Blog 1: What Makes a Good Ghost Story?

The story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, makes a good ghost story because of the imagery that is included. The story uses descriptive words like “weakly” and “ghastly” to express their points throughout the story. This story allows you to picture the story in your head while reading. For example the short story states , “ There was no door, no window; and no light or fire burned; yet a river of light flowed through it, filling it with a horrible, ghastly brightness.” In this example we can picture the room that the characters are in at that moment. The room is described as bright, but nothing in the room to display that light that they are shown. Along with that, “The Monkey’s Paw”, another short story is good as well. In this story it is shown through sequence of events. For instance the story says, “ They dirty, dried-up little paw was thrown on the cabinet with a carelessness which indicated no great belief in what good it could do… ‘ I – was asked to call, ‘ he said at last, and bent down and picked a piece of cotton from his trousers. ‘ I come from Maw and Meggins.’ The old lady jumped suddenly, as in alarm, ‘ Is anything the matter?’ she asked breathlessly. ‘Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?’…. ‘ He was caught in the machinery,’ said the visitor at length in a low voice.” In this example, it is shown that the monkey’s paw is thrown without care on a cabinet. Not long after that a stranger shows up at the house and gives the family the news that Herbert was injured badly in a machinery accident. This proves that the sequence of events is powerful here because it shows that the monkey’s paw really did have good luck, like the legend said it did. In conclusion, these two stories using imagery and sequence of events make great ghost stories.

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The stories “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe, make good ghost stories. As the author is telling the stories, they set a “hair-raising” tone by creating suspense and describing an eerie and gloomy setting. In the story, “The Monkey’s Paw” the author helps give an eerie feel by setting in a suspenseful/ uncertain situation. An example is in the text “The Monkey’s Paw” it states, “But her husband was on his hands and knees feeling around wildly on the floor in search of the paw. If only he could find it before the thing outside got in. The knocks came very quickly now echoing through the house, and he heard the noise of his wife moving a chair and putting it down against the door. He heard the movement of the lock as she began to open it, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically breathed his third and final wish. The knocking stopped suddenly, although the echoes of it were still in the house. He heard the chair pulled back, and the door opened. A cold wind blew up the staircase, and a long loud cry disappointment and pain from his wife gave him the courage to run down to her side, and then to the gate. The streetlight opposite shone on a quiet and deserted road.” The author builds a suspenseful tone by having a fast paste scene, by describing a fast knocking on the door, the author also gives a sense of nervousness from Mr.White by describing how he is frantically looking for the paw.

The story, “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe gives an eerie and gloomy feel to the story by giving a descriptive idea of the Usher house. The text “The Fall of the House of Usher” states “I looked at the scene before me-at the house itself-at the ground around it-at the cold stone walls of the building-at its empty eye-like windows-and at a few dead trees- I looked at this scene, I say, with a complete sadness of soul which was no healthy, earthly feeling. There was a coldness, a sickening of the heart, in which I discovered nothing to lighten the weight I felt. What was it, I asked myself, what was it that was so fearful, so frightening in my view of the house of Usher?” The author Edgar Allan Poe helps build suspense by describing his view/thought of the house upon first seeing it. The author uses words like fearful, coldness, and sickening. Edgar Allan Poe also builds an internal conflict with the character Roderick Usher which also makes the story a good ghost story. The author does this by having the character deal with an illness which makes him believe that the Usher house has a strong hold on his soul. This illness also messes with his vision, hearing, and sense of smell. Which messes with his character and makes him paranoid. .

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Part one- The Monkey’s paw: This story makes a good ghost story through the use of characterization to develop the theme. it says in the text when the soldier tells the man that when people interfere with their fate they also do so to their sorrow, it is part of the theme. Characterization develops this idea when the story portrays all the characters as being greedy and wanting their hearts desire that will make their life better. They didn’t look at the other side of things where the guy warned them that it was a curse to take the monkey’s paw. This also converts to the theme where they say that when you interfere with your fate you also interfere with your sorrow. Also a part of this is that the woman wanted more from her life and didn’t look at the joys that she already had. Part two- The Fall of the House of Usher: this makes a good ghost story because of the use of mystery or suspense. It first creates the suspense by saying that when the boy had arrived to help the family that he felt something strange or mysterious about the house. Going back to the question that says what makes a good ghost story, there is the part that all ghost stories that is mystery. All of the short stories have that using characterization, imagery, and mystery or suspense. The text states “What was it, I asked myself, what was it that was so fearful, so frightening in my view of the house of Usher?” This is also part of the story when suspense comes out. You don’t know what is going to happen and but you know it isn’t going to go well, and this makes a great ghost story

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“The Fall of the House of Usher”and “The Monkey’s Paw” both make a good ghost story by creating suspense and imagery. “The Fall of the House of Usher” states,” Roderick Usher, whom I had known as a boy, was now ill and had asked me to come help him. When I arrived I felt something strange and fearful about the great old stone house, about the lake in front of it, and about Usher himself.” This quote creates suspense by making a gloomy setting/plot and making things feel like there different than they were. “The Monkey’s Paw” states, “And has anybody else wished?” continued the old lady. “The first man had his three wishes. Yes,” was the reply,” I don’t know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That’s how I got the paw.” This creates suspense because it makes the reader want to know what the first two wishes were and why he chose the third one. Also “The Monkey’s Paw” says, “He heard the movement of the lock as she began to open it, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s Paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.” This quote creates suspense because it doesn’t automatically tell the reader what’s happening but it pull them in making them need to read on to find out what happens. The suspense makes the the plot come to motion to makes it excel the storyline, and makes the reader intrigued to carry on throughout the story.

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One of the short stories I have chosen that makes a good ghost story is The Fall of the House of the Usher. This makes a fantastic story because right from the beginning it sucks you in by taking place in such a creepy, strange setting. It is interesting when he is describing how dark and sad the house looks from on top of his horse he is riding. The story says it has little life or beauty. You immediately want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen in such a place. You have to know what is inside! Also, his friend that sends him the letter makes you so curious to see what is wrong with him. What is his mysterious sickness of the mind, as he calls it? There are just so many questions that keeps you wondering. The suspense of it all, including the sister in the vault, is what made it a good ghost story for me. That and the disturbing behavior of the people in the house. I couldn’t imagine living my life like that!

In addition to The Fall of the House of the Usher, I also read The Monkey’s Paw. The reason that it makes a great ghost story is because it is also suspenseful. The setting makes it feel uneasy and eerie because the soldier describes it as being something that you really don’t want around. Another thing I found shocking was the one man’s third wish that was for death. It really makes you wonder how bad the Paw effected him. The paw was so frightening that one person even threw it into the fire because he didn’t want anyone else to have to deal with it. However, the worst thing about the paw was how it could be used for someone who was no longer alive. Bringing their son back from the dead and not knowing how he was going to behave towards them was very scary. It was so frightening that they were scared of their own son!

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The two stories “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” both make good ghost stories because they use imagery, suspense. “The Monkey’s Paw” states, “Outside, the night was cold and wet, but in the small living room the curtains were closed and the fire burned brightly.” and “ The dirty, dried-up little paw was thrown on the cabinet with a carelessness which indicated no great belief in what good it could do.” Thees quotes use imagery to help create the visual image of “spooky” and “alarmed” in the reader’s mind while they read the story which may make the reader feel “spooked” and “cautious” when they were alone in the house,. “The monkeys paw” also states, “‘THE PAW!’ she cried wildly. ‘THE MONKEY’S PAW! ’He started up in alarm. ‘Where? Where is it? What’s the matter?’”. This quote creates suspense by making the reader wonder why the women was crying wildly for the paw and why it mattered so much at the time. “The Fall of the House of Usher” states, “ I looked at the scene before me — at the house itself — at the ground around it — at the cold stone walls of the building — at its empty eye-like windows—and at a few dead tree”. This quote shows the use of imagery by describing the setting of where the story takes place creating a visual image of “sad ” and “ spooky” while the boy was looking at the house. “The Fall of the House of Usher” also states, “She is coming — coming to ask why I put her there too soon. I hear her footsteps on the stairs. I hear the heavy beating of her heart.” Here he jumped up and cried as if he were giving up his soul: “I TELL YOU, SHE NOW STANDS AT THE DOOR!! ”. This quote creates suspense by making the reader wonder what’s going to happen next, and is it really her?

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The two stories “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” and “ To be Taken with a Grain of Salt” both make great ghost stories using characterization, suspense, and imagery. In “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” it states,”As Ichabod approached this fearful tree, he began to whistle; he thought his whistle was answered—it was but a blast sweeping sharply through the dry branches.” This quote creates a type of suspense because he’s traveling on a road by himself at midnight after hearing all of these ghost stories that had happened right where he was approaching. So in spite of Ichabod’s fear he starts to whistle to himself to calm his nerves but hears someone else in the making, but he doesn’t know who, or where that person might be. That gives the reader crazy nerves and suspense while reading because they don’t know what is going to happen they can only assume that bad things are going to happen in the mere future for Ichabod. This quote also shows characterization because it describes the tree as fearful, and in some sorts scary. The author had great word choice too like instead of putting fearful noise echoing through the woods he wrote”a blast sweeping sharply through the dry branches.” he doesn’t just give a puny description he gives a full on suspense packed phrase on one noise in the distance. “To be Taken with a Grain of Salt” says,” My servant’s back was towards that door. While I was speaking to him I saw it open, and a man look in, who very earnestly and mysteriously beckoned to me. That man was the man who had gone second of the two along Piccadilly, and whose face was of the colour of impure wax.” This quote helps make a good ghost story because it creates suspense in the reader because no one knows who this man is that walked into his room very silently without saying a word. The suspense continues throughout the story because you don’t know who this character is and why he is doing what he is doing. It also creates foreshadowing for later on because this mystery man shows back up when the man is beckoned to serve on the jury for a murder trial. Come to find out the mystery man was the victim of the murder and wants the murderer to get what he deserves.-Anna Wills

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“The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” both make great ghost stories because of their use of suspense and imagery. “The Monkey’s Paw” states, “She was watching the mysterious movements of a man outside, who, looking in an undecided fashion at the house, appeared to be trying to make up his mind to enter. In mental connection with the two hundred pounds, she noticed that the stranger was well dressed, and wore a silk hat of shiny newness. Three times he stopped briefly at the gate, and then walked on again. The fourth time he stood with his hand upon it, and then with sudden firmness of mind pushed it open and walked up the path.” In this quote the author uses words such as “The fourth time he stood with his hand upon it, and then with a sudden firmness of mind pushed it open and walked up the path.” to provide the feeling of uneasiness and wonder that both the wife and mysterious man felt waiting for the other to react and make a decision. In “The Fall of the House of Usher” it provides “The great door to which he was pointing now slowly opened. It was the work of the rushing wind, perhaps — but no — outside that door a shape did stand, the tall figure, in its grave-clothes, of the lady Madeline of Usher.” The author uses imagery to provide a feeling of mystery and added suspense to make the reader want to keep reading.

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Kendra Johnson- What is considered a good ghost relies on many qualities. However, what is most important in a good ghost story is suspense and characterization. Both of these are greatly shown in “The Monkey’s Paw” and “To Be Taken With a Grain of Salt.” In “The Monkey’s Paw,” it says, “The knocks came very quickly now echoing through the house, and he heard the noise of his wife moving a chair and putting it down against the door. He heard the movement of the lock as she began to open it, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.” In this quote, it shows the suspense in the story. It drags out the moment, gives it a creepy tone, and leaves the reader to wonder. The reader will have to read on, wanting to know what his third wish could be and what is truly on the other side of the door and the consequences of the wishes. It adds suspense throughout the story, making the story a good ghost story. In addition to this, “To Be Taken With a Grain of Salt,” says, “It stood for a few moments by the bedside of each of my eleven brother-jurymen, close to the pillow. It always went to the right-hand side of the bed, and always passed out crossing the foot of the next bed. It seemed from the action of the head, merely to look down pensively at each recumbent figure… It seemed to go out where the moonlight came in, through a high window, as by an aërial flight of stairs.” This quote shows the indirect characterization used to create a good ghost story. It gives the reader an uneasy vibe, without directly saying who this character is or anything about the character, merely describing the actions of the character. It also adds on to the suspense. What could this character want, why is he doing this, etc. This is what makes a good ghost story, suspense and characterization, as both help guide the story and leave the reader wanting more.

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What makes a good ghost
Emily palmer- Monkey Paws and The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow make good ghost stories because They both contain figurative language which makes the stories more suspenseful. Evidence from the passage The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow is “The rider moves like a whirlwind and becomes a goblin rising in his stirrups.” This figurative language makes the story more suspenseful because it is describing the man’s point of view on seeing the headless horseman for the first time, making the story more interesting and creating suspense for what’s going to happen next.
The story Monkey Paws also has figurative language that keeps the story suspenseful such as “it twisted in my hand like a snake.” This piece of figurative language makes the story more suspenseful because it’s giving us a visual by using a snake to convey the overall meaning of what the author is trying to tell us. Making the story more interesting and makes the reader want to figure out what’s going to happen next.

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What makes “The Monkey’s Paw” and “Legends of Sleepy Hallow” good ghost stories is the sequence of events that creates suspense for the reader. The passage states “He heard the movement of the lock as she began to open it, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish.” Suspense is created in this quote by dragging out that moment, but not letting the reader know what happens next. Most readers would want to read on, to figure out what happens next, and come to find the next sequence of events. Also, this quote shows the author’s word choice in the story, and provides better imagery with what’s going on in the story. Such as this phrase, “frantically breathes his third and last wish”, shows Mr. White was saying this hurriedly. In “Legend of Sleepy Hallow”, it states, “Certain it is, the place still continues under the sway of some witching power, that holds a spell over the minds of the good people, causing them to walk in a continual reverie.” Suspense is created in this quote by making you wonder what the “witching power” is and why does it get a hold of good peoples minds. The suspense in this story makes you anxious to know what happens next, and so you have a sudden urge to continue, and read on. Both of these stories are great ghost stories, because they use suspense, and try to get you to read on and on and on.

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One story that made a good ghost story was “ The Monkey’s Paw ”. It was a good ghost story because it used very good imagery when describing the over weighted chair being dragged by Ms. White to open the door thought to be her dead son. It also described characterization by showing how the mother will even risk it all just to get her son back from the dead, even if it means putting her own life in danger. The sequence of events develops to the development of the theme because when Mr. White wished for 200lbs. And they received it after having to sacrifice something of their own, their son. This is supported by the following,” ‘You’re afraid of your own son,’ she cried struggling. ‘Let me go. I’m coming, Herbert; I’m coming.’” This shows how Ms. White went from being almost carefree to becoming very desperate to bring her son Herbert back and failing miserably. Another story that makes a good ghost story would be “The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow” because the story keeps developing more of its creepy aspects as you get to the main point or problem. And this helps the reader interpret the fact the town has a spooky and creeping tone to it, and that the main character meets the creature during the part of the story where it has the most interest and purpose of the reading. This provides a clear look of what the town is full of such as mysterious creatures. The author uses the unknown to lure the reader and give them a scare to leave them upon a cliff and there hanging waiting for the climax to hit.

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“The Monkey’s Paw” and “To be Taken with a Grain of Salt” make good ghosts stories because they use imagery and the sequence of events to give the story that creepy, ghost story feeling. “The Monkey’s Paw” is set up to be creepy from the very beginning, just from using imagery. Mr. White describes, “Of all the wet, isolated places this is the worst. The path is a bog and the road’s a river, but I suppose people don’t care because only two houses in the road are occupied.” By describing this setting to us, we imagine this setting in our minds and instantly get that “spooky” feeling that good ghost stories give off. Another reason why “The Monkey’s Paw” is a good ghost story is because of the way William Jacobs sequenced events. Sergeant Major Morris was trying to tell Mr. White from the beginning that the Monkey’s Paw was not everything he thought it was, but Mr. White would not listen. Mr. White continued to make a wish, after being told that it was just to show that fate ruined people’s lives. And later Mr. White found out what that meant.. “To be Taken with a Grain of Salt” has a very good sequence that develop the story into a ghost story. One good example of this is when the story says, “While I was speaking to him I saw it open, and a man look in, who very earnestly and mysteriously beckoned to me.” Another reason why this shows a part from a good ghost story is the imagery it’s creating and the usage of words. These are just a few reasons why these stories make good ghost stories.

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what makes a good ghost story to me is it has to be suspenseful because if not it just makes the story boring. In The Monkeys Paw it had someone knock on the door and the family opened the door but no one was at the door. Now if there was someone at the door, it would be a normal story with one of the family members opening the door, but there was no one at the door. So that makes us wonder about who knocked on the door.

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