How characteristic are 'The Signalman' and 'The Red Room' of the nineteenth century ghost stories

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How characteristic are 'The Signalman' and 'The Red Room' of the nineteenth century ghost stories?

There are many characteristics that help to make up a typical nineteenth century ghost story. During this essay certain aspects will be discussed to find out if 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens and 'The Red Room' by H.G. Wells contain the elements that constitute a ghost story.

The main elements of a typical ghost story include the stereotypical aspects such as distortion of light to create shadow, isolation, and fear as well as emotive imagery, the inclusion of a non-believer/believer and having a suitable ending e.g. a twist. All these elements add to the tension and overall atmosphere of a nineteenth century ghost story.

The first element that will be touched upon is the addition of the conventional features of a ghost story. These can include candles, moonlight, firelight, shadows and darkness. The distortion of light is a very effective way to create shadow, thus creating tension. In 'The Red Room' 'the moonlight...picked out everything in vivid black shadow or silvery illumination' which generates uncertainty and creates the illusion of 'the black shadow [springing] back to its place', which, in itself,