Compare how mystery and suspence and created in 'The Signalman' and 'The Monkey's Paw'-which text do you think is most effective and why?
The uses of imagery and diction contribute to the mystery and suspense in a story. Whereas in motion pictures mystery and suspense are potrayed using other factors such as sounds, visual effects and other components that the viewer may understand that the characters dont. This builds up a lot of tension for the viewer because they feel the need to inform the character in the scene. Each story uses mystery and suspense and conveys them in differant ways. Even though 'The Monkey's Paw' contains a lot of mystery and suspense it reveals much more information than 'The Signalman' does which decreases the level of tension. Whereas in 'The Signalman' less information is given out which enhances the tension because the reader wants to know more.
In the Monkey's Paw the atmosphere in the beginning is typical to that of a horror story: "Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour Laburnum Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly". Many stories leave it up to the weather to set the scene and that is shown in the Monkey's paw the Imagery and the weather helps the reader set the scene for themselves using their imagination. The villa itself is located in an isolated area: " Thats the worst of living so far out' bawled Mr White...i suppose because only two houses in the road are let, they think it doesnt matter." This increases the level of mystery and tension as if anything were to occur they'd have no where to escape to. Isolation is a common cliche in horror stories.
'The Signalman' is located in a cutting with a groggy, damp and presispitous atmosphere. : "the cutting was extremely deep, and ususally precipitous it was made through a clammy stone."
