Bite-Sized Nightmares: A Quiz for Horror Short Story Aficionados

Prepare to descend into the shadows of literary terror! Welcome, brave souls, to the Bite-Sized Nightmares: A Quiz for Horror Short Story Aficionados – a chilling journey through the darkest corners of classic tales that have haunted readers for generations.

Do you dare to test your knowledge against 14 spine-tingling questions pulled from the most bone-chilling short stories ever penned? From the gothic horrors of Edgar Allan Poe to the cosmic nightmares of H.P. Lovecraft, from the psychological twists of Shirley Jackson to the supernatural frights of M.R. James – this quiz will challenge even the most devoted horror aficionados.

But beware! Each question is a portal to unspeakable terrors. Will you emerge victorious, proving yourself a master of macabre literature? Or will you be lost in the labyrinth of horror, another victim of these timeless tales?

Steel your nerves, summon your courage, and prepare to face the shadows. The horror awaits… if you dare to turn the page.

Begin the quiz now, and may your wits be sharper than the edge of madness that lurks in every question!

Horror Stories Quiz

1 / 14

Who wrote the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

a) H.P. Lovecraft

b) Edgar Allan Poe

c) Stephen King

d) Shirley Jackson

2 / 14

In "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs, how many wishes does the paw grant?

a) One

b) Two

c) Three

d) Five

3 / 14

Which author wrote "The Call of Cthulhu"?

a) Edgar Allan Poe

b) H.P. Lovecraft

c) Ray Bradbury

d) Algernon Blackwood

4 / 14

What's the name of the house in Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House"?

a) Bly Manor

b) Hill House

c) Usher House

d) Red Rose Cottage

5 / 14

Who wrote the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper"?

a) Charlotte Perkins Gilman

b) Virginia Woolf

c) Emily Dickinson

d) Mary Shelley

6 / 14

In Stephen King's "The Mist", where do the survivors take shelter?

a) A church

b) A supermarket

c) A school

d) A police station

7 / 14

What's the protagonist's name in H.P. Lovecraft's "The Outsider"?

a) It's never mentioned

b) Charles Dexter Ward

c) Randolph Carter

d) Herbert West

8 / 14

In Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt", what type of room causes trouble for the family?

a) Living room

b) Nursery

c) Attic

d) Basement

9 / 14

Who wrote "The Lottery"?

a) Shirley Jackson

b) Flannery O'Connor

c) Joyce Carol Oates

d) Daphne du Maurier

10 / 14

Who wrote the short story "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream"?

a) Philip K. Dick

b) Ray Bradbury

c) Harlan Ellison

d) Isaac Asimov

11 / 14

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," what does Brown discover about his fellow villagers?

a) They're all witches

b) They're planning to overthrow the government

c) They're actually dead

d) They're involved in a secret cult

12 / 14

What is the twist in Roald Dahl's short horror story "Lamb to the Slaughter"?

a) The victim is already dead

b) The murder weapon is eaten by the police

c) The murderer is the victim's child

d) The entire story is a dream

13 / 14

What is the nature of the horror in Richard Matheson's short story "Born of Man and Woman"?

a) A vampire child

b) A ghostly presence

c) A deformed child kept in the basement

d) An alien invasion

14 / 14

What object is central to the plot of M.R. James' "Casting the Runes"?

a) A cursed book

b) A haunted mirror

c) A slip of paper with runes

d) An ancient artifact

Your score is

The average score is 65%

What are you?

100%: Literary Nightmare Weaver – Your knowledge of horror short stories is supernaturally good! You could pen the next classic tale of terror.

80-95%: Master of the Macabre – You’re well-versed in the art of short-form terror. Your stories would send shivers down Poe’s spine.

65-75%: Apprentice of Dread – You know your horror shorts, but there’s room to grow. Keep reading, and soon you’ll be crafting chilling tales of your own.

45-60%: Dabbler in Darkness – You’re on your way to mastering short horror. With more reading, you could turn your campfire stories into publishable frights.

25-40%: Timid Wordsmith – Time to face your literary fears and read more horror shorts. There’s a terrifying tale inside you waiting to be unleashed.

0-20%: Fledgling Frightener – Welcome to the dark side of literature! You have much to learn, but every horror maestro started somewhere. Keep reading those shorts!

Congratulations, brave literary explorer! You’ve survived our gauntlet of horror short story questions, emerging from the shadows with your wits intact. Whether you’ve proven yourself a Literary Nightmare Weaver or a Fledgling Frightener, remember that every master of horror started by turning that first terrifying page. Your journey through the twisted corridors of short-form terror has only just begun.

We thank you for daring to test your knowledge against some of the most chilling tales ever penned. But don’t let your guard down just yet! Stay tuned to our page for more spine-tingling quizzes, horrifying writing prompts, and deep dives into the darkest corners of literature. The world of horror short stories is vast and ever-growing, with new nightmares waiting to be discovered. Keep reading, keep writing, and who knows? Perhaps the next great horror short story will flow from your own pen, sending shivers down the spines of future generations. Leave us a comment and let us know how you did or just tell us what you think of the quiz!

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Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) is the founder of EveryWriter and a 25-year veteran of the publishing industry. With degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology, and Education, Richard has dedicated two decades to teaching writing and literature while championing emerging voices through EveryWriter's platform. His work focuses on making literary analysis accessible to readers at all levels while preserving the rich heritage of American literature. Connect with Richard on Twitter Bluesky Facebook or explore opportunities to share your own work on ourSubmissions page. For monthly insights on writing and publishing, subscribe to our Newsletter.

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