How do the authors of 'The DarknessOut There' and 'The Signalman' create a sense of fear and suspense in theirshort stories?
How do the authors of 'The Darkness Out There' and 'The Signalman' create a sense of fear and suspense in their short stories?
There are a number of methods in which 'The Darkness Out There' and the 'Signalman' create a sense of fear and suspense. In this essay I will be comparing these two stories, and also showing ways in which they contrast, thus creating a clear understanding of the different techniques used by both authors. The storyline of both stories are by no means similar, although clever comparisons and juxtapositions used in each create links between one and other. There are a number of subjects that the authors use to create these senses, and they can be categorised to show clearly how each one is affecting the atmosphere of the stories. The different subjects I will be discussing are the setting of both stories, describing the scenery of each in detail and comparing to similarities in the other story. The characterisation of the main characters in each, bring to light the first impressions of the signalman, and comparing it to the shrouded persona of Mrs Rutter in 'The Darkness Out There'. Also, the imminent use of death in both stories, and how it immediately strikes fear into the reader. I will also be analysing the structure of each story, and how it can add to the eerie atmosphere present. Finally I will be discussing how each author uses language techniques and different genres to build up a strong sense of suspense and fear in the reader. The first of these issues I will be discussing will be the setting of both stories, and how this can create fear and suspense within them.
In the Signalman, the protagonist immediately dives into a world of sullen, morbidness; almost bring a dungeon-like appearance into mind. The immediate entrance into the story takes the reader into a rather ambiguous state of mind; it is impossible to predict what will happen next. The setting plays a big part in creating this atmosphere, and in a sense it is the backbone of the entire story.
Techniques such as pathetic fallacy are used to describe the most trivial of everyday objects.
"So steeped in the glow of an angry sunset."
This use of pathetic fallacy not only relates to the setting of the sun being that of a strong, energy draining evil, it also creates a dense cloak of a anger and hatred, that of which the entire setting, the character of the signalman and the protagonist are amidst.
Description such as a "dripping wet wall of jagged stone" provides a significant insight into the setting of the Signalman, and this insight is pivotal in understanding and feeling the trouble that the signalman is succumbed to when he encounters the spectre.
The use of over emphasising something to show its significance is also relevant in 'The Signalman'.
"In whose massive architecture there was a barbarous, depressing and forbidding air. It struck a chill to me, as if I had left the natural world."
In this quotation the embankment is described with worlds that would most certainly not usually be used to describe a normal mouth of a tunnel; this immediately shows that all is not well about this tunnel, and this represents a certain symbolism that the mouth of the tunnel could be the gateway to another ...
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The use of over emphasising something to show its significance is also relevant in 'The Signalman'.
"In whose massive architecture there was a barbarous, depressing and forbidding air. It struck a chill to me, as if I had left the natural world."
In this quotation the embankment is described with worlds that would most certainly not usually be used to describe a normal mouth of a tunnel; this immediately shows that all is not well about this tunnel, and this represents a certain symbolism that the mouth of the tunnel could be the gateway to another world, such as hell. The words 'barbarous, depressing and forbidding' cannot cease but to strike an immediate chill into the reader, unmistakably described as though it was a heinous, hellish place. The statement "As if I had left the natural world" also bares much significance. It also talks about the setting as if it was from a different world, soliciting a supernatural entity, even before the spectre has first appeared.
In 'The Darkness Out There' the setting plays an equally immanent part in creating fear and suspense within the story, making it more dramatised and much more interesting to read. The immediate quote "She walked through flowers, the girl, ox-eye daisies and vetch and cow parsley, keeping to the track at the edge of the field." Is very much juxtaposition between itself and the title, 'The Darkness Out There'. The words 'Ox-eye daisies' and 'Vetch' and 'Cow parsley' bring a rather pleasant scenery into mind, luring the reader into a false sense of security; these words are not the kind that would usually be used to open a chilling, fear enticing story. These words in no way reflect the title, which is suitable for the dark secrets that are revealed in this story.
Moody, dark words in 'The Darkness Out There' create an unmistakable sense of fear and suspense when used to describe the setting.
"Crumbling rusty scraps of metal and cloth and ... bones?"
This quote is a typical quote which has immense power in filling the reader with fear and suspense. The dark, eerie description of the setting can change a mood very quickly, and the use of common words which actually on their own are not related to fear or suspense at all, such as 'crumbling' and 'rusty' and 'metal', which when used in the right context, can dramatically increase the fearful tension. The use of ellipsis in the sentence is a telltale sign of inducing suspense, which makes the reader eager to read on and discover what is being built up to. The use of the word 'bones' shows that death is present, and the discussion of the taboo of bones and death is something that can create fear and suspense effortlessly. The nouns used in this quote are also set up in a pattern of three's, relating to the use of story structure in each of them.
The description of Mrs Rutter's house is also used by the author to create fear and suspense.
"The room was stuffy. It had a gaudy lino floor with the pattern rubbed away in front of the sink and round the table; the walls were cluttered with old calendars and pictures torn from magazines; there was a smell of cabbage."
The way that this the room is set out, with the pattern rubbed away from the lino, the old photographs, and the smell of cabbage are things that would be associated with old woman's houses in general, creating a very stereotypical image of the woman, and her home. This helps to build up fear and suspense as again, you are lured into a false sense of security, making the shock when the truth is revealed, and Mrs Rutter's dark, merciless past is brought into the open. The use of stereotypes is one that is not used in 'The Signalman', as stereotypes are generally used to describe typical things, specific to that certain genre of person, or object. In my opinion 'The Signalman' would be spoiled if stereotypes were used, as every character has their own curtain of uncertainty, and all is most certainly not what it seems in this story.
The use of characterisation in both stories is relevant in creating a depth to the fear and suspense of the story. The main characters that have been characterised to create these senses are that of Mrs Rutter, and the Signalman. Mrs Rutter has all of her stereotypical imagery, showing originally that the characterisation of her is bland, and rather predictable, but it is much more interesting when the unexpected events take place.
"There weren't any flames; it was just stuck there in the ground, end up, with mess everywhere. Drop more milk, dear, if you don't mind."
This quotation sums up the moments in which Mrs Rutter's pleasant old lady-like image begins to change, and an eerie depiction of what she is really of capable of begins to creep over the reader. It is not only the reader who is shocked by this news; Sandra and Kerry are also bewildered by the surprising ease in which Mrs Rutter talks in detail of the German soldier's barbaric and cruel demise. The way in which she carelessly changes the subject to 'Drop more milk, dear, if you don't mind' as if what she is telling these children is something of little significance is good use of characterisation in showing that she does not feel any remorse for what she has done.
In 'The Signalman', characterisation is the opposite of what it is in 'The Darkness Out There'. The Signalman himself is made to appear very aggressive, when really he is deeply troubled by the spectre, and has no friends or associates, even though he craves companionship. Towards the end of the story, the narrator feels that he has really connected with The Signalman, only to be confronted by the Signalman's death. Mrs Rutter and The Signalman compare in many different ways, as Mrs Rutter seems very nice but she is actually the opposite, The signalman seems to have a dark and mysterious presence about him, but when the narrator gets to know him, the reader finds out that he is really an example of a normal person having been driven to despair by something that troubles them. This is juxtaposition between the two characters. The narrator in 'The Signalman' is also the main character and in 'The Darkness Out There' is also a lot of the story that is told from the point of view of Sandra, the main character. Also the Signalman has used a technique to make his character seem even more ambiguous. He is made out to be evil at the beginning, but he has been characterised by the Charles Dickens, to make it even more of a surprise when he turns out to be troubled in such a way.
In 'The darkness Out There' the character of Sandra has various characteristics which help develop her into her character. She seems to be a quite snobby young girl, who has some quite vain beliefs about Mrs Rutter and Pat, who runs the good neighbours club. This quote is from Sandra's point of view, and demonstrates these qualities.
"Pat had a funny eye, a squint, so that her glance swerved away from you as she talked. And a big chest jutting under washed out jerseys. Are people who help other people always not very nice looking?"
Here Sandra instantly judges Pat on her appearance; the first thing that she notices about Pat is her 'funny eye' and her 'washed out jerseys' even though Sandra clearly knows herself that Pat is a very good person, who goes out of there way to help other people. The way that Sandra's character is portrayed is also a stereotypical popular teenage girl, caring little for other people and a lot for themselves.
Moments after this, Sandra goes on to show her vanity even more.
"She looked down at her own legs, the girl, bare brown legs brushing through the grass polleny summer grass that glinted in the sun."
This also displays Sandra's almost self obsessed enigma, as she looks at herself for satisfaction and reassurance after picking out faults at Pat. She is complementing herself, although there is no-one to hear it. It is a shame that someone of like Pat has to bare the brunt of Sandra's short sighted, appearance dependant judgement. Sandra's unnecessarily cruel mind is important in creating fear and suspense, as to have such an insight into the things that she is thinking, and how quickly she is judging people as they think they are just having a brief conversation, is rather unnerving.
Characterisation on the whole plays a major factor in producing fear and suspense, as the way in which a character is portrayed can dramatically increase the aura and mystery surrounding them, making the story more fear inducing, and the various character switching which takes place with The Signalman and Mrs Rutter (Mrs Rutter seems friendly and kind, but turns out to be quite the opposite, and The Signalman seems angry and fierce, but turns out to be troubled, and rather friendly when given the chance to get to know him) builds up a distinct amount of Suspense.
Overall, The Signalman' and 'The Darkness Out There' are fairly packed with different which create fear and suspense. Large, obvious elements pay a big part, such as a change in the character of a person, e.g. Mrs Rutter, and the ability to make characters such as the Signalman can seem ubiquitous, as the fear that there personality can produce makes them seem omnipresent. Also small, barely noticeable things such as a series of short sentences or the use of ellipsis help both stories have control of the emotion the reader experiences as they read through both stories. It is these factors that make both stories so gripping and prevalent.
Richard Baillie 10WH
