Comparing The Signalman and The Darkness Out There

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Ryan Smith                                                                         3.1.02

Comparing The Signalman and The Darkness Out There

Language

The language that Charles Dickens applies to The Signalman is a complete contrast to the language used in The Darkness Out There.  In The Signalman the language is very old fashioned and rather formal.  Whereas, the language used in The Darkness Out There is very modern and in most cases casual.

A few examples of the language used  in The Signalman

. “Halloa below there.”

. “One would have thought.”

. “I was never there, may you swear it?”

A few examples of the language used in The Darkness Out There

. “I didn’t know you were in The Good Neighbours Club.”

. “Not that you’d put it quite like that yourself.”

. “A nice style.  I expect your mum made it, did she?”

Just from the two sets of examples shown above, you can already see that we are dealing with two types of language, one: 19th century Victorian language and two: 20th century modern language.

Atmosphere and Setting

Although the language used in The Signalman is completely different to the language used in The Darkness Out There, both of the stories have similar settings that conjur up the same sort of atmosphere.  For example:

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The Railway Cutting and Packer’s End

Both the Railway Cutting and Packer’s End are similar settings because they are both haunted and feared places.  The Railway Cutting and Packer’s End also create alike atmospheres which are sinister, dark and menacing.  This is because: the Railway Cutting is described as ugly, dark; ominous a scar on the countryside and the weather there is daunting and gloomy.  Like the Railway Cutting Packer’s End is also pictured as dark and evil because it has a reputation of being haunted, there are many stories about Packer’s End which include tails of ...

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