In “The Signalman” the narrator is convincing as he is interested in the railways. “… Had a newly awakened interest in theses great works.” His feelings dramatically change in the story, from being happily surprised to be able to see how the Signalman does his work to being shocked and depressed when he finds that the signalman had died. “…the nameless horror that oppressed me.”
The Signalman seems convincing as the narrator describes his actions. “There was something remarkable in his manner of doing so.” Its seems possible that if he is alone for long periods of time he would react strange to somebody calling him when he is doing his work. The narrator also seems convincing as he doesn’t show much emotion because the hauntings have driven him mad. “To the gesticulation he had imitated.”
In ‘The Red Room’ the three custodians do not seem believable as it’s is hard to image them in charge of a castle. The descriptions of the characters doesn’t seem believable even though it still adds to the suspense and atmosphere of the story. “His lower lip, half averted, hung pale and pink from his decaying yellow teeth.”
The narrator seems convincing as he is self confident and cocky. “I will make myself comfortable.” This adds to the suspense of the story as the reader wants to find out about his reactions in the red room if it is haunted.
‘The Signalman’ is structured very driffently to ‘The Red Room’. In ‘The Signalman’ the events involving the spectre are told through the eyes of the Signalman. This still adds suspense as it leaves the reader waiting for the next tragic event to happen on the line.
In ‘The Red Room’ the story is structured so suspense can be built from when the narrator meets the custodians, “The three of them made me feel uncomfortable with their gaunt silences.” To when he reaches the red room and is haunted, “Of my own wild crying as I charted to and through.”
‘The Signalman’ makes the story intriguing to the reader by having all the sightings by the railway line. “I saw someone else standing by the red light near the tunnel.” This builds suspense as the spectre is so near them he could be watching their every move.
In ‘The Red Room’ because the narrator is experiencing the events for himself suspense can be felt through his own feelings and actions. This enhances the atmosphere, compared to ‘The Signalman’ where the mystery is enhanced as the Signalman does not give much away.
In ‘The Signalman’ suspense is added through sections of each story. Each time the Signalman witnesses the spectre it leaves the reader guessing what incident will happen on the line. “Within six hours of the appearance, the memorable accident on this line happened.” This adds suspense as it keeps the reader guessing.
In the opening of ‘The Red Room’ the narrator is in conversation with the custodians. The first line’ “I can assure you, said I, that it will take a very tangible ghost to frighten me.” This encourages the reader to keep reading straight away, as it keeps them guessing where or who this ghost is. The writer gradually develops the story line by introducing the three custodians through description and dialog. “…his decaying yellow teeth” and …theses grotesque custodians.” As they give him information about the red room it becomes clear that the narrator wants to spend the night there. “But if you go to the red room tonight, you go alone.” As the narrator describes his journey to the red room mysterious arise to maintain the interest of the reader. “In which a young duke had died.” The writer leaves theses questions unanswered to add to the suspense and mysterious atmosphere of the red room.
In the opening of ‘The Signalman’ the narrator describes the actions of the Signalman when he try’s to catch his attention. “Halloa! Below there!”, “Instead of looking up…turned himself about , and looked down the line.” This makes the reader wonder why he is looking down the line. The writer develops the storyline by the Signalman telling the narrator about the spectre and the events that happen after its appearance. “I saw the spectre again.” Because of this many puzzles are left to the reader to answer for themselves. Is the spectre a warning or is it causing the deaths on the line by itself.
In “The Red Room” H.G Wells has chosen a castle so he can enhance the atmosphere. Castles are usually cold and dark places so it adds to atmosphere of oppression and neglect. When the three custodians direct the narrator to the red room they give a long set of directions. “Along the passage…come to a door…a spiral staircase…a landing…another door…long corridor…up the steps.” This means that when the narrator gets to the red room he will be far away from the three custodians and safety. This adds to the suspense as he will not be safe. This is typical of a gothic ghost story.
When the narrator walks down the passage to the red room he describes it as a “Chilly, echoing passage.” This creates sound and images for the reader to imagine so it feels like they are there. This adds to the suspense of the story and enhances the atmosphere.
When the narrator is in the red room he describes some of its features. “There were candles in the sockets of the sconces.” This enhances the atmosphere as it doesn’t describe what sconces are, this adds to the ancient feel of the red room.
In “The Signalman” Charles Dickens sets the story by a railway line. Because the railway line is cut off from everything else, it adds to the tension and impression of mystery as only the Signalman is there. The narrator describes the Signalman’s post as “a crooked prolongation of this great dungeon.” This gives the impression his post is closed in along with the hauntings and there is no escaping it. This adds to the suspense as a dungeon can be associated with evil, and could contain a supernatural being. This shows the story is a typical mystery story as a place hardly seen by more than one person can suggest gloominess. When the narrator reaches the Signalman’s post he describes how he felt, “Struck a chill to me.” This adds to the suspense and atmosphere as it seems that he has entered somewhere which is unnatural or different.
There are some similarities between the settings of ‘The Signalman’ and ‘The Red Room.’ They are both set in cold and dark places. Theses factors contribute to the atmosphere of setting suggesting oppression and neglect. This makes it easier for the reader to imagine a mysterious and unnatural setting; this contributes to the suspense of the settings.
Effective use of language is used to enhance atmosphere in ‘The Red Room’ by describing the old custodians. “Hung pale and pink from his decaying yellow teeth.” This helps the reader imagine someone who looks grotest which adds to the atmosphere as it suggests they are also evil. The narrator describes the custodians interactions, “There gaunt silences.” This adds to the atmosphere as it shows they are trying to unease the narrator, this enhances the atmosphere as it leaves the reader wondering why they are trying to unease him. The narrator describes there sciences as “pallid silences,” this adds to the atmosphere as it is impossible to have pallid silences. The narrator describes a mirror he sees as “the queer old mirror.” This adds to the atmosphere as the mirror makes him looked ill formed just like the three old custodians. One of the old custodians gives the narrator a warning. “This nights of all nights.” This adds suspense and enhances the atmosphere as it uses repetition and leaves the reader with a question, why this night of all nights.
Effective use of language is used to enhance atmosphere in ‘The Signalman.’
The description of the Signalman enhances the atmosphere as it describes him as being alert. “Attitude of such expectation and watchfulness.” It leaves a question to the reader about why he is so alert about the narrator’s presence and maybe he is hiding something. The narrator describes the entrance to the rail way tunnel as, “…the gloomier entrance to a black tunnel, in whose massive architecture there was a barbarous, depressing and forbidining air.” The word ‘barbarous’ means that it could be an uncivilized place which is neglected. This increases the atmosphere as it makes the place seem unnatural. The Signalman repeats the phrase, “For Gods sake clear the way.” This adds to the atmosphere because each time the phrase is said something will happen to increase the suspense.
In ‘The Speckled Band’ the setting and atmosphere make it an effective mystery story through description. When Holmes is at the house of the murder he describes it as “…was a grey, lickenblotched stone, with a high central portion and two carring wings, like claws of a crab…” This enhances the atmosphere as the metaphor, “claws of a crab” make the house seem evil and unnatural. When Holmes meets Dr Grimesby Roylott he describes him by saying. “A large faced, scared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow” This makes him seem evil and slow. This enhances the atmosphere as it leaves the reader wondering what he will say to Holmes.
Suspense is created by using words such as “…deadly pale filled with horror.” This adds to the suspense as it describes a person who has just been killed. The phrase “light revealed it to the victim” adds suspense as it shows that someone has died during the night and has only been discovered in daylight. Theses factors make it an effective mystery story.
The writers Create mystery in ‘The Red Room’, ‘The Signalman’ and ‘The Speckled Band’ by considering viewpoint, structure, suspense, description, setting and atmosphere. In ‘The Red Room’ the setting is a castle, gloominess is suggested by the cold and dark, contributing to the atmosphere of oppression and neglect. In ‘The Signalman’ descriptive words are used such as, “barbarous, depressing and forbidding air.” Theses a suspense to keep the reader reading.