MRW Description, A Haunted House

 

🧠 Pre-Vocabulary Activity: Haunted House Descriptive Essay

Before reading the essay, match each word with its correct definition. Then, try to use each word in your own spooky sentence!

WordDefinition
dilapidatedA. So scary it sends a shiver down your spine
eerieB. To shine with a faint, unsteady light
creakingC. Broken down or in very bad condition
glimmeredD. A strange and mysterious feeling, often causing unease
ominousE. A long, low sound something makes when it moves or is stepped on
shudderF. A trembling movement caused by fear or cold
forebodingG. Giving the feeling that something bad is going to happen
cobwebsH. Spiderwebs, especially old and dusty ones


🕯️ Descriptive Essay: The House at Raven Hollow

At the edge of the forgotten woods stood a dilapidated mansion, hidden beneath a canopy of twisted, lifeless trees. Its once grand exterior was now cloaked in shadows, the paint peeling like dry skin, windows shattered like broken teeth, and ivy crawling up its sides like veins on a corpse.

The iron gate creaked ominously as I pushed it open, its rusted hinges screaming in protest. A chill hung in the air, thick with the scent of mold and rotting wood. Every step I took along the overgrown path made the leaves crunch like dry bones beneath my feet. The house loomed closer, its roof sagging and turrets cracked, as if the structure itself was trying to collapse in on its dark secrets.

The front door stood slightly ajar, swaying gently as if beckoning me in. As I stepped inside, the musty air wrapped around me like a damp cloak. The floorboards creaked with every step, echoing through the hollow space. Faint moonlight glimmered through broken windows, casting shadows that slithered along the walls.

Cobwebs hung like curtains from the ceiling, their delicate threads trembling with the movement of unseen things. An eerie silence filled the space, interrupted only by the occasional groan of the house settling—or perhaps something else moving upstairs.

I paused in the hallway, where the faded wallpaper peeled like old scabs, and a portrait stared back at me with hollow eyes. I felt a sudden shudder crawl down my spine, my breath catching in my throat. There was a presence here, something ancient and watching.

A staircase wound upward into the darkness like a serpent, each step groaning with foreboding as I climbed. At the top, the door to the attic was cracked open, and from within came a faint sound—a whisper, or maybe a sigh. My heart pounded, my fingers trembled.

And then, a voice. Low, cold, and clear: "You shouldn’t be here..."

✅ Multiple Choice Questions – “The House at Raven Hollow”

1. What is the condition of the house at the beginning of the story?

A. Newly renovated and welcoming
B. Clean and quiet
C. Abandoned and falling apart
D. Hidden behind a garden of roses


2. Which of the following words best describes the mood of the essay?

A. Joyful
B. Suspenseful
C. Humorous
D. Romantic


3. What does the word “dilapidated” most likely mean in the sentence: “At the edge of the forgotten woods stood a dilapidated mansion…”?

A. Large and fancy
B. Haunted and magical
C. Old and in poor condition
D. Bright and colorful


4. Which sound effect is mentioned to create a spooky atmosphere?

A. Birds chirping
B. Children laughing
C. Floorboards creaking
D. A clock ticking


5. What does the author use to describe the shadows inside the house?

A. They slither along the walls
B. They dance in the moonlight
C. They shine with brightness
D. They sparkle like stars


6. What does the word “foreboding” suggest in the sentence: “each step groaning with foreboding…”?

A. The stairs are made of metal
B. Something good is about to happen
C. A feeling that something bad might happen
D. The stairs are very strong and sturdy


7. What literary device is used in this line: “ivy crawling up its sides like veins on a corpse”?

A. Alliteration
B. Simile
C. Personification
D. Metaphor


8. How does the narrator feel as they explore the house?

A. Excited and playful
B. Brave and confident
C. Cold and indifferent
D. Nervous and afraid

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