How does Charles Dickens create suspense and tension in the signalman?
English coursework The signal man. How does Charles Dickens create suspense and tension in the signalman? In the Charles Dickens' story the narrator meets the signalman who is confessing to him his problems. The narrator comes every night to find out that the signalman was seeing a ghost of a man, who was pointing out that certain train accidents are going to happen. After a few days the narrator goes peacefully to the signalman's shed, and finds out that he mysteriously died. The signalman at the train station sees sightings of a ghost in the distance. However the figure is trying to tell the signalman something important, but each time the signalman sees this figure doing some actions something bad always happens, this is where Dickens creates the suspense and tension. To add to the tension Dickens adds a narrator to the story, this is done to emphasise various points more and to spook the audience out. The suspense and tension is created in various different ways I am going to explore these factors: the characters, the setting of the place and the time at which incidents happen. The very first line spoken by the narrator is negative, and puts thoughts into our minds about bad things happening because it portrays the fact about height and if something is down, it makes it seem very mysterious: "Halloa! Below there!" The word halloa is a very old fashioned word and
Examine the settings and characters which the writers have chosen for their stories in 'The Signalman', 'The Man With The Twisted Lip' and 'The Red Room'. Consider the effects that each writer has created and how they contribute to atmosphere.
Prose Study Examine the settings and characters which the writers have chosen for their stories in 'The Signalman', 'The Man With The Twisted Lip' and 'The Red Room'. Consider the effects that each writer has created and how they contribute to atmosphere. 'The Signalman' was first published in 1865, written by Charles Dickens, 'The Man with The Twisted Lip', by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was published in 1891 and 'The Red Room' by H.G. Wells was published in 1894. These are three stories, which create tense atmospheres. The Signalman was written nearly thirty years previous to the other two stories, society moved on so much through innovation and invention during this time that the stories were written in very different eras. Charles Dickens was influenced in his story, 'The Signalman' by a train crash, which he had been involved in just a year previous to writing the story. As the railway was a relatively new invention at the time, the story was modern and contemporary at the time of press. However today's readers are given a very historical context view with references to steam trains and old signal boxes being permanently, manually operated. In 'The Man with the Twisted Lip' Sir Conan Doyle would have been influenced by the conditions of London at the time, such as; the large amounts of crime going on in London and the publics view of the Police as incompetent. 'The Red
'The role of horror in entertainment.'
'The role of horror in entertainment.' Its as if some strange force is at work inside us. A certain curiosity which feeds on fear. An intrigue hidden away, deep inside, which wills us towards dark horror. Something woven into our genetic make-up, which makes us get a kick out of pain. It's somewhat unsettling to think that something quite so unnatural can make us more human. Furthermore, the feeling of intrigue is so strong that we're even willing to pay to be frightened. Travelling 'Freak Shows' were extremely popular back in Victorian times. Upper, middle and working class alike took great delight in visiting such events. They'd pay their few pence to the patron, and then, after a deep breath, they'd pluck up the courage and walk through the doors. The doors of mystery. What lay behind those doors were cages and cages of quivering silhouettes, stripped of their humanity, lowered to the status of performing animals. People with missing or abnormal limbs, Dwarves, Siamese twins, Giants, all seen as dire monstrosities, yet today viewed as mere disabilities. Visitors would be horrified at such unusual sights. They'd turn away in disgust or look on in wonder. They'd feel shock and relief simultaneously, as they gaze at the spectacle of these 'freaks'. Part of the reason for going was to feel better about themselves and feel glad at how lucky they were to be
Compare and Contrast ways in which the supernatural is conveyed and used to maintain the reader's interest in 'The Signal Man' and 'The Red Room' - Refer to any other nineteenth century stories you have read.
Compare and Contrast ways in which the supernatural is conveyed and used to maintain the reader's interest in 'The Signal Man' and 'The Red Room'. Refer to any other nineteenth century stories you have read. Both of the stories are very gripping and keep you in apprehension throughout When it comes to ghost stories, both hold the general key to a first-class mystery. They both take a slow approach to getting to the main climax, which encourages you to keep reading. Both the stories are traditional horror stories. In a traditional horror story, horror is usually presented through gothicism or a psychological aspect of horror. Both of these techniques are used in 'The Red Room' and 'The Signalman' and is also popular with such writers as Poe in the story 'The Tell-Tale Heart' and in the story 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs. Both of the stories have a twist at the end, which gives each a sense of individuality. In 'The Signalman', by Charles Dickens, the twist is all that there seems to be a mysterious connection between the spectre and all the other characters which I found to be quite disturbing. However the most significant connection appears to be between the narrator and the spectre in that the narrator repeats the words that the signalman hears from the spectre. The clue that there is a connection is given at the beginning of the story when the narrator and signalman
How does Dickens create a sense of mystery in 'The Signal Man'?
How does Dickens create a sense of mystery in 'The Signal Man'? Within 'The Signal Man' Dickens uses various literary techniques to involve the reader and create a sense of mystery. This includes the use of Characters; Setting; Dialogue; the engaging of senses; sight; smell; taste; touch; and hearing. The inclusion of ghosts; action; the build up of tension and contrasts between the rational and the supernatural world and light and dark. One of Dickens literary techniques was using the characters (the narrator and the Signal man's) similarities and differences. Both the Signal Man and the narrator were both well educated. Although the narrator is perhaps more intelligent, as his language reveals a wider, '...the perspective one way only a crooked prolongation...'. However the narrator believes the Signal Man is equally intelligent, the narrator comments that the Signal Man is '...educated above his station...'. They both had immense respect for each other, just like any other human. The narrator was extremely polite towards the Signal Man, which also demonstrates the respect narrator has for him. The Signal Man was very isolated he sat down in his hut night after night most nights, he felt lonely, 'His post was in a solitary and dismal place as ever I saw'. Alternatively the narrator has obviously grown up with a substantial amount of money, and surrounded by family.
Both the Signalman and The Darkness Out There Have unexpected endings, compare the way the tension is built up in both stories so that the reader is surprised by how the story ends.
Both the Signalman and The Darkness Out There Have unexpected endings, compare the way the tension is built up in both stories so that the reader is surprised by how the story ends. Your mind is a dark place, full of fear. We are often scared to release this fear, although many people read or watch horror to do so. Many writers use subtle suggestion to develop ideas and fears within our heads. Horror stories are always set in an ordinary or extraordinary setting. They do this for the following reasons; an ordinary setting, such as that used in the darkness out there is used to deceive the reader into a false sense of security, but also, I believe, to make us think irrational thoughts. We wouldn't automatically judge Kerry, but he appears suspicious in such an ordinary environment. This couples with Sandra's judging commentary to automatically prejudice us. When an ordinary setting is used the author then uses apparently subtle hints to increase the suspense. An extraordinary, such as the cutting in the signalman is used to put the reader immediately on edge. Hints in the descriptions of such places give the reader a feeling of the atmosphere. In the Signalman Dickens used the fears of the Victorian age to instil fear into the reader of the time. Steam Trains were very new and were labelled machines of hell. This ties in very closely Dickens's theme for the cutting in which
How Do Dickens and Wells Raise Tension In Their Ghost Stories?
How Do Dickens and Wells Raise Tension In Their Ghost Stories? Ghost genre is a theme that can raise tension or just make a chill run up the reader's mind. The stories are usually set in an old house, rectory or somewhere that appears to look creepy and abandoned. Charles Dickens is a famous author. One of his most famous ghost stories is "A Christmas Carol". This was a huge success for him and, people still enjoy reading it today. H.G.Wells is considered by some to be an excellent writer of science fiction. One of his most famous books was "The Time Machine" Dickens has set his story in a railway cutting, which is unusual, as most stories as most ghost stories are set in an old house, whereas Wells has set his story in a castle. The idea of setting this in a castle seems more fitting for the genre than a railway cutting because a great deal of ghost stories are set in places like this. But using a new idea is also good, as it has never been used before and therefore the reader would enjoy it more. In both stories the narrators and the characters show the tension by using powerful language to describe the scenes and their experiences well. H.G.Wells uses a series of repetition in his story, for example the man with the "withered arm". Stories hardly ever use repetition because then the reader will feel as if they are reading the same thing over and over again. In
Compare & Contrast The Two Stories 'The Signalman' by Dickens and 'The Withered Arm' by Hardy, Also Paying Close Attention To The Techniques Used
Neha Shah - 10EC/10P Compare & Contrast The Two Stories 'The Signalman' by Dickens and 'The Withered Arm' by Hardy, Also Paying Close Attention To The Techniques Used When an author decides to write an effective short story, there are certain techniques they can follow. For example, only having a few characters in the story or making the plot simple and to the point. In this essay I will compare and contrast two short ghost stories, 'The Signalman' by Dickens and 'The Withered Arm' by Hardy and look carefully at how they use these techniques. An author's aim is to have a satisfactory opening for a short ghost story has to grab the reader's attention and make them want to carry on reading. The opening has to set the scene and hold back some of the information. The opening of 'The Signalman' by Dickens creates a spooky and mysterious atmosphere, which you automatically recognise that it is a ghost story. When the narrator calls out "Halloa, below there", the signalman gives a disturbed look and ignores the man. This makes the reader uncertain about the signalman and therefore wants to find out. In comparison Hardy creates a slower paced opening. You are unable to identify whether it is a ghost story or not. The opening of 'The Withered Arm' gives a quiet and isolated atmosphere as it is set in a rural countryside. It describes the 'eighty-cow dairy farm'. We are introduced
A good ghost story must contain suspense and tension - discuss
Mustafa Rafik A good ghost story must contain suspense and tension; discuss In my opinion a good ghost story should be able to scare the audience. It should also contain various features to make it a ghost story, such as: old deserted houses which no one has been in for years, old cobwebs and witches. It should also create such an atmosphere that it frightens you and makes you jump. In 'The Signalman' the ingredients of a good ghost story are achieved as well as not achieved as it is set in a dark deserted place but not in old castle or mansion. It is set on a railway line with a small box where the Signalman lives. This setting is scary but not ghostly. In contrast 'The Canterville Ghost' fits the ingredients well as it has an old mansion, which creates a scary setting. There is also an old maid and an old ghost like normal ghost stories. A good ghost story must contain both suspense and tension, as tension creates the scariness and suspense makes the reader want to read on, which are two very important aspects of a ghost story. This should be carried on throughout the whole story until the end if possible. Both stories achieve this particular aspect, which I have mentioned. The setting is the first way to build tension and suspense. 'The signalman's' setting is obviously very dull with very negative images as it is "dark" and "miserable". 'The Signalman' is
Charles Dickens's The Signalman and H.G Well's The Red Room are two of the most famous Ghost stories ever written. But what are the reasons that these stories have remained so popular?
Charles Dickens's The Signalman and H.G Well's The Red Room are two of the most famous Ghost stories ever written. But what are the reasons that these stories have remained so popular? 'The Signalman' was first published in 1866 in the Victorian times when Queen Victoria reigned. At the time the railway was a new thing to the community. Charles Dickens got inspiration for this story when he was a victim in a horrible train crash which he managed to luckily survive. The story is set on a railway which was really grim and dark which gave a ghost like feel to this story. 'The Signalman' is about an isolated railwayman who is in charge of a lonely signal box and the fact that he thinks he is seeing an apparition, a Ghost. This story is unlike any other ghost story because it hasn't got a stereotypical setting - like a castle - instead its set on a railway, what might seem to a modern reader to be boring and dull. To a Victorian reader it would have seemed more exciting because it was something new. The signalman dies very tragically when he gets run over by a moving train, when he tries to make contact with his apparition that he keeps seeing. From the start of the story there is a feel of mystery due to the fact that the characters don't introduce there selves. The story starts in the morning when the sun is just about popping from the sky. This is kind of a odd time to