However, he extends his research across cultures through surveys and secondary data to realise that this patterns of subjective experiences are psychological experiences that might be interpreted according to cultural backings but occur regularly. As a result, this has become accepted as the tradition of the people. He realises that the people in Newfoundland experience the Old Hag frequently, and it has become a belief that is spread throughout the island. These subjective experiences come in form of impression of wakefulness, paralysis, accurate perception of surroundings’, and fear. In his province of Newfoundland, Hufford identifies a pattern of subjective experiences that his islanders refer to as the “Old Hag”. However, he uses an experience centred approach where accounts of such experience that result into traditional beliefs have a clear methodology based on empirical data on how they can be explained and ultimately solved. These provide supported explanation for this traditional belief or Old Hag or witch riding. He adopts a methodology based on empirical data collected from many interviews, surveys and questionnaires. In this book, Hufford does not seek to provide physiological, parapsychological or psychological explanations for traditional beliefs.

Moreover, such events mostly occur at night when the subconscious mind takes over from the conscious mind while we are asleep. A lot of activities occur in the subconscious part of our brains that are difficult to explain. The book “The terror that comes in the night,” by David Hufford seeks to emphasize the importance of such events, and their impact on the individual if such problems are not addressed. However, these beliefs have been limited to what can be explained by the human conscious while ignoring crucial events that make a huge proportion of the human experience. Moreover, these sets of beliefs and traditions have compounded to form a formidable culture that has become a point of reference to members of a particular community.

Throughout history, human existence has been grounded on a certain pattern of beliefs and traditions that have guided them in their ever-changing environment. There–enough of that!Īs always, join the conversation in the comments section below, on SSMT Facebook or on Twitter to the Short Story Magic Tricks Monthly Newsletter to get the latest short story news, contests and fun.The Terror That Comes In The Night' By David. He haunts me it is very stupid, but who and what is he? I know that he does not exist except in my cowardly imagination, in my fears, and in my agony. Why, however, am I so persistently possessed with this idea? His feet were close to the fire!

His right arm hanging down and his head inclined to the left like a man who was asleep–I don’t want to think about it! However, it still worries me, because I am constantly thinking of it. I feel that the spectre is there, close to me, around me but it has not appeared to me again.Īnd supposing it did, what would it matter, since I do not believe in it, and know that it is nothing? Since that time I have been afraid of being alone at night. And that’s quite a trick on Maupassant’s part. Even as it twisted into a macabre plot, I didn’t expect such a powerful statement of what it feels like when one is staring down a potential lifetime of loneliness. The feelings of loneliness and fear the story conjures by the end surprised me. And it winds up with sadness – our protagonist is feeling completely alone. It moves quickly into horror – our protagonist is losing his mind, seeing ghosts. It starts with comedy – our protagonist is marrying a woman he’s only just met. “The Terror” evokes three key emotional feelings over the course of its small word count.

Terror by night book summary