What are the common elements in spooky scary campfire stories?

There was this old, abandoned cabin near the campground. Legend had it that a witch used to live there. One night, some campers decided to explore it. As they entered, the door slammed shut behind them. They heard the sound of a cauldron boiling and a cackling laugh. They tried to find a way out, but every door they opened led to a different spooky scene, like a room full of floating skulls. Eventually, they found a small window and managed to escape.

Another element is the strange behavior of the doll. It often moves on its own without any visible force. Like in many stories, the doll might be left in one place and then found in a completely different and unexpected location, like on top of a sleeping person's bed.

One common element is the setting in a remote or isolated place like deep in the woods or near an old, spooky place. For example, in many stories, being lost in the forest at night makes the situation scarier. Another element is the presence of something unknown, like strange noises or shadowy figures. These things create suspense and fear as the characters don't know what they are dealing with. Also, a sense of helplessness is often present. The characters in these stories usually can't easily escape the situation, like the hiker being chased in the woods and having nowhere to go.

The mystery element is key. In stories like 'The Hook', not knowing exactly what was outside the car creates suspense. You keep wondering what would have happened if they didn't drive away.

There's the story of the headless horseman. He rides through the forest near the cemetery on Halloween. He's said to be the spirit of a soldier who lost his head in battle. If you're out in the forest on Halloween night, you might hear the sound of his horse's hooves pounding on the ground. He chases anyone he sees, waving his sword in the air. People have tried to hide from him, but he always seems to find them.

Well, in kids' scary campfire stories, often there are things that seem normal at first but turn out to be spooky. For instance, a friendly looking old house in the woods that ends up being haunted. Also, the unknown is a big part. The kids don't know what's making the strange noises or what's in the dark. And there's usually a moment of isolation, like when one of the kids wanders away from the group by the campfire and that's when the really scary stuff starts to happen.

Darkness is a common element. Most spooky stories with scary spirits take place in the dark, like in a spooky forest at night or in a dimly lit old mansion. Another is strange noises. These could be creaking floors, howling winds, or unidentifiable moans that add to the fear factor. And there's often a sense of isolation, where the characters are alone and cut off from help.

They also rely on common fears. In the story of 'The Girl with the Green Ribbon', the fear of the unknown and the unexpected is used. The girl's strange behavior with the ribbon around her neck makes the listener curious, but also a bit scared. When the big reveal at the end comes, it's a shock. And as the story is being told, the listeners are sitting around the campfire, away from their normal comforts, so they're more vulnerable to these scary ideas. The wind blowing through the trees, the crackling of the fire - all these sounds can be incorporated into the story - telling to make the atmosphere even spookier.

The use of talking animals in these stories is really interesting. In a spooky campfire story, a talking owl might tell the kids about a strange occurrence in the woods. Also, the element of magic is important. There could be a magic tree that glows at night. The kids are both a little scared and very curious about this magic tree. They might wonder what will happen if they touch it or what secrets it holds. These elements combine to create a story that is both spooky and engaging for kids.

One more is about the 'haunted campfire'. Campers saw the fire seem to flicker in strange patterns and heard whispering sounds. They were all spooked. But then they found out that there was a group of kids playing pranks in the bushes nearby. The kids had made some simple devices to create the spooky effects, which turned this initially scary situation into a funny one.