up for ending
• Pair with a Podcast —There is a scripted podcast based and expanding on the story. (At the time of writing this, I have not listened to this, so I cannot attest to the quality or how closely it follows the story line.)  Students could listen to the first episode and then do something similar with another gothic story.

“A Haunted House” by Virginia Woolf

In Virginia Woolf’s very short story, a ghostly couple prowls around the house they once lived in doing mischievous acts.  The details allow us to build a picture of the couple’s life when they were alive.  Although this story is lacking some of the gothic characteristics of decay and self-destruction, it fits through the darkness of the setting and fact that they main characters are ghosts.

Teaching ideas for “A Haunted House”

• Focus on Imagery —the imagery in this story is gorgeous, have students choose their favorites and then explain how they help to develop the setting, characters or theme
• Focus on Characterization —what do we really know about the couple?  How do we know it?

This story is part of my Flash Fiction Bootcamp for AP® Literature.  For more on how I use it, check out this post .  Or for a done-for-you lesson plan, head here .

“I Used to Live Here Once” by Jean Rhys

The narrator is revisiting her childhood (?) home.  She notices all the changes that have occurred since she has been gone including missing trees and the addition of a swing set. She approaches the children who are playing on the newly added swing set, but their only response is a comment about how it is suddenly cold.  This is a flash fiction story, so students can read it under 5 minutes.

Teaching Ideas for “I Used to Live Here Once”

• Focus on Details —how does Rhys use the details in the story to enlighten the reader about the true nature of the narrator

“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe

No gothic short story collection would be complete without the addition of story by Edgar Allen Poe.  And every English teacher has their preferences, mine is “The House of Usher.”  The story is first person and told by a friend who is visiting “The House of Usher.”  The initial description of the house say it all:  it is in a state of decay just like the family.

Teaching Ideas for “The Fall of the House of Usher”

• Focus on Diction —in just the opening paragraphs, you can highlight how Edgar Allan Poe masterfully uses word choice to give the truly gothic sense of decay in the story.  (For a done-for-you lesson, check out Passage of the Week:  from “The Fall of the House of Usher”)
• Focus on Characterization —help your students to see how Poe uses the methods of characterization to build the madness in the House of Usher.

“A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell

This one is longer and can be read either as a short story or a short play called “Trifles”.  It is the story of a woman who’s husband has been murdered.  When the neighbor discovers it, she seems to know nothing.  The scene opens with a sheriff investigating at the house with both the neighbor witnesses and the wife.

Teaching Ideas for “A Jury of Her Peers”

• Focus on Characterization —there is a lot to be gleaned through the dialogue in this story, especially about Minnie (the wife of the murdered).  Her responses to the sheriff leave much to be inferred.
• Focus on Detail —the cold plays a role throughout the story.  How does Glaspell build it into the story and why does it matter?

“Bluebeard” by Charles Perrault

This is a classic fairy tale that your students will likely not know, but should.  An older (ugly) neighbor has his eye on either of his young neighbors to be his bride.  Neither are interested until money enters the equation.  Finally the younger one agrees.  He takes her to his palatial country estate, tells her he must go away on business and gives her the run of the estate.  He hands her a set of keys telling her she may go anywhere she likes, except this one room.  Of course, she cannot resist.

Teaching Ideas for Bluebeard

• Introduce Archetypal Criticism —fairy tales are perfect for teaching students about archetypes.  There are any number of character and setting archetypes in this story that make it perfect for a study of archetypes.
• Pair with a Poem — Edna St. Vincent Millay has a poem by the same name that is an allusion to the fairy tale.  Teach the poem (which is a sonnet) first and then enlighten them on the allusion. ( Poetry Soup has other Bluebeard poems as well ).

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The narrator is writing the story in an almost diary-like style.  She is supposedly summering with her family at this mansion where her doctor/husband has locked her in a room with hideous yellow wallpaper, bars on the windows and other insidious details.  The narrator is convinced that there is a woman trapped in within the “bars” of the vines in the wallpaper and she begins to work at freeing the woman who is trapped.

Teaching Ideas for “The Yellow Wallpaper”

• I ntroduce Psychological Criticism —I love teaching this story when my students have previously taken AP® Psychology because they naturally gravitate to discussing the narrator’s mental stability, but even without that background you can introduce your students to psychological criticism.  
• Considering Reliable Narrator —how reliable is this narrator?  For more on teaching point of view, check out this post

“The Summer People” by S hirley Jackson

The Allisons are an older couple who have decided to stay on at their summer cottage after Labor Day rather than return to their New York City apartment.  But as they try to go about their regular (summer) lives, it becomes apparent that the townies do not welcome them staying on beyond their appointed time.  The ending comes with both a twist and a lack of finality.

Teaching Ideas for “The Summer People”

• Consider Dialogue —examine how the dialogue reveals the peril of the situation for the Allisons.  Students can consider how the dialogue reveals their background, their values and their relationship with the environment.
• Consider Suspense —examine plot structure to see how the author creates suspense in the story.

“ A Wireless Message” by Ambrose Bierce

This story begins with almost newspaper-like lead.  The reader is set up with the who, what, where and when.  And it’s the perfect start to the gothic in literature. The main character is estranged from his wife who is still in Chicago while he is in a small unnamed town Central New York.  He has gone out for a late night walk to clear his head when he is greeted by a light on the horizon that is there regardless of the direction he faces.  As he tries to get his bearings, he sees an apparition of his wife.  When he finally finds himself back at his brother’s home, he gets a telegram stating his wife has died in a fire.

Teaching Ideas for “A Wireless Message”

• Consider Syntax —Bierce uses a beautiful combination of short and long sentences to control the pacing of the story.

This story is part of my Flash Fiction Bootcamp for AP® Literature.  For more on how I use it, check out this post .  Or for a done-for-you lesson plan, head here.

Build a Unit for the Gothic in Literature

It’s easy to pull these stories into a gothic in literature unit through a genre study.  Choose any three to five stories.  You don’t even need to tell students that they are gothic stories, you could simply do what I did which is tell the students they are connected through some aspect.  When my English 11 students worked on a gothic unit, the stories were simply connected through the idea that there were mysterious dead bodies in each.  

After we had finished all of the stories, students took notes on the gothic in literature using these anchor charts, then we used a jigsaw style grouping to have students reexamine the stories in groups for each of the elements of the gothic and create collaborative posters.

After we discussed the elements of the gothic in literature, students wrote their own gothic stories.  We then tied this back to our state exam by having students do some metacognition work by identifying their own central ideas and their own writer’s craft used to build the central idea.

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The Gothic Library

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Tag: Short stories

The Hypnotic Tales of Rafael Sabatini Review

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Review of Sunless Solstice—Christmas Ghost Stories

Gothic Gambles

Gambling is as pervasive in the world of Gothic literature as it is in the real world. Gothic novels are full of dissolute villains whose dastardly dealings at the card table are just one facet of their poor behavior and hapless heroes who find themselves in dire straits after running up debts. But today I want to highlight a few pieces of short fiction with gambling at their center. These tales warn not just of the ordinary dangers like debt and addiction, but also of potential supernatural consequences for those who gamble excessively or unwisely. 

Continue reading Gothic Gambles

Christmas Ghost Stories, Part 3

’Tis the season … for Christmas ghost stories! In recent years, I’ve been all about bringing back the classic tradition of livening up the winter months by sharing tales of terror. After all, encounters with the spirit world are the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit! You can see some of the seasonally spooky tales I’ve previously recommended here and here . But if those aren’t enough for you, here’s a third round of Christmas ghost stories:

Continue reading Christmas Ghost Stories, Part 3

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#AScareADay Reading Challenge Reflections

I just spent the past month reading a scary story or poem for each day of October! This ambitious task was part of a reading challenge created by Dr. Sam Hirst, founder of Romancing the Gothic. I had such a great time last year participating in Sam’s inaugural #AGhostADay challenge, that I was thrilled when they announced they were doing a new challenge this October. While last year’s stories were mainly tales of revenants and hauntings, this year Sam broadened the focus to include as wide a variety of scary stories as possible. Subjects ranged from variations on classic vampires, werewolves, witches, and demons to more unique horrors like infectious fungi, primeval animals, and portals to other dimensions. You can see the full reading list of thirty-one stories for #AScareDay here . And check out the #AScareADay hashtag on (the platform formerly known as) Twitter or the #AScareADay feed on BlueSky to follow the discussion. Continue reading #AScareADay Reading Challenge Reflections

Review of Never Whistle at Night—Indiginous Horror

Humorous Ghost Stories

Not every ghost story has to be terrifying! Indeed, horror and humor are surprisingly similar modes of writing—both depend on eliciting certain emotional reactions from the reader through carefully timed revelations and unexpected juxtapositions. Horror can all too easily give way into unintentional humor, as any connoisseur of schlocky B-movies can tell you. But that blurred line can also be courted intentionally. All throughout the Golden Age of the ghost story—from the mid-nineteenth century through the early twentieth—writers poked fun at the popular genre with silly and satirical takes on the ghost story. Here are just a few of my favorite examples of spectral tales more likely to make you split your sides with laughter than scream in fright:

Continue reading Humorous Ghost Stories

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Gothic Literature Essay

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Gothic literature originated in the early nineteenth century. Writers of such works combined some elements of the medieval literature considered too fanciful and modern literature classified as too limited to realism. The settings reflected elements of horror and fear. They consisted of gloomy dungeons, underground passages, abundant usage of ghosts, and mysterious occurrences.

The relations reflected the extreme opposites such as life and death, dream and reality, right and wrong, and rationality and madness. The main aim of gothic literature was to evoke chilling terror by use of cruelty, mystery, and a combination of horror scenes. Gothic literature now includes works of fictions, which do not have medieval settings but create a worrisome atmosphere of terror in representing macabre or melodramatic violence.

Allan Edgar Poe short story, The Pit and the Pendulum, shows horrors associated with torture. Mental and physical torture are horrifying human experiences. The story also shows the cruelty and injustice people experience when they deviate from the established beliefs or when wrongly accused. The choice of settings as “THE PIT, typical of hell………. the Ultima Thule of all their punishments” (Poe 1989), shows the pervading elements of gothic literature.

Words, phrases, and imagery contribute to the effect of terror with morbidity and the expected horrifying death e.g. “Down — certainly, relentlessly down! It vibrated within three inches of my bosom! I struggled violently – furiously” and use of images like “Figures of fiends in aspects of menace, with skeleton forms, and other more really fearful images” (Poe 1989) create terrifying horror scenes.

Poe captures the use of explicit violence as a condemnation of the Inquisition. Poe shows confusion in the narrator’s mind as a “call to mind flatness and dampness; and then all is MADNESS — the madness of a memory which busies itself among forbidden things” (Poe 1989). Readers do not know whether the narrator is guilty or not. Poe leaves the moral judgment to his readers as he shows hope in rescue of the narrator.

The Cask of Amontillado by Poe shows terror as a means of punishing offenders. We do not see any evidence that Fortunato inflicted thousands of injuries and insults to Montresor. The short story demonstrates a human tendency in avenging wrong-doings. He foreshadows death in putting on a mask of black silk.

The concealed murder is a means to avoid the legal procedure for justice. Poe captures elements of death as follow “It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. I laid the second tier, and the third, and the fourth; and then I heard the furious vibration of the chain” (Poe 1846).

The description of the setting alludes to scary and horrifying scenes such as “walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead” and “I bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase” (Poe 1846). The images of “A huge human foot d’or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel” present scary elements of gothic works (Poe 1846). Poe leaves the moral judgment about revenge to the readers.

Poe’s two short stories bear all the elements of horrifying and chilling gothic literature. The use of imagery and descriptions of the settings make the reader identify with the sufferings people go through in the name of seeking justice. In The Pit and the Pendulum, Poe does not prove the evidence of wrongdoings of the narrator.

Likewise, in The Cask of Amontillado , he fails to show us evidence that Fortunato inflicted injuries and insults to Montresor. Poe shows that all forms of retributions, either through a legal system or personal vendetta, are the worst form of horror people can experience. This is a case of blind justice and blind revenge.

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1. IvyPanda . "Gothic Literature." December 27, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/gothic-literature/.

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100 gothic fiction writing prompts

November 28, 2023 by Richard Leave a Comment

Here are 100 gothic fiction writing prompts that go bump in the night. Shadowy figures are lurking in crumbling mansions. Ominous family curses and disturbing secrets. Welcome to the macabre world of gothic fiction. With its atmospheric tales of horror and suspense, this haunting genre never seems to die.

And now, you can let your dark imagination run wild thanks to these 100 spine-tingling gothic fiction writing prompts. Inside, you’ll find story ideas involving haunted sanitariums, possessed dolls, vengeful spirits, bizarre experiments gone wrong, unsettling wax museums, and so much more.

Creative inspiration awaits on every chilling line, from creepy portraits and abandoned opera houses to agents of the occult and sinister doppelgangers. Not for the faint of heart, these prompts pull back the veil into spaces where the darkest dreams and nightmares dwell just out of sight.

Venture forth, if you dare. Let the ghosts and shadows guide your pen to weave deliciously dramatic tales to make readers shiver. Just be warned—once you immerse yourself in these macabre realms, you might never wish to return to the comforting glow of the light again. The spirits will eagerly await your next visit to their darkened domains.

• An old mansion hides disturbing secrets and supernatural forces in the attic that slowly take control of a new homeowner.
• A family curse causes a daughter to transform into a ghostly spirit every night, haunting the ancestral castle.
• Gargoyles and stone figures seem to move when no one is watching in an ancient monastery turned hotel.
• Mysterious scratching and cries can be heard within the walls of a creaky old plantation house at night.
• An innocent mother is accused of witchcraft in 1600s Salem and condemned to death for her occult “crimes.”
• A widow uncovers her dead husband’s strange double life after finding his hidden portrait stashed away in a forgotten attic.
• A mental patient believes a possessed doll talks to her at night, urging her to commit violent acts.
• Strange marks and blood keep appearing on a daughter after she becomes obsessed with communicating with spirits using an antique Ouija board.
• A decaying sanitarium still bears unsettling traces of its horrific and bizarre medical practices on abandoned patients.
• Villagers suffer violent sleepwalking fits that coincide with rumors of a vampire stalking the night.
• A daughter tries to figure out if she’s going insane or truly haunted by the vengeful ghost of her dead mother.
• A perilous staircase within an abbey spirals into unknown realms below.
• A pallid masked ball conjures macabre visions of the past that hint at an unsolved murder.
• A family becomes increasingly corrupted and haunted after moving into an ancestral home their new baby inherited.
• Dogs around a village go mad after a meteor crash, savaging their masters at night.
• Mysterious medicinal tinctures at an asylum seem to only make patients exhibit worsening fits of insanity.
• A gravedigger realizes the corpse he just buried seems oddly still sentient and desperate to escape.
• Villagers are plagued by a daemonic specter leaving behind inexplicable nocturnal phenomena like imprints of cloven hooves.
• An innocent girl is abducted into a convent as punishment for her mother’s sins but discovers the nuns secretly practice witchcraft at night.
• An accursed cask of Amontillado wine drives its victims murderously insane.
• A troubled widow uncovers her home’s accursed foundations are strangely shifting every night.
• A shadowy cabal seeks occult texts and artifacts for mysterious rituals from the catacombs below a corrupted monastery.
• In the candlelit rooms of an abandoned Gothic manse, ghosts endlessly recreate a tragedy.
• A prisoner is spirited away every night from his cell to a ghostly masked ball even as he awaits execution.
• Sinister medieval torture devices are revived to torment victims of an obsessive cryptic society within a dungeon.
• Glimpses of fatal visions in ornate mirrors drives the viewer slowly mad.
• An eccentric gentleman scientist conducts deranged experiments bringing corpses to life with disastrous consequences.
• A remote island filled with exotic flowers breeds an opiate-like scent that draws visitors only to never let them leave again.
• A silver bell that rings unexpectedly in the night signals another soon-to-be victim marked for death by a vengeful spirit.
• Eerie doppelgangers take the place of loved ones, deceiving everyone except one person who knows the truth.
• A crumbling gothic tower imprisoned artists driven mad trying to capture visions of a beautiful muse who tragically perished.
• An asylum patient speaks a dead language to mysterious entities living within the walls.
• Sinister satanic rituals take place in the catacombs below a remote monastery.
• An eccentric widow performs bizarre elaborate funerals for her dead pets left to wander restless on the grounds of her decaying estate.
• Terrible secrets fester behind the boarded up windows of a foreboding Gothic manse sinking into a swamp.
• A cursed ancient artifact causes a strange wasting plague to rapidly age victims until they become desiccated ghoulish remnants.
• Phantasmagoric illusions plague a masked ball, showing omens of tragedy within the mirrors.
• Witch hunters accuse women in a village of secret satanic pacts causing children to dance madly to macabre magical flutes only they seem to hear.
• A miserable masked carnival performer transforms into a real grotesque creature when offstage after being born malformed.
• An old wooden marionette begins subtly manipulating its puppeteer.
• Mysterious locked rooms once used for occult rituals drive the curious to obsessively seek ways to see inside.
• Winged vicious creatures stalk the elaborate stone halls of crumbling ancestral castle.
• Unmarked graves in family cemeteries disturbingly sink every year even after exhumation.
• A vampiric contagion spreads from rats boldly biting citizens in a shadowy slum.
• A wretched foundling child suffers violent fits and harbors a cruel second soul those in the workhouse strangely indulge.
• A portrait’s eyes seem to hauntingly follow you as if the spirit remains trapped within.
• An intricate puzzle box found in the ashes of an old burned down asylum proves maddeningly impossible yet sinister to solve.
• A masked stranger seems to mysteriously die multiple violent deaths before your eyes at the same masquerade ball over centuries.
• A sleep experiment induces ghastly nightmares that continue to haunt waking victims.
• A wax museum’s strikingly lifelike figures seem prone to subtly shifting when unobserved.
• Mourning paintings morph the dead’s faces into cadaverous skulls if stared at too long.
• Disturbing eerie echoes of macabre theater scenes continue to repeat within an abandoned Opera house attic even without players.
• A widower’s pained artistic attempts at revival seem to succeeding at resurrecting his deceased wife into an uncanny creature.
• A sentient schizophrenic house’s architecture keeps fantastically warping.
• A broken antique kaleidoscope filled with tainted bone fragments shows macabre visions of death to owners.
• An inhabitant of opiate dens seems to project their delirious dreams of a haunted palace.
• Gargoyles mysteriously take the place of landlords thought to be away on extended trips.
• Elaborate startling illusionist tricks at a theater inexplicably shift into real supernatural manifestations.
• An ornate hand mirror shows the viewer’s face aging rapidly or glimpses their own gruesome death behind their shoulder.
• Ghostly debutante dancers endlessly waltz together unable to stop until dawn breaks the spell binding them to the ballroom.
• A widow uncovers her husband’s secret obsession with building uncannily perfect wind up automata replacements of recently deceased townspeople.
• A physician teaches his unusual nervously sensitive ward to enter a trance to retreat from reality’s disturbing stimuli into the meticulously crafted rooms of a haunted mind palace.
• Corpses of the recently deceased are stolen from cemeteries before materializing days later woven into elaborately posed configurations on church pews.
• A troubled writer frequents the sprawling haunted ruins of an alchemist’s strange estate, inspiring her wildly imaginative yet disturbing stories seeming to manifest elements into reality the more she writes them.
• A masked stranger haunts the private theater box night after night to bizarrely mentor an actress until she embodies her dead lover reborn onstage.
• Ghostly echoes of macabre deaths plague a murderer forcing them toward the scene of their crimes for a reenactment on every anniversary.
• Eerie music box melodies woven from metal pins and blood guide the imaginative inside a labyrinthine mechanical puzzle house.
• A widow trapped in perpetual mourning painstakingly applies her dead daughter’s preserved face to lifelike doll effigies.
• Disturbing unseen presences seem to forcibly puppeteer vulnerable drug addicts into recreating bizarre depraved theater shows.
• An intricately decorated artifact using human bones and teeth seems to promise supernatural visions yet also extract sanity as payment.
• A troubled detective frequents the bizarrely maze-like halls of his inherited family estate which seems to ominously shift and transform to mirror his fractured mind.
• A strange idol causes bizarre uncanny doppelgangers to manifest when studying your mirrored reflection too closely by candlelight.
• An ominous ancient grandfather clock always seems to countdown toward the hour of a person’s eventual mysterious death.
• Eerie echoes from a deceased twin haunt a surviving sister while her parents seem obliviously content to pretend the deceased child never existed.
• A troubled magician able to manifest realistic illusions finds the appearances slowly becoming autonomous entities no longer under their control.
• A melancholy doll somehow houses the soul of a drowned child submerged from a past tragedy mysteriously able to animate itself.
• A comatose woman’s nightmares seem to cross over into waking reality the longer she remains unable to wake up.
• A grieving eccentric covertly captures apparitions on antique photographic plates by stealing close keepsakes from dead loved ones to haunt the images.
• A drug addict watches a doppelganger slowly take over their life leaving them behind like a forgotten hollow shell.
• An heiress who haunts a decaying mansion seems to enchant guests into staying longer each visit until they waste away becoming dusty relics imprisoned by her loneliness.
• Death masks crafted from wax conceal a bizarre way for the wealthy secretly achieve eternal life by encasing souls.
• An intricate puzzle box found in an asylum’s ashes proves disturbingly irresistible yet maddeningly impossible to solve.
• Faded unnerving portraits hide being them twisted decaying corpse faces revealed by candlelight.
• An artist’s miraculously revived daughter rapidly becomes a bizarre inhuman creature.
• A grieving mother uses bodies of the recently deceased as bizarre life size macabre doll replacements for her dead daughter.
• Unmarked patient graves in an asylum’s cemetery subtly sink deeper when no one watches.
• A haunted portrait’s subject seems to possess those who gaze upon their beauty for too long.
• An intricate anatomical theater hides disturbing occult ceremonies deep below.
• A twisted sculptures garden filled with contorted stone bodies seems to come alive at night.
• Ghostly debutante dancers haunt an abandoned dilapidated ballroom unable stop waltzing even as the room crumbles.
• A magician’s transformative stage illusions become an addiction yet irreversibly distorts their appearance when not on stage.
• A troubling ornate music box plays seemingly random eerie melodies that prove to sadly match the tune of imminent real life tragedies.
• A grief stricken eccentric attempts increasingly deranged experiments to revive dead loved ones.
• An intricate mechanical puzzle house ensnares victims inside its constantly shifting labyrinthine rooms and halls.
• A haunted asylum’s disturbing experimental therapies leave victims in an eternally childlike regressed state even after death.
• Unearthly cries emerge from the boarded up ruins of a decaying estate no one dares gets near at night.
• An intricate mosaic floor patterns itself from the powdered cremation ashes of deceased institute residents.
• Mourning paintings hauntingly transform to show the dead’s faces become cadaverous skulls if stared at too long.
• An intricate clockwork automatons that perfectly resemble the newly dead seem to creepily enact aspects of their former living behaviors.
• An intricate artful anatomy theater hides disturbing occult ceremonies deep below its secret trapdoors.

We hope you enjoyed this list of Gothic writing prompts. There are many other writing prompts on our site you may enjoy. If you have any questions or concerns please leave them in the comments below. Feel free to leave us any work you want to share that was inspired by these prompts. 

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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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• Gothic Short Stories

Gothic short stories, with their eerie atmospheres and mysterious narratives, have captivated readers for centuries. Originating in the 18th century with Horace Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto," this literary genre has evolved to encompass a wide range of themes, motifs, and settings. From haunted castles to isolated mansions, and from supernatural occurrences to psychological horror, gothic short stories delve into the darker aspects of human nature and the unknown.

One characteristic of gothic short stories is their emphasis on atmosphere. Authors use vivid descriptions of settings to create a sense of unease and foreboding. For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," the decaying mansion mirrors the deteriorating mental state of its inhabitants, contributing to the story's sense of impending doom. Similarly, in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," the oppressive environment of the narrator's room reflects her descent into madness, heightening the story's psychological tension.

Another common element of gothic short stories is the presence of supernatural or inexplicable phenomena. Ghosts, curses, and otherworldly beings often inhabit these narratives, blurring the line between reality and the supernatural. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," the protagonist's nighttime journey into the forest exposes him to a world of occult rituals and demonic figures, leaving him questioning the nature of good and evil. Likewise, in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," the seemingly ordinary ritual of a small-town lottery takes a sinister turn, revealing the dark underbelly of human society.

Moreover, gothic short stories frequently explore themes of isolation, madness, and the macabre. Characters are often trapped in remote locations or confined spaces, cut off from the outside world. This isolation intensifies their psychological struggles and heightens the sense of claustrophobia. In H.P. Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu," for instance, the protagonist's investigation into ancient cults leads him to remote corners of the globe, where he encounters unspeakable horrors beyond human comprehension.

In conclusion, gothic short stories continue to enthrall readers with their evocative imagery, chilling narratives, and exploration of the darker aspects of human existence. By delving into themes of atmosphere, the supernatural, and isolation, these tales provide a glimpse into the mysterious and macabre realms of the human psyche. Whether exploring haunted houses, cursed families, or forbidden knowledge, gothic short stories remain a timeless and captivating genre in the literary world.

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A Short Story : The Story Of Granny's Story

In literature, short stories serve as potent vessels for conveying profound themes, exploring intricate human experiences, and captivating audiences with concise yet impactful narratives. Among the vast array of short stories that have left an indelible mark on readers' minds, "The Story of Granny's" stands as a quintessential example of the genre's ability to encapsulate the complexities of life within a limited narrative scope. Authored by the renowned writer Alice Munro, "The Story of Granny's" beckons readers into the intimate world of its characters, inviting them to contemplate themes of family dynamics, aging, and the passage of time. Set against the backdrop of rural Canada, "The Story of Granny's" unfolds within the confines of a small-town diner owned by the eponymous Granny. Through Munro's adept storytelling prowess, readers are introduced to a rich tapestry of characters who frequent Granny's establishment, each carrying their own burdens, aspirations, and secrets. Central to the narrative is the character of Granny herself, a stoic yet compassionate matriarch whose life is intricately woven with the fabric of the diner and the community it serves. At its core, "The Story of Granny's" delves into the complexities of familial relationships, particularly the bonds between grandmothers and their grandchildren. Munro deftly portrays the intergenerational dynamics at play, depicting moments of tenderness, conflict, and reconciliation that underscore the enduring nature of familial love. Through vivid characterizations and poignant dialogue, Munro crafts a narrative that resonates with readers of all ages, evoking nostalgia for the cherished moments spent with loved ones and prompting reflection on the inevitability of change. Moreover, "The Story of Granny's" serves as a meditation on the passage of time and the inexorable march of aging. Through Granny's perspective, readers are offered glimpses into the challenges and joys of growing older, from grappling with loss and regret to finding solace in cherished memories and newfound wisdom. Munro's prose is imbued with a sense of reverence for the human experience, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit in the face of life's trials and tribulations. In addition to its thematic depth, "The Story of Granny's" is notable for its masterful use of narrative structure and symbolism. Munro employs a nonlinear storytelling technique, seamlessly weaving together past and present events to create a rich tapestry of interconnected narratives. Each character's journey serves as a thread in the larger fabric of the story, contributing to the overarching themes of love, loss, and redemption. Furthermore, the diner itself emerges as a symbolic space, representing a nexus of community, tradition, and transformation. In conclusion, "The Story of Granny's" stands as a testament to the enduring power of the short story genre to illuminate the human condition with clarity and compassion. Through Munro's evocative prose and nuanced characterizations, readers are transported into a world brimming with authenticity, empathy, and resilience. As the narrative unfolds, it invites readers to confront the universal truths of life, forging connections that transcend time, space, and circumstance. In Granny's diner, amidst the clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation, lies a profound reflection of the beauty and complexity of the human experience....

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A Short Story : The Story Of Lucy's Story

A Short Story: The Story of Lucy Once upon a time, in a small village nestled among rolling hills, there lived a young girl named Lucy. She was known for her enchanting beauty and captivating smile, which could light up even the gloomiest of days. Lucy was adored by everyone in the village, and her kind heart and gentle nature made her a beloved figure. Lucy's life was simple yet filled with joy. She spent her days exploring the lush meadows, chasing butterflies, and playing with the village children. Her laughter echoed through the streets, bringing a sense of warmth and happiness to all who heard it. But little did anyone know that Lucy carried a secret deep within her heart. As Lucy grew older, she discovered a hidden talent for painting. Her brushstrokes danced across the canvas, bringing to life vibrant landscapes and whimsical creatures. Each stroke told a story, and the villagers marveled at her artistic prowess. Lucy's paintings adorned the walls of the village square, attracting visitors from far and wide. One fateful day, a mysterious traveler arrived in the village. He was tall and handsome, with eyes that sparkled like the stars. The traveler was captivated by Lucy's paintings and sought to meet the talented artist behind the masterpieces. When he finally laid eyes on Lucy, he was instantly mesmerized by her beauty and grace. Days turned into weeks, and the traveler and Lucy spent every moment together, exploring the village and sharing their dreams and aspirations. Their love blossomed like the wildflowers in spring, filling their hearts with a joy they had never known before. The villagers rejoiced, for they knew that Lucy had found her true love. But as the seasons changed, so did Lucy's health. A mysterious illness took hold of her fragile body, draining her of her vitality. The village doctor tried his best to find a cure, but his efforts were in vain. Lucy's condition worsened with each passing day, and the villagers watched in despair as their beloved girl slowly faded away. On a quiet summer evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Lucy gathered her strength for one last painting. With trembling hands, she created a masterpiece that depicted her journey through life, capturing every moment of love, joy, and sorrow. As she put the finishing touches on her final creation, Lucy closed her eyes and took her last breath, leaving behind a legacy that would forever be etched in the hearts of those who knew her. The village mourned the loss of their beloved Lucy, but her spirit lived on through her paintings. Each stroke told a tale of love, resilience, and the beauty of life. Visitors from near and far would come to the village to marvel at her artwork, and in doing so, they would come to understand the essence of Lucy's story. And so, the story of Lucy, the girl with the enchanting smile and the gift of painting, became a timeless tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of art. Her legacy lived on, reminding us all to cherish every moment, embrace our passions, and leave a mark on the world that would never fade away....

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A Short Story : A Story Of A Ghost Story

A Short Story: A Story of A Once upon a time in a quaint little village nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery, there lived a humble farmer named Adam. Adam was known throughout the village for his unwavering dedication to his land and his kind heart. Despite facing numerous challenges, he always wore a warm smile on his weathered face and approached each day with optimism. One fateful morning, as Adam set out to tend to his crops, he stumbled upon a mysterious object half-buried in the soil. Intrigued, he carefully unearthed it to reveal a gleaming silver locket intricately engraved with delicate patterns. Curiosity piqued, Adam gently opened the locket to find a faded photograph of a young woman with eyes that seemed to hold a universe of secrets. Determined to uncover the story behind the locket, Adam embarked on a journey that would forever change his life. He traversed through dense forests and crossed turbulent rivers, following the faintest whispers of clues that led him ever closer to the truth. Along the way, he encountered a colorful array of characters, each with their own tales to tell, but none could provide him with the answers he sought. As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Adam's quest seemed increasingly futile, and doubt began to gnaw at the edges of his resolve. Just when he was on the verge of giving up, fate intervened in the most unexpected of ways. In a chance encounter with an old sage, Adam learned of a hidden valley where time itself seemed to stand still—a place where lost memories were said to find their way home. With renewed hope coursing through his veins, Adam set out for the elusive valley, guided by nothing but the whispers of his heart. And there, amidst the ethereal beauty of the landscape, he finally found the answers he had been seeking all along. The woman in the locket was none other than his long-lost grandmother, a spirited soul who had embarked on her own journey of discovery many years ago. In that moment of revelation, Adam felt a profound sense of connection spanning generations, weaving together the tapestry of his family's history. With the locket clasped tightly in his hand and his grandmother's memory shining bright in his heart, Adam returned to his village, forever changed by the transformative power of a single story—a story of love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that unite us all....

• Literature and Oral Traditions

A Short Story : A Story Of Ella's Story

In the small village of Ellas, nestled amidst rolling hills and lush greenery, there lived a young girl named Elara. Elara was known throughout the village for her kind heart and gentle spirit. She spent her days tending to the animals in the meadows and helping her neighbors with their chores. Despite the hardships that often befell the village, Elara remained optimistic and hopeful, believing in the power of kindness to bring about positive change. One day, a fierce storm swept through Ellas, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Homes were destroyed, crops were ruined, and the villagers were left devastated. Elara knew that she had to do something to help her community rebuild. She gathered her strength and courage and set out to seek aid from neighboring villages. As Elara journeyed through the countryside, she encountered many challenges along the way. She faced treacherous terrain, wild animals, and harsh weather conditions. But she pressed on, fueled by her determination to help those in need. Along the way, she met kind strangers who offered her food and shelter, restoring her faith in the goodness of humanity. After many days of travel, Elara finally reached the neighboring villages and pleaded for their assistance. Touched by her sincerity and compassion, the villagers rallied together to help their neighbors in Ellas. They sent supplies, offered their labor, and provided support in any way they could. Thanks to Elara's bravery and selflessness, the village of Ellas was able to rebuild and thrive once again. In the end, Elara's story became a legend in the region, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps and spread kindness wherever they went. Her tale served as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, a single act of kindness can spark a chain reaction of hope and healing. And so, the legacy of Elara, the girl from Ellas, lived on for generations to come....

A Short Story : A Story Of Miriam's Story

Miriam was a young woman with a passion for adventure. She lived in a small town nestled between rolling hills and lush forests. From a young age, Miriam was captivated by the stories her grandmother used to tell her about far-off lands and mythical creatures. These tales fueled her imagination and sparked a desire to explore the world beyond her humble home. One fateful day, Miriam stumbled upon an old, dusty map in the attic of her family's ancestral home. The map depicted a mysterious island shrouded in mist and surrounded by treacherous waters. Intrigued by the enigmatic island, Miriam decided to embark on a daring journey to uncover its secrets. Equipped with nothing but her wits and a sense of determination, Miriam set sail on a rickety old boat. As she navigated the choppy waters, she encountered fierce storms and menacing sea creatures. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, Miriam remained undaunted, driven by her insatiable curiosity and thirst for discovery. After days of sailing, Miriam finally reached the mysterious island. As she stepped onto its sandy shores, she was greeted by a sight that took her breath away. Lush tropical forests teeming with exotic wildlife, sparkling waterfalls cascading down rugged cliffs, and ancient ruins hinting at a long-forgotten civilization awaited her exploration. Miriam spent weeks unraveling the island's mysteries, forging unlikely friendships with its inhabitants, and immersing herself in its rich culture. Through her adventures, she discovered the true meaning of courage, resilience, and the boundless power of imagination. Miriam's journey not only changed her life but inspired others to embrace the unknown and embark on their own extraordinary quests for discovery. In the end, Miriam returned home with a heart full of memories, a mind brimming with stories, and a spirit forever transformed by the magic of her extraordinary adventure. Her tale would be passed down through generations, a testament to the enduring power of curiosity, bravery, and the unyielding spirit of exploration. Miriam's story serves as a reminder that sometimes, the greatest adventures lie just beyond the horizon, waiting to be discovered by those bold enough to seek them out....

The Accident : A Short Story : The Story Of A Story

The Accident: A Short Story The sun was setting on a warm summer evening as Sarah walked along the sidewalk, lost in her own thoughts. She had just finished a long day at work and was looking forward to a relaxing evening at home. Little did she know that her life was about to take a dramatic turn. As she crossed the busy intersection, a speeding car came out of nowhere, its tires screeching as it swerved to avoid hitting her. Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she watched in horror, frozen in place. The car crashed into a nearby lamppost, the impact sending shards of glass and debris flying through the air. Instinctively, Sarah rushed to the aid of the driver, who was slumped over the steering wheel, unconscious. She dialed 911 and waited anxiously for help to arrive. As she looked around, she noticed a small crowd gathering, their concerned faces reflecting the shock and disbelief she felt. Minutes later, the paramedics arrived and quickly assessed the situation. They carefully extricated the driver from the wreckage and rushed him into the waiting ambulance. Sarah stood there, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. She couldn't help but wonder if there was something she could have done to prevent this accident. Days turned into weeks as Sarah anxiously awaited news about the driver's condition. Finally, she received a call from the hospital. The driver, named James, had suffered serious injuries but was expected to make a full recovery. Sarah felt a wave of relief wash over her, grateful that her actions had helped save a life. Over the following months, Sarah and James formed an unexpected bond. They met regularly, sharing their experiences and finding solace in each other's company. James expressed his deep gratitude for Sarah's selflessness, and she realized that the accident had brought them together for a reason. As time went on, Sarah began to question her own purpose in life. The accident had opened her eyes to the fragility of life and the importance of making every moment count. She decided to pursue a career in social work, dedicating herself to helping others and making a positive impact on the world. The accident had turned Sarah's life upside down, but it had also given her a newfound sense of purpose and direction. She learned that sometimes, the most unexpected events can lead to the most profound transformations. Sarah's story serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope and the potential for growth. In conclusion, "The Accident" is a short story that explores the power of human connection and the transformative nature of unexpected events. It highlights the importance of seizing opportunities for personal growth and finding meaning in the face of adversity. Sarah's journey serves as an inspiration to us all, reminding us to embrace life's challenges and use them as stepping stones to a brighter future....

A Short Story : The Story Of Cupid

A Short Story: The Story of Cupid In the realm of ancient mythology, amidst the divine pantheon of gods and goddesses, there exists a figure whose name resonates through the ages — Cupid, the mischievous god of love. With his golden bow and enchanted arrows, Cupid holds sway over the hearts of mortals and immortals alike, spreading love and desire wherever he roams. Born of the union between Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, and Mars, the god of war, Cupid's origins are steeped in both passion and conflict. Yet, despite his celestial lineage, Cupid is often depicted as a playful and impish youth, delighting in the chaos and ecstasy of love's unpredictable journey. Legend has it that Cupid's arrows possess the power to ignite love's flame in the hearts of those they pierce, causing even the most stoic of individuals to succumb to the intoxicating allure of romance. Yet, Cupid's aim is not always true, and his arrows sometimes lead to unrequited love or unforeseen consequences, leaving a trail of both joy and heartache in his wake. One of Cupid's most famous exploits is the tale of Psyche and Eros. Enraged by Psyche's beauty and the adoration she receives from mortals, Venus commands Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with the most despicable creature he can find. However, Cupid is captivated by Psyche's innocence and purity, and instead of following his mother's orders, he falls deeply in love with her. Through trials and tribulations, including a series of tasks set by Venus herself, Cupid and Psyche overcome adversity and are ultimately united in a love that transcends mortal and divine boundaries. Despite his penchant for mischief, Cupid's influence extends far beyond mere matchmaking. He embodies the transformative power of love, inspiring acts of compassion, empathy, and connection among humanity. Whether stirring the flames of passion or soothing the wounds of a broken heart, Cupid remains a timeless symbol of the enduring force that binds us all together — love in its purest and most profound form. In the annals of mythology, Cupid's legacy endures as a testament to the universal longing for love and connection that defines the human experience. Though his methods may be enigmatic and his intentions sometimes unpredictable, Cupid continues to weave his magic through the fabric of our lives, reminding us that in matters of the heart, anything is possible....

The Relationship Between Men and Women Presented in the Short Story “the Story of an Hour”

The relationship between men and women has been a topic of interest and discussion for centuries. In literature, this dynamic is often portrayed in various ways, reflecting the societal norms and expectations of the time. One common theme that emerges in many works is the idea of gender roles and how they influence the interactions between men and women. In traditional literature, men are often depicted as strong, dominant figures, while women are portrayed as nurturing and submissive. This can be seen in classic works such as Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," where Romeo takes on the role of the brave hero, while Juliet is the delicate and innocent maiden. These gender roles not only shape the characters themselves but also dictate the way they interact with each other. However, as society has evolved, so too have the representations of men and women in literature. Modern works often challenge traditional gender roles and explore more complex and nuanced relationships between the sexes. For example, in novels like "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn, the power dynamics between men and women are constantly shifting, blurring the lines between traditional gender roles. In contemporary literature, the relationship between men and women is often portrayed as more equal and balanced. Authors are increasingly exploring themes of mutual respect, understanding, and partnership between the sexes. This can be seen in books like "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman, where the protagonist forms a deep and meaningful connection with a male character based on mutual support and empathy. Overall, the relationship between men and women as presented in literature is a reflection of the changing attitudes and beliefs of society. While traditional gender roles may still be prevalent in some works, there is a growing trend towards more egalitarian and realistic portrayals of male-female relationships. As literature continues to evolve, so too will our understanding of the complex and multifaceted dynamics between men and women....

• Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
• Social Movements
• Discrimination and Prejudice

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In 'We're Alone,' Edwidge Danticat's essays extend an invitation to be together

Edwidge Danticat is known for her novels and short stories. But her new book, We're Alone , is a collection of eight wide-ranging essays. These essays touch on intimate and historical topics: Danticat's past and present, the history of Haiti, parenting, migration and the author's connection to her literary heroes. In today's episode, Danticat speaks with NPR's Ari Shapiro about the complexity of nostalgia and the Haiti she remembers. To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday