|
People have been telling ghost stories as far back in recorded history as we can trace. Whether those stories are meant to be read as fact or fiction is often unclear, but that hasn’t keep many people from genuinely believing in them. Haunted houses are almost everywhere. The belief that the dead can haunt the living seems to weave its way through most, if not all, cultures on earth. Let’s take a look at some famous ghost stories and haunted houses, both in literature and in real life!
Literature, both good and bad, is rife with ghosts and hauntings. In one example, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, the potential haunting is written as a psychological thriller. The reader doesn’t know if the ghosts are real, or if they are solely in the mind of the protagonist. This uncertainty is what makes The Turn of the Screw, and many other ghost stories, so terrifying. Rather than telling the reader what is so scary, the author leaves it up to the reader’s imagination (which can be a pretty scary place!). Another famous haunted tale is the “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe, the master of the macabre. This story tells the tale of a sentient house that controls those living within it. Poe is famous for his spooky settings and melodramatic prose, and this tale is no exception. Outside of literature, ghosts and their haunted homes have been chronicled throughout history. One of the most famous in the United States is the Bell Witch-- a ghost thought to haunt the family of John Bell, between 1817 and 1821, in Adams, Tennessee. Allegedly, the “witch” in question was actually a poltergeist: a noisy and often violent ghost. It would allegedly throw things at family members, make nasty comments to them, and otherwise make their lives miserable. The Bell Witch was allegedly able to haunt beyond the Bell home, which has long been torn down. It would often bedevil Bell family members as they worked in the fields and other places. There is even a Bell Witch museum in Adams, Tennessee, devoted to what is said to be one of the most documented hauntings of all time. Are there really ghosts? Are haunted houses real? That depends on who you ask, and what you believe. Endless stories and articles have explored ghosts and the places they allegedly haunt. You may even have your own experiences or ghost stories. Whether these tales are true or simply in a person’s imagination, they are a powerful and important part of cultures all around the world. And, let’s be real-- they’re also a lot of fun to tell! |
|
GLOSSARY
Edgar Allan Poe a 19th century writer famous for his suspenseful and horror-style short stories.
Henry James a 19th century writer acclaimed for such Modern-style novels like The Turn of the Screw and Daisy Miller.
Poltergeist a ghost or supernatural being supposedly responsible for strange noises or moving objects.
Protagonist the lead character-- usually hero or anti-hero-- of a story.
Sentient a living creature capable of perceiving the world or feeling.
Henry James a 19th century writer acclaimed for such Modern-style novels like The Turn of the Screw and Daisy Miller.
Poltergeist a ghost or supernatural being supposedly responsible for strange noises or moving objects.
Protagonist the lead character-- usually hero or anti-hero-- of a story.
Sentient a living creature capable of perceiving the world or feeling.
