Comparing the works of Susan Hill- 'Farthing house', and H.G Wells- 'The red room'.

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GCSE English coursework

‘Wide reading’

Nick Brooks- 11AM

It is a common fact that, in today’s society, the most popular genre of story or film are ones that involve ‘ghostly’ supernatural happenings. A natural value to humans is that being eminently frightened excites us. Supernatural and ghost stories carry many conventions, which go towards building up the whole sense of tension, drama, and even fright. Ghost stories have been told for centuries and are oral tradition in many cultures. There are very distinctive conventions that can be identified in most ghost-related books or films. These centre on the plot events, the setting and the characters involved. Older film conventions have become stereotypical due to the changes in films of today through special effects. Ghost stories usually carry a sense of chase or ‘death’ about them, which enhances dramatical effect. The most obvious convention of all is the ‘cat and mouse’ style chase, which occurs, in most supernatural films, this enhances the whole sense of fright within the viewer. Another convention which occurs in slightly more ‘shocking’ films, is when the object of fright is not in direct sight, it may be lurking in the dark shadows, somewhere out of view. All ghost related films have always had a sense of containment, where the main actor being chased, it sometimes seems certain that they will get killed, but yet always find a way out. The characters are the most important convention, for making the film more dramatic. In all ghost films, an extremely hysterical character is used, to make the film much more exciting, to shock the viewer into fright and overall, to keep interest. Usually the main targeted character is female, as it is believed that they much more hysterically to supernatural occurrences. The characters are usually put in place as a leader or hero, or to solve any problems and uncover the past behind the story. Many ghost stories are based on ‘unfinished business’, which the human characters are out to solve and uncover the truth and reconciliation behind the supernatural happenings. The setting of a ghost story is the most important convention, which goes towards the sense of ‘being there’ and the atmosphere to the reader or viewer observing. The main constituent behind the setting of a ghost story is not the main constituent behind the setting of a ghost story is not location, but the obscurity. Ghost stories always seem to be set in a dark, obscure and isolated location. This adds more tension to the story, as it makes the viewer believe that there is ‘no way out.’ Along the line of the supernatural happenings, comes bad weather, usually thunder and lightening, or even rain. This is a very stereotypical convention, which relates back to the days of witches and black magic. Until modern day films, ghost stories were always set in large, old houses. This relates to supernatural happenings, as old houses contain many ‘nooks and crannies’ within, allows a ‘jumpy’ atmosphere to be created. This also creates a sense of concealment, where the supernatural being is almost one step ahead at all times and comes out at very un-expecting times to be more jumpy and frightening. The setting of old houses dates back to the Victorian ages. Back in Victorian times, the genre if ghost stories came about from the interest in science and travel/exploration. Victorian science was mostly based upon the exploration of supernatural happenings or the creation of un-natural life, like the novel ‘Frankenstein’. The Victorian ages were when ghost stories were first properly introduced, and they have been shared and passed down, until today’s modern film versions. It can be argued that ghost stories are emphasised better by a novel, the reader almost becomes involved in the story. Two authors who express this extremely well are Susan Hill and H.G Wells. In this piece, I will be comparing the works of Susan Hill- ‘Farthing house’, and H.G Wells- ‘The red room’. H.G Wells was an English author and political philosopher, most famous for his science fiction romances that variously depict alien invasion, terrifying future societies, and transformed states of being. He was born on 21st September 1866, in Kent. He failed in three apprentships (Two drapers and one pharmacist), and later earned a scholarship to the normal school of science. Although he was a gifted student, he failed his exams, but did become a science tutor. He died in 1946 aged 80. The author of ‘Farthing house’, Susan Hill, came from a completely different background to H.G Wells. The inspiration for her novels ideas behind the theme of Susan Hills’ novels come from the area she was brought up in. The tranquil and relaxed atmosphere in the Cotswolds inspired her that it led her to write such invigorating novels. The background to which she bases her novels on is the Cotswolds setting, she is also interested in childhood issues which showed that she may have had an pleasant childhood. In her early marriage, she had fertility problems, which led her to suffer a miscarriage. You can see that this became a theme in her stories now, as this is portrayed in ‘Farthing house’. ‘Farthing house’ is based upon the past history behind the haunted old people’s home, which involved mothers and children. By the emotions in the story that are portrayed, you can tell that she has put her feelings into the novel, what she felt about her own experience.

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Both stories contain elements of plot structure that are typical of ghost stories. Together with the conventions of a ghost story, language devices and very detailed setting description, Susan Hill and H.G Wells have produced two very different stories, which use the same conventions, and share the same theme. ‘The red room’ by H.G. Wells, is a story set as a very stereotypical convention, a large, gloomy and old mansion house filled with elderly servants and occupied by a very old man. A young man visits the house with a very assured attitude, very optimistic of his own thoughts. He ...

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