How does Susan Hill use Gothic techniques to create tension and horror in the chapter In the Nursery in The Woman in Black?

'How does Susan Hill use Gothic techniques to create tension and horror in the chapter 'In the Nursery' in The Woman in Black?' The Woman in Black is a piece of Gothic literature, which attempts to both horrify and enthral the reader through the use of gothic techniques. The story centres on a young solicitor named Arthur Kipps, who is summoned to the small market town of Crythin Gifford, to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow. Furthermore, the man has been instructed to manage the legal documents of the late widow. Whilst doing this, he stays in what was the woman's residence, Eel Marsh House. However, the property is only accessible by pony and trap, due to the fact it is situated on Nine Lives Causeway. At high tide, the house is completely cut off from the mainland, with only the surrounding marshland and sea frets for company. Confined to the house, Arthur Kipps endures an increasingly terrifying sequence of unexplained noises, chilling events and hauntings, which appear to be connected to a mysterious woman he notices at the funeral. In the chapter, 'In the Nursery,' various traditional gothic conventions are used, in order to establish a sense of fear and insecurity. The author, Susan Hill, attempts to balance gothic ideas, like pathetic fallacy and ominous connotations, with gothic literary devices, such as short sentences and repetition. Incorporating both

  • Ranking:
  • Word count: 2384
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

"I'm the King of the Castle" - with close references to the text discuss the relevance of the novel's title.

GCSE coursework: Discursive Writing (800- 200words) "I'm the King of the Castle": with close references to the text discuss the relevance of the novel's title. This novel tells the story of two boys who, basically, are at war with each other. At first, it is hard to understand what the point in them being at war is. There seems to be no special prize for the winner, and it is hard to find any goal which they are aiming to achieve. However, what is evident , is that there is a strong drive to war behind one of the boys, and this rubs off on to the other boy has he tries to counteract. 'I'm the king of the castle... and your the dirty rascal' This is well known children's playground saying. It is said by a child who finds himself in a position, where he perceives himself standing higher, than any other child around him. This saying is usually just passed off as a bit of child play. However, I believe that it illustrates a natural instinct amongst humans. And, as a dominating theme of this novel is human instinct, we can see that there is a relevance to the title. The human instincts that are illustrated are, the desire to have their own home and space, where they are free to do what they like, and also to acquire territory. If you take a look at almost any history text book, you will see that wars dominate. The whole of human history is riddled

  • Ranking:
  • Word count: 1164
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay