The Best Horror Stories of History
These stories have many types of villain, from a little murderous hand and misfortunate black cat to enormous demonic beasts and cosmic gods, but often the villain is only there to tease out the real horror. Perhaps it is our hero’s guilt over his past, or a weakness that he is desperately trying to hide, something which the villain serves as an unavoidable reminder of.
The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs is the origin of the notorious talisman itself. This granter of tainted wishes has taken on a mythos of its own, and everyone knows its rule: ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ A man gifts a family with a strange artefact, but tells them of the tragic ending of its last owner. Ignoring the warning, the family asks for wealth immediately and pay the price the very next day.
The Hound is a prime example of karma manifested in a horror villain. The story follows a straightforward plot, but is fantastically executed by the dastardly Lovecraft. Two graverobbers are chased by a panting and growling monstrosity after messing with the wrong corpse.
In The Black Cat, Edgar Allan Poe masters the sense of paranoia and omens of bad luck. A man suspects his wife’s adopted black cat to be the source of all his almost paranormal bad luck. In desperation, he resolves to take the beast out by whatever means necessary.
https://www.libraryofshortstories.com/collection/horror
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIFkut11Xpc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2s59Kug2u4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-vyBhEK36o
This exercise is based on the information provided in the video "Halloween History" by National Geographic [
Halloween History Comprehension Exercise
I. True or False Questions (10 points)
Determine whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) based on the video.
Halloween's roots date back to a people called the Celts. _____
The Celts celebrated the end of the harvest season on November 1st. _____
The Celtic festival of Samhain was considered a time when the veil between death and life was supposed to be at its thinnest. _____
Villagers lit huge bonfires on Samhain to attract spirits and ghosts. _____
The Catholic Church began to merge the pagan rituals of Samhain with a church-sanctioned holiday in the 19th century. _____
All Saints Day was designated on November 1st to honor martyrs and the deceased faithful. _____
The English translation of the word "hallow" is roughly "scary." _____
The holiday customs were brought to America by Irish immigrants during the Potato Famine of the 1840s. _____
Trick-or-treating originated in America as a non-violent, organized charity event. _____
In the 1930s, the tradition of harmless tricks eventually grew into outright vandalism. _____
II. Comprehension Questions (5 points)
Answer the following questions based on the video:
What was the name of the Celtic festival that marked the end of the harvest season and the Celtic New Year?
When did the Catholic Church first designate November 1st as All Saints Day?
According to the video, what was the calculated move on the part of the Church in merging the pagan and Christian holidays?
What two specific customs did Irish immigrants bring with them to America?
How was "trick-or-treating" originally described before it became an established holiday greeting?
III. Fill in the Gaps (5 points)
Complete the following sentences with the missing information from the video.
Halloween is a _____________ holiday stitched together with cultural, religious, and occult traditions that span centuries.
On Samhain, the ghost of the _____________ walked the Earth.
The night before All Saints Day was All Hallow's Eve, which gradually morphed into _____________.
All Saints Day had to do with the afterlife and about _____________ after death.
By the late 1930s, storekeepers and neighbors began giving treats or _____________ to stop the tricks and troublemaking.
IV. Multiple Choice Questions (5 points)
Choose the best answer for each question.
What does the word "hallow" in All Hallows Day mean? a) Scary b) Holy or saintly c) New Year d) Ghostly
The Celts' festival of Samhain was celebrated on which date? a) October 18th b) October 31st c) November 1st d) December 31st
According to the video, the tradition of harmless tricks grew into outright vandalism by which decade? a) The 1840s b) The 1930s c) The 1950s d) The 2000s
Which group of people brought the original Halloween customs to America? a) English Settlers b) Scottish Traders c) German Artisans d) Irish Immigrants
What was one of the early customs brought to America by the immigrants? a) Carving pumpkins b) Trick-or-treating c) Bobbing for apples d) Watching scary movies
