Both the Signalman (Charles Dickens) and The Darkness Out There (Penelope Lively) have unexpected endings, compare the way the tension is built up in both stories so that the reader is surprised by the endings.
English Coursework -
Short stories:
Task:
Both the Signalman (Charles Dickens) and The Darkness Out There (Penelope Lively) have unexpected endings, compare the way the tension is built up in both stories so that the reader is surprised by the endings.
In short this essay will discuss the build up of tension in the abovementioned short stories. Tension can be perceived in different ways, for some it may be the anxiousness and unpredictability of the story, for others it may be psychology. The dictionary describes 'tension' as; 'a state of being tense' and 'mental or emotional strain'. 'Tense' in itself means; 'showing anxiety or nervousness'. Therefore, I can surmise that Lively and Dickens hoped to build up the tension by making the reader feel anxious and nervous.
Charles Dickens wrote the Signalman in the 19th century, it is distinctive in as much as it is one of the few short stories written by Dickens. More importantly the 1800s changed English prose unquestionably, Dickens was one of the first authors to experience this time of transformation, which could be classed as a 'literary revolution.' In brief, Dickens writings are arguably the best English literature of all time; his writings are styled with vigour and variety; in a time primarily characterised by rapid change.
On the other hand The Darkness Out there by Penelope Lively is at complete opposites, indeed the language is minimal and unrefined, in order to suit 20th century readers. And although she is a distinguished writer with numerous prizes for her books, her writings could never be fully compared to that of Dickens.
In addition, the concept of Lively's story examines history rather than looking at the present or future. Indeed, World War II features heavily in a lot of Lively's books probably as this event extended through her childhood and she moved to Britain from Egypt ...
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On the other hand The Darkness Out there by Penelope Lively is at complete opposites, indeed the language is minimal and unrefined, in order to suit 20th century readers. And although she is a distinguished writer with numerous prizes for her books, her writings could never be fully compared to that of Dickens.
In addition, the concept of Lively's story examines history rather than looking at the present or future. Indeed, World War II features heavily in a lot of Lively's books probably as this event extended through her childhood and she moved to Britain from Egypt a short time after the war.
Dickens starts his story by immediately describing the signalman in what I believe to be a somewhat sinister and ghostly fashion, for instance he is described as '...a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows' and '...a saturnine face...' In addition the cutting where the signalman works is depicted as '...there was a barbarous depressing and forbidding air...' and '...the perspective one way only a crooked prolongation of this great dungeon...' Instantaneously I feel the signalman has a somewhat ghostlike idiosyncrasy, immediately making the reader think, what is going to happen? and who is this signalman?, hence the reader feels tense.
In contrast Penelope Lively's story begins describing the walk Susie makes to Mrs. Rutters house, the surroundings are portrayed as quaint and very rural, take the opening line for example 'She walked through the flowers, the girl, the ox-eye daisies and vetch and cow parsley, keeping to the track at the edge of the field.' This sounds, in my opinion very rural and picturesque, moreover, there is no tension whosoever.
Dickens then starts a discussion between the leading characters, the reader is suddenly alerted by the fact that the signalman may be an apparition, and I quote, 'The monstrous thought came into my mind ... that this was a spirit, not a man'. This suggests to the reader that the story has a somewhat more supernatural feel and subsequently tension is built up directly. Again the reader is relaxed and the man in conversation with the signalman utters 'I should have set this man down as one of the safest of men to be to be employed in that capacity...' comforting the readers mind. However the tension is again built up take for instance this quote, 'While he was speaking to me he twice broke off with a falling colour'. 'I am troubled sir ... it is very, very difficult to speak of...' at this point the reader feels tense in asking the question, what was difficult to speak of? The signalman then talks through his supernatural encounter, 'I ran right up at it, and had my hand stretched out to pull the sleeve away, then it was gone". The tension is now very strong and a Victorian audience would be engaged in this story, fascinated by its paranormal fundamentals.
On the other hand Lively builds up tension in quite a different style, there are subtle indications that everything is not as it should be, for example the old lady makes somewhat inappropriate references. In addition she is negative about the boy and she points out her husband was killed in the war in a sour tone. Although the approach is quite discrete in The Darkness Out There, tension is built up, using insinuating hints from the old woman.
Once the Signalman is reaching its culmination the tension is very strong the text is styled with verve and events transpire quickly. The climax is when the signalman perishes, just before this point tension is probably strongest as the reader is eager to know the outcome.
Conversely, Lively's story concludes in quite a different way, though the tension is still corresponding in terms of tension. Also the outcome is again unexpected and this is part of the tension, because we, the reader do not envisage the transition from a 'sweet' old lady to 'monstrous' and intimidating, this is particularly true of the character Kerry.
Therefore the way Dickens and Lively build 'tension' is conclusively dissimilar, however in my opinion they both adhere to their targets by creating tension in the build up of the stories. In other words the stories are essentially analogous in so far as they are horrific incidents involving death, unexpected endings and hence, 'tension'.
Furthermore I conclude that the social and historical settings are different; Dickens wrote for a Victorian audience, fascinated by ghosts and the supernatural, who thought themselves moral and upstanding and Christian however induced excitement from the tension built up in such a book. Whereas Penelope Lively was writing for 20th century readers and has a more psychological approach and could be a true story in essence.
Thursday, 28 June 2001
John Kirkpatrick
