Horror Stories

Open Ended

John screamed and screamed.  They had left him there to die, entombed in the cave now that they had sealed the entrance.   When his screaming subsided and the echo vanished, John heard another sound.   A low moaning sound which seemed to be coming closer… 

 

What do you notice about this short story excerpt? What draws your attention as a reader? 

 

• The purpose of a horror story is to create terror!

• Often horror stories contain some kind of monster (such as vampires, werewolves, etc.) whose only purpose is to prey on the human characters.    

• The protagonist often is the one who rids the world of the threat of this monster, or becomes a victim trying.

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​Horror Stories

• Often an isolated or scary location 

• One where there is little chance of escape 

• Or a normal location which has become very menacing and threatening to the occupants 

​Setting

Open Ended

List some possible settings for a horror short story. 

• The main character is often an innocent victim threatened by a more powerful force

   

• The adversary is often supernatural and evil 

• Protagonist often finds bravery and hidden strengths to defeat the villain

​Characters

Open Ended

List some possible characters for a horror short story. 

Plot

• The victim struggles against incredible odds to free him/herself from an unpleasant fate 

• Sometimes this struggle is successful, sometimes not 

• There is a build up of tension

   

• There is a strong climax, and possibly a cliffhanger ending 

Open Ended

Briefly outline the plot of a horror film you have seen.

Orientation (beginning) -

Complication -

Climax -

Resolution -

Conclusion -

• Words are chosen to intensify fear and horror     

• Words are chosen to build up the suspense 

• Alliteration and onomatopoeia, as well as lots of imagery, build up the atmosphere  

​Word Choice

Open Ended

List words or phrases that you might associate with a horror short story. Include at least one (1) piece of figurative language.