Let’s be real. We all love a little suspense now and then. You know what I mean? When you watch a movie, you feel the tension rise, and even call out to the characters as they’re about to face their deaths? Like movies, short stories about horror captivate students no matter the age!
Even students who don’t typically enjoy reading can’t really escape the thrill of mysteries, suspense, and horror!
It all probably started with telling tales around a campfire, but I am so glad that Edgar Allan Poe existed to guide us into the horror genre with my favorites, “A Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” and “The Cask of Amontillado!”
Even if you don’t like watching scary movies or television shows, an easy and usually less graphic way to introduce horror is through short stories that will make any middle or high school student a fan, especially around Halloween in the fall. So if you need some activities and short stories about horror ideas, I’ve got what you need to make teaching easier!
Keep reading below for “10 Short Stories About Horror!”
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WHY TEACH SHORT STORIES ABOUT HORROR?
Today, student engagement seems to be at an all-time low. Who can possibly compete with the millions of 90-second dopamine bursts of videos on every screen, every day? We can’t!
There is no way to control what students do outside of the classroom; however, we can control what we do. And that is all. Easy to realize; tough to do!
That is why, when I can, I tend toward high-interest and higher-level passages. I don’t typically use lower-level reading passages with high-interest texts, because students need the challenge if they are to have the option of attending and succeeding in collegiate institutions after they graduate.
So I teach short stories about horror to make my job and student learning MUCH easier for 5 reasons:
- They are usually short! When we can read a passage in fifteen to thirty minutes, I call that a win!
- They are typically engaging! Who doesn’t love the tension once in a while? Who doesn’t relish a sense of fear? Who doesn’t savor a bit of suspenseful death once in a while?
- They get students more involved with thematic concepts! We can all relate to themes connected to fear, death, and other profound emotions, so linking to these thematic concepts is my go-to strategy.
- They can tie easily with other texts! I prefer to teach thematically, as students tend to remember passages and ideas more easily. Adding in poetry and articles that integrate well makes learning fun!
- They can accomplish the reading and activities within a class period or two! I don’t want to read a short story for weeks; let’s read, learn, and move on!
It can be challenging to use classic short stories in modern classrooms, as many students lack the background knowledge and vocabulary range of previous generations. To combat this ubiquitous situation, there are several techniques I employ when reading short stories about horror:
- I typically read with students at least part, if not all, of the way to make short stories about horror more accessible.
- I incorporate online recordings that make the reading process easier on my voice.
- I break stories down into parts, such as paragraphs, pages, or excerpts, to make consumption more manageable.
- I model how to annotate for literary devices, central idea evidence, thematic links, and plot elements.
- I introduce activities before we start reading and complete specific examples along the way.
- I conclude with a brief test prep quiz for each short story to reinforce comprehension.
My goal is student growth, no matter what, which is why I love to include teaching short stories about horror!
10 SHORT STORIES ABOUT HORROR
1. The Tell-Tale Heart
By far and away, “The Tell-Tale Heart” is at the top of the list of short stories about horror!
This is true for several reasons:
- It is short.
- It is engrossing.
- It is super spooky.
If you have not read it yet, let me give you the gist. A young man, who claims not to be crazy, plots and executes the murder of an innocent old man. He is subsequently caught only because he believes that the old man’s heart can be heard under the floorboards. Tough break, huh?
There is so much to teach within this short story, but I like to focus on plot, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and characterization. Following the speaker through his emotional journey is fun, but it requires close reading and critical thinking skills. See this resource for help!
2. The Most Dangerous Game
Now, if you have never read this short by Richard Connell, do so…now! While this short story is a mite longer than other classic short stories about horror, it is well worth the read.
The protagonist, a hunter, is trapped on an island and, in turn, becomes the hunted. Tracking his participation in the “game” is engaging and helpful for students who need to understand various plot elements and their impact on the meaning of the story. Extending the plot from the final twist is an excellent way for students to respond to this murderous short story!
Want more short story ideas? Check out the post below!
3. The Monkey’s Paw
“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs has been a staple in middle and high school classrooms, particularly due to its themes surrounding death and family. I remember seeing the play, and when it is brought to life on stage, the meaning and characters are only enhanced.
This story tells of the power of hope in the midst of tragedy; however, the ending with its horror-filled twist makes this tale a must-read!
Focusing on the impact of imagery and setting will help your students with analysis and comprehension during and after reading, so if you need some ideas, check out this resource!
4. The Veldt
While I am not a Ray Bradbury connoisseur, I really like teaching “The Veldt” any chance I get. Because of the pervasiveness of dystopian literature like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner, including some short stories about horror involving society and technology, will only add to students’ interest in this genre.
This super short and easy-to-read short story highlights two siblings obsessed with technology. As the parents’ growing concern over its influence on their children’s lives increases, the siblings react in a most peculiar and frightening way. By the end of the story, you will start to question giving your own kids unobstructed access to any sort of technology.
You can teach this story in a day or two with lessons focused on characterization and higher-level comprehension skills. If you need a test prep quiz to really challenge your students, check out this one!
5. The Lottery
The title of this story by Shirley Jackson truly makes this story a perfect addition to any short stories about horror unit! This short story depicts a small town obsessed with tradition. A young mother gets caught up in the town’s yearly lottery and ends up in quite a twist!
Studying the setting, the character traits, and themes will help your students focus on the most important elements and meaning of the story. By focusing on textual evidence, students can write about Tessie’s (the young mother) traits and their impact on the story’s meaning or message.
Make teaching this story a piece of cake with this quiz and activity pack!
6. The Masque of the Red Death
I can remember reading this Edgar Allan Poe tale in high school with incredible clarity. Due to the events of 2020, I believe most students can easily relate to Prince Prospero and his plan to escape a worldwide plague. Follow the Prince from room to room with a focus on teaching setting (description of time and place) or discuss the major themes involving death, wealth, and fear in the midst of difficult times.
Because this story is a bit more difficult in terms of language, you might consider some challenging reading test prep questions or a quick quiz to ensure students completely understand what they have read! You might also consider pairing up this story with other texts that all connect thematically!
7. Click Clack the Rattle Bag
It is true. “Click Clack the Rattle Bag” has become a perennial favorite in most middle and high school classrooms. If you need a quick and easy read for Halloween, Neil Gaiman’s story involving a young man and a boy he is watching really takes the cake! The story is full of suspense, and the ending is both satisfying and mystifying!
You might start with a quick vocabulary preview, introduce an analysis of the plot elements (Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution) for a during-reading activity, and end with a Past the Plot worksheet to help students creatively extend the story.
Visit this page for help with streamlined lesson ideas that will make learning a bit more captivating for your students!
8. The Cask of Amontillado
One of the first short stories about horror I ever read with my freshman students was Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado!” We begin the story with a speaker (Montresor) who is planning the death of Fortunato for an unexplained, yet supposedly valid reason.
As the characters enter the catacombs, the reader is eerily guided towards Fortunato’s death. This story is PERFECT for teaching all 3 types of irony: situational, verbal, and dramatic!
Get this irony organizer to make teaching this tale a seamless endeavor!
9. Lamb to the Slaughter
My absolute favorite director of all time is Alfred Hitchcock. Rear Window, Psycho, To Catch a Thief, and North by Northwest have captivated me since my early twenties, and still today, I find myself watching them anytime they come on. While famous for movie directing, Alfred Hitchcock also created a television show that told episode-length stories every week.
“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl was used in one of Hitchcock’s most famous episodes. A young pregnant wife finds out her husband wants to leave her, and she kills him with a large frozen chunk of lamb. The audience gets to see how she will escape this situation, as one can’t help but sympathize with her, at least to some extent.
Personally, I like to examine the character traits and evidence related to the wife, husband, and detectives. By comparing and contrasting all three, we see how the writer develops the major ideas within the short story!
10. A Vendetta
I will never understand why short stories about horror like A Vendetta are not taught more often. Guy de Maupassant’s classic story illustrates an old mother bent on revenge after her son is killed. She takes her time and trains her dog in order to enact her vengeance. And guess what? She gets away with it!
I mean, who would suspect an old woman of such a dastardly deed? Plus, you could link other texts involving revenge, like “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Lamb to the Slaughter,” in a mini-unit about revenge to make teaching more connected and therefore engaging!
Click here for a revenge unit that includes short stories about horror and vengeance!
SHORT STORIES ABOUT HORROR RESOURCE
Need creepy short stories about horror for upper middle and high school students? This Short Stories About Horror BUNDLE includes lessons, test prep quizzes, and activities for texts like “The Most Dangerous Game,” “The Monkey’s Paw,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Veldt,” “The Lottery,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” “Click Clack the Rattle Bag,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “Lamb to the Slaughter,” & “A Vendetta!”
THE TEST PREP STRUGGLE IS REAL!
One of the things I struggle with the most is preparing my students for all kinds of exams that they will encounter. With this EASY-TO-TEACH SHORT STORIES ABOUT HORROR BUNDLE, you can incorporate reading comprehension passages via classic short stories with your students, so they will feel more confident for state assessments while reading FUN and CHALLENGING literature!
Make teaching short stories about horror with relevant and rigorous activities SIMPLE & EASY!
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