Literature G.C.S.E Prose Critique

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Thursday, 2nd March, 2004 Wayne Owens

Literature G.C.S.E Prose Critique

Q = Which of the two short stories studied did you most enjoy and why? In your critique explain briefly where each story is set, when and what happens. Despite your preference, comment on whether both stories meet the criteria for good ghost fiction. Make close reference to the writers' skills and language (make comparisons.)

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After reading 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens and 'Harry' by Rosemary Timperley, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer 'Harry'. Both stories, however, are brilliantly written ghost stories with well-created atmospheres and plots that create tension and suspense.

'The Signalman', by Charles Dickens, is a pre-20th century story which is set in the 1800's. It takes place by a train line and in a signal box which is occupied by the signalman. In the story the signalman befriends a man and later confides in him that he has seen an 'appearance' at the entrance to the train tunnel. He tells the man, who is the narrator of the story, that after he has seen the appearance something bad has always happened. After the first sighting, a train crash took place where a number of people died and, after the second sighting, a young lady died whilst on a train. The signalman then explains that he has recently seen the appearance again and is worried what might happen. He is scared - trying to answer questions as to what the appearance is trying to tell him and why it has chosen him to visit. He can answer none of these questions and knows that something tragic will happen that he has no control over. The narrator returns to the signalman the next morning but finds that he is dead. A group of men explain to him that the signalman was run over by a train that morning. We then learn that the 'spectre' or 'appearance' was warning the signalman of his own death as the actions and shouts of the train driver match exactly the spectre's. This dramatic and unexpected ending proves to be great twist in the story.

'Harry', by Rosemary Timperley, is, on the other hand, a modern ghost story and as a result the language is more accessible and familiar to a modern reader. Unlike 'The Signalman's' railway location this story is set in a family home and the main characters are the family of three - Mr and Mrs James and their young daughter, Christine, who we later find out to be adopted. Christine begins to talk to herself in the back garden but insists that she is talking to her brother Harry. Christine is not known to have a brother but not much is known about her past due to her being adopted. Mrs James immediately becomes worried that something is wrong but she and her husband decide that Christine just has an imaginary friend. As her conversations with Harry become more frequent, Mrs James becomes more worried and feels increasingly alone as no one understands what she is so obsessed with. Eventually Mrs James takes her daughter to the doctor and he also says that this is normal and that she just has an imaginary friend. Mrs James, however, is still not happy with the situation and realises that her relationship with Christine is not as strong as she would like it to be.
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Then Mrs James visits a lady at the adoption centre where she is told that Christine had a brother called Harry who saved her life when she was a baby. Her father had tried to kill the family and so Harry jumped out of the window to save his sister but he died. Understandably Mrs James is now very worried and goes to Christine's old house to see if she can find out more. She meets a neighbour who claims to have seen Harry since he died and says that he is after Christine. Following this news Mrs ...

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