Compare how suspense is built up in 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens (1812-1879), and 'The Pit and the Pendulum' by Edgar Allan Poe (1843)

The first 200 words of this essay...

Alex Nash

English Coursework

'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens (1812-1879)

'The Pit and the Pendulum' by Edgar Allan Poe (1843)

In this essay I will be focusing on the comparisons between the two horrific tales, 'The Signalman' written by Charles Dickens and 'The Pit and the Pendulum' written by Edgar Allan Poe, and by looking at these tales, will give me an idea of how suspense is built up.

In the opening paragraph of 'The Signalman', suspense is built up immediately as the sense of sound adds confusion and many rhetorical questions are asked such as, who is calling? Why is he calling? What is he calling about? "Hallo, below there!" suggests this. This adds a lot of trepidation for the reader.

When the signalman looks down to the tunnel, once again a lot of anticipation and puzzlement occurs. It makes the reader think why the signalman looks down to the tunnel, like something imaginary was supposed to be there. Then when a train comes past, the movement and sound are described as. 'A vague vibration in the earth and air'. There is an 'oncoming rush' from