The Terrible Old Man
An elderly man lives in a small coastal town, known for his eccentricity and miserliness. He has a reputation for being cruel to the locals who try to fish near his property. The old man's house is said to be filled with treasures he has collected from around the world. A group of young men, led by a sailor named Joe, decide to break into the old man's house in search of treasure. They are met with resistance and eventually killed by the old man, who uses his knowledge of the sea and its creatures to defend himself. The story is told through the perspective of an unnamed narrator, who describes the events leading up to the attack on the old man's house and the subsequent consequences for Joe and his companions.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1920 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Weird Fiction · 1,252 words
First lines
It was the design of Angelo Ricci and Joe Czanek and Manuel Silva to call on the Terrible Old Man. This old man dwells all alone in a very ancient house on Water Street near the sea, and is reputed to be both exceedingly rich and exceedingly feeble; which forms a situation very attractive to men of the profession of Messrs. Ricci, Czanek, and Silva, for that profession was nothing less dignified than robbery.
What this Textopian page supports
The Terrible Old Man is listed on Textopian as a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: H.P. Lovecraft
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Weird Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural Fiction
- Length: 1,252 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Terrible Old Man by H.P. Lovecraft
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Terrible Old Man?
- How does this short story by H.P. Lovecraft fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The story evokes fear and dread through its supernatural elements and the ominous presence of the old man.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting features an ancient house and themes of decay, isolation, and the uncanny.
- Weird Fiction — The narrative incorporates bizarre and otherworldly elements, characteristic of the genre.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around the unknown motives and fate of the characters involved in the robbery.
Tags
Horror · Short Story · Supernatural Fiction · Weird Fiction · Gothic Fiction · Dark Fantasy · Mystery · Suspense · Psychological Thriller · Old Man · Isolation · Sea Town