A Haunted House

Many haunted house stories usually contain a creepy setting, a house in the middle of nowhere, and of course a group of mislead teenagers. Nowadays haunted house stories are so predictable it makes the story boring. But not in The Fall of the House of Usher. Edgar Allen Poe uses many tactics to make his story eerie and full of mystery. In order to make a great haunted house story I would surely copy some of his tactics.

I would like to copy the detailed imagery that Poe uses. Personally, imagery is what defines a good haunted house. Without imagery a story would be dull. "Black and lurid tarn that lay in unruffled luster by the dwelling." This kind of description not only gives the reader a picture but it creates a sense of gloom.

 Like most haunted house stories, the setting is used to inform the reader of where and when the story is taking place. "During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens." The description that Poe uses surely does establish the dark and creepy setting I could use in my story. So tactic one is down and ready to use.

Now, who wouldn't love having their significant other coming back from the grave? Roderick would. I would definitely use this tool in my story. The coming back from the dead just adds more dark spice to the story and sure is a thriller.

Lets not forget the mood. Ooooo. Poe's mood in the story is totally a must have. What haunted house story would be complete without a chilly, eerie, and dark mood to tie everything in? Like the setting, the mood is everything.

All of these are some tactics that I would use to write my haunted house story.