What are the characteristics of good sad stories?

They often involve a sense of loss. For example, in 'The Dead' by James Joyce, the main character experiences a kind of spiritual loss as he realizes the hollowness in his relationships. This loss is a key element that makes the story sad.

One characteristic is that they often involve a great loss, like in the story of a family losing their home in a fire. But then the best part comes when they show resilience and rebuild. Another characteristic is the display of strong emotions. For example, a person losing a loved one is extremely sad, yet the beautiful memories and the lessons learned from that relationship make it a 'best' story in a way.

A sense of inevitability is also common. It seems that no matter what the character does, they are doomed to a sad fate. Such as in a story where a person is marked by a dark entity and every attempt to escape just leads them closer to their doom.

Characteristics include an initial sense of light - heartedness. For instance, the dog chasing its tail was a light - hearted start. Then there's a moment of realization or consequence that is both sad and funny. The man realized he had made a fool of himself which was sad but the whole incident was funny. Also, these stories can make the audience feel a range of emotions at the same time. We can laugh at the situation while also feeling sympathetic towards the subject, as we did with the little girl.

One characteristic is a sense of melancholy. For example, in many sad mystery stories, there are often characters who have experienced great loss or trauma in their past. This gives an overall sad tone to the story. Another is that the mystery often involves something that is deeply personal or tragic, like a missing loved one or an unsolved family mystery.

One characteristic is simplicity. For example, 'The light went out. Hope died.' It uses very few words to convey a big emotion. They often rely on the reader's own imagination to fill in the gaps.

One characteristic is the contrast. They start with a really sad situation like loss, failure or hardship. For example, a person losing their beloved pet. Then there is a turning point. In the case of the pet loss, the person might start an animal shelter in memory of the pet. Another characteristic is the element of hope. There is always something that gives the characters or the situation a sense of a positive future. Also, they often involve personal growth. The characters usually become better, stronger or more compassionate after going through the sad part.

One characteristic is that they often involve strong emotions. For example, there's a deep love or friendship that makes the story sweet, but then something tragic like death or separation occurs which brings the sadness.

One characteristic is that they are relatable. People can see parts of their own lives in these stories. Maybe it's a story about a student who gets a funny nickname at school but is sad because of being bullied. They mix emotions in a way that makes you feel both happy and empathetic at the same time.

Sad bedtime stories often involve themes of loss, like the loss of a loved one or a loss of a dream. For example, a story where a child loses their pet. They are also likely to have characters in difficult situations, such as being alone or facing hardships.