How is tension and suspense built up in 'The Monkey's Paw' & 'The Signalman?'

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Pre-1914 Prose

How is tension and suspense built up in ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ & ‘The Signalman?’

‘The Monkey’s Paw’ is a horror story with action, tension, suspense and a mysterious death. The whole story takes place in one house. T he story was written in the nineteenth century. It’s about a monkey’s paw that grants three wishes. However every wish has consequences.

In the first paragraph the scene is set and there is a contrast in the way the outside and inside are described.

“Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of laburnum villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly”

The conditions outside are typical of a horror setting

“The night was cold and wet”

This creates an unpleasant atmosphere. The characters are inside with the blinds drawn and seem separated from the outside with a burning fire. This creates a clam mood, the total opposite to outside. There seems to be no danger within the house but the reader knows something is going to go wrong.

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When the old solider first enters the story suspense is built up                   “As the gate banged to loudly and heavy footsteps came towards the door.”

The introduction to new character builds up tension by not telling the reader who is trying to enter the house.

 

 The sergeant major is reluctant to explain what the monkey’s paw is and tries to make out there is nothing special about the monkey’s paw.

“It’s just an ordinary little paw dried to a little mummy”

The word mummy builds up tension because they ...

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The title as it stands is problematic as the essay only deals with one story. If this were the question set in an exam it would not pass and would be two stars. However, if the question is only about 'The Monkey's Paw' it is a four star essay! The essay deals with the writer's use of character, peaks and troughs in tension, imagery and includes apt quotation throughout. Improvement needed would be analysis of symbolism related to the warning/moral the story presents. Also some analysis of sentence structure and its use to create tension is required.