Four Obscure Short Stories for Halloween
I love Halloween.
No, I mean, I love Halloween. I’m the kind of person who puts out his seasonal decor in August while his neighbors raise a bewildered brow. And in case it was not clear, I do not feel ashamed.
This spirit translated to the high school classroom, where I eagerly incorporated Halloween-themed short stories whenever they aligned to learning targets. There are the classics, which are always a good choice: “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs, “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe, “The Outsider” by H.P. Lovecraft, and so on.
But what else is out there? (That seems the most fitting question during the Halloween season, no?) The following are some lesser known narratives in the public domain, all of which may be added to your collection of seasonally appropriate short stories. Click on the title of each story to download a PDF copy.
1. “The Thing in the Cellar” by David H. Keller
In "The Thing in the Cellar," a six-year-old is terrified of an entity he believes is haunting the basement, causing his parents seek professional advice on how to help him overcome his fear. The narrative's slow-building sense of dread culminates in a grave, ironic, and ambiguous outcome that makes it a compelling addition to a scary short story unit for high school. The narrative pairs especially well with other works of fiction dealing with the theme of fear, including "The Beast in the Cave" by H.P. Lovecraft and "The Premature Burial" by Edgar Allan Poe.
Supporting Resources Available (Click Image)
Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary analysis skills with this bundle of activities and assessments covering David H. Keller's Halloween-appropriate short story "The Thing in the Cellar." A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary definitions handout, vocabulary application exercise, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included.
2. “The Nightmare Road” by Florence Crow
In "The Nightmare Road" by Florence Crow, a man recounts his bizarre experiences in Germany's Hartz Mountain region during All Hallows Eve. Many factors make "The Nightmare Road" a compelling addition to a scary short story unit for high school, especially during the Halloween season: its sinister imagery of bonfires and red-eyed figures, its ominous personification of setting, its incorporation of hyperbole to intensify emotional tension, and more. The narrative pairs especially well with other Halloween-themed works of fiction including "The Godfather" by the Brothers Grimm and "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Supporting Resources Available (Click Image)
Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary analysis skills for high school with this bundle of activities and assessments covering Florence Crow's Halloween-themed short story "The Nightmare Road." A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary definitions handout, vocabulary application exercise, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included.
3. “Pickman’s Model” by H.P. Lovecraft
"Pickman's Model" explores supernatural and psychological horror through the lens of a man who is invited to behold the secret and morbid paintings of a mysterious artist. Lovecraft's excellent sensory description brings an underground setting and monstrous beings to life, and his allusions to macabre artists (Goya and Fuseli) and historical events and figures (Salem with trials and Cotton Mather) contribute to the story's ominous tone.
Supporting Resources Available (Click Image)
Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary analysis skills with this bundle of activities and assessments covering H.P. Lovecraft's scary short story "Pickman's Model." A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary definitions handout, vocabulary application exercise, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included.
4. “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe
In "Berenice" by Edgar Allan Poe, an obsessive man experiences a psychological decline that leads him to disturb the gravesite of his fiancé. Many factors make "Berenice" an excellent addition to a high school short story unit, especially during the Halloween season: its unreliable narrator, grotesque imagery, oppressive tone, and shocking plot twist in the resolution. The narrative pairs especially well with other works of horror fiction such as "The Birthmark" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and "Pickman's Model" by H.P. Lovecraft.
Supporting Resources Available (Click Image)
Facilitate reading comprehension and sharpen literary analysis skills with this bundle of activities and assessments covering Edgar Allan Poe's scary short story "Berenice." A plot-based quiz, close reading inference worksheet, vocabulary definitions handout, vocabulary application exercise, crossword puzzle, word search game, and answer keys are included.
