What makes the top 10 scariest novels so terrifying?

The settings in these novels often play a huge role. For example, in 'The Shining', the Overlook Hotel is a character in itself. It's isolated, full of dark secrets and has a history of violence and death. This makes the characters' situation seem hopeless and the horror more intense. Also, the unknown elements like in 'It' with Pennywise's true form being a mystery most of the time, keep readers on edge.

The fear of the unknown. In these stories, things happen that can't be easily explained. It makes our minds race with all kinds of possibilities.

These stories are scary for multiple reasons. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the unknown consequences of our wishes create a sense of dread. We are always afraid of getting what we want in a way that is far from what we expected. In 'The Masque of the Red Death', it's the inescapability of death. No matter how much we try to avoid it, it will find us. Also, in stories like 'Carmilla', the fear of the unknown and the supernatural elements are what make them terrifying.

The unknown factor makes them terrifying. In many of these stories, there are elements like ghosts or demons that we don't understand. We fear what we can't explain. For example, in a haunted house story, not knowing what is causing the strange noises or apparitions scares us.

The psychological aspect plays a huge role too. Take 'The Shining' for example. The main character's slow descent into madness and the way the hotel seems to feed on his weaknesses makes it terrifying. It's not just about ghosts but about the breakdown of the human mind under pressure.

For '1984', it's the total lack of privacy. Big Brother is always watching, and the Thought Police can arrest you for your thoughts. In 'The Handmaid's Tale', it's the subjugation of women. They are stripped of their rights and used as vessels for reproduction. In 'Brave New World', it's the loss of true human nature as people are engineered and conditioned from birth.

What makes a scariest story terrifying is often the sense of the unknown. When there are elements in a story that we can't explain, like a strange noise in a haunted house with no obvious source, it sends shivers down our spines. It plays on our fears of the dark and the unseen.

One thing that makes them scary is the sense of helplessness. In 'The Monkey's Paw', the characters can't control the outcomes of their wishes. The setting also plays a role. In 'The Masque of the Red Death', the enclosed abbey that is supposed to be a safe haven but is invaded by death creates a claustrophobic and terrifying feeling. Also, the moral ambiguity in some stories, like 'The Black Cat', where the protagonist's actions are both self - destructive and immoral, adds to the scariness.

The build - up of suspense. The stories usually start slow, introducing normal situations like a family moving into a new home. But then, as time goes on, small, creepy things start to happen. For example, objects start disappearing, and then they hear footsteps when no one else is supposed to be in the house. This slow build - up makes it very terrifying. Also, the way the stories play on our deepest fears, such as the fear of the dark or the fear of being alone and helpless in a spooky situation. It makes the reader or listener really feel the horror.