What are the common elements in children's short scary stories?

One common theme is the unknown. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's madness and what really lies in his mind are unknown, creating fear. Another theme is death. In 'The Little Match Girl', the girl's approaching death is a central part of the story. Supernatural elements are also common, like the Headless Horseman in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' which is a supernatural entity.

One common element is the use of spooky settings like dark forests, old houses, or cemeteries. These places create an immediate sense of unease. Another is the presence of supernatural beings such as ghosts, witches, or monsters. For example, ghosts can be very scary as they are often associated with the unknown and death. Strange noises are also common, like creaking doors or whispering voices. It gives the impression that there is something unseen and menacing around. Also, characters being alone and isolated in a scary situation adds to the fear factor, like a child lost in a haunted place.

Some common elements are the use of dark and gloomy atmospheres. This can be created through descriptions of stormy nights or fog - filled cemeteries. Then there are the characters with evil intentions. Take the evil stepmother in some fairy - tales - turned - scary - stories. She has the intention to harm the main character. Also, a lot of these stories have a moral or a lesson at the end, even though they are scary. It could be about not going into the forest alone or not trusting strangers too easily.

One common element is the unknown. For example, in many stories like 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the main character is in a situation where she doesn't understand what's really going on, and that mystery creates fear. Another element is isolation. In 'The Lighthouse', the two lighthouse keepers are isolated from the rest of the world, which heightens the sense of dread when strange things start to happen. Also, death is often involved, whether it's an impending death like in 'The Masque of the Red Death' or a past death that haunts the present, as in 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.

One popular story could be about a haunted house. There might be strange noises at night, like creaking floors and whispering voices. The children in the story might go to explore the house out of curiosity and then encounter spooky apparitions. Another could be a story of a cursed object, like a doll that seems to move on its own and causes bad luck to whoever possesses it.

One common element is the appearance of the eyeball children. They often have strange, glowing eyes that add to the scariness. Another element could be the setting, like a dark and abandoned place. For example, an old, haunted house where the eyeball children lurk.

Reflection distortion is a common element. Like the reflection not acting as it should, such as blinking at odd times or having a different expression. Another is the appearance of something unexpected in the mirror, like a strange figure or a menacing face.

One common element is the setting. Often, it's a dark and isolated place like an old house, a forest at night, or an abandoned building. These places create a sense of unease and mystery. Another element is the unknown. For example, in many stories, there are strange noises or figures that are not fully explained. It makes the reader's imagination run wild. And a lot of times, there's a sense of being trapped. The characters can't easily escape the spooky situation, which adds to the tension.

Isolation is a common element. In space, astronauts are often alone or with a small crew, far from home. For example, in the story where an astronaut hears tapping on the spaceship, he is all by himself and has no immediate help. Another element is the unknown. The vastness of space holds many mysteries. When strange signals or shadowy figures are encountered, like in the stories of the spaceship exploring a planet and the satellite picking up a signal, it scares because we don't know what they are.

One common element is the sense of the unknown. For example, in many such stories, there's something lurking in the shadows that's not fully revealed until the end, like in 'The Woman in Black'. Another element is the use of suspense. Writers build tension by withholding information, such as in 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' where the main character hears strange noises but doesn't know what's causing them right away. And often, there's an element of the supernatural. Stories might involve ghosts, like in 'The Canterville Ghost', or some otherworldly force that defies explanation and adds to the scariness.