How does Susan Hill create tension and suspense in "The Woman in Black"?
How does Susan Hill create tension and suspense in ‘The Woman in Black’ Susan Hill writes the novel, ‘The Woman in Black’ through the first person narration of the main character, Arthur Kipps. There are many ways Susan Hill creates tension and suspense through the use of a narrator for us readers. One of the first ways is that he introduces this foreboding type of atmosphere by referring to an incident but not actually mentioning it, and he does this repeatedly throughout the first chapter. When the room goes dark during the children’s tales of ghost stories, Arthur Kipps becomes scared by a past memory and as he “wanted to get up and go round putting on every light again”, this is a reference to later in the book when we find out about his experiences in Eel Marsh House when the lights all turn out. However we are not aware of what “it” is. He also refers to “it” again later on in the book; “always known in my heart that the experience would never leave me” This sentence builds up the tension as it foreshadows the future events. Once again he merely refers to the incident, nothing further is said at the point to enlighten us. This creates a tense atmosphere because as the reader we would like to know what is troubling the narrator. By not mentioning it Susan Hill builds tension as we are expected to be told of his experience and while we wait the
Creation of suspense is a characteristic feature of narrative in the gothic tradition.Susan Hill's 'The Woman in Black' is the ultimate ghost story which relies on the use of suspense
'Creation of suspense is a characteristic feature of narrative in the gothic tradition. Discuss the uses and effectiveness of this device in The Woman in Black and compare them with those that you have noted in one other gothic text. Susan Hill's 'The Woman in Black' is the ultimate ghost story which relies on the use of suspense, intensity, atmosphere and drama, interwoven in a plot full of intrigue which keeps the reader eager with anticipation. Susan Hill has created a chilling novel which translates into a magnificently eerie and genuinely distressing read. Although everpresent, suspense is cleverly built slowly throughout to create a mounting atmosphere. Furthermore, atmosphere is built through place, strong narrative and dialogue. Hill's calculated timing of events is also crucial in creating the mood of anxiety. The first hint of atmosphere building up was when Mr Kidd meets Mr Bentley for the job of sorting out Mrs Drablow's papers. From the start of the dialogue between Arthur Kidd and Mr Bentley it is obvious that the latter is intent on seeing how much Mr Kidd knows about Eel Marsh House. There are many short questions, avoiding the reader's attention. Then Mr. Kidd asks "Children?", this demonstrates how Susan Hill spans the question out to draw the reader's attention, and it is clear Mr Bentley most probably knows the answer but is reluctant to tell it. This
Them. They were after him. He had no proof, no logic to base his assumption on, but he knew that they were after him.
Them They were after him. He had no proof, no logic to base his assumption on, but he knew that they were after him. Once one of the greatest intellects in known space, he had now been reduced to instinct, just pure instinct. His need for survival had overpowered all his other feelings. He had not eaten for days, but he could only feel fear. They were everything, they knew everything, they were everyone and they were after him. They had control of the senate, there was no power greater than them, and he had provoked them. He had said that they were evil, and that they should be abolished. He had said that almost a month ago, to what he thought was a friend, and to what he thought was seclusion. He had been wrong on both points and he should have known. A week after that his life started to fall apart. His wife died in an 'accident', no doubt arranged by 'them'. Shortly after, his children were kidnapped by and unknown terrorist group, and he was fired from his job for being 'unstable'. He thought of what horrible genetic experiments were performed on his children, he knew, for once he had done them on others. He should have gone insane, for that's what they expected him to do, but he survived. He thought that he was stronger than them, but there could exist no belief but theirs; no will but theirs. They were freedom's greatest enemy, but he was now free to think. They knew,
Significance of the Punch and Judy Show
Kingshaw's 2nd Nightmare Significance of the Punch and Judy Show [Pg174] The significance of this nightmare is very great. Here, it can be seen that Kingshaw is like the puppet, he is controlled by Hooper, the puppeteer. He has no control over what he may do next as he is constantly guarding himself against Hooper, to protect himself from Hooper's actions and threats, similar to the puppet's actions as one tries his best to protect himself from the other violent one. On the other hand, Hooper always wants to control Kingshaw's life, to dare and to taunt him to make him feel inferior and constantly weak. Also, Kingshaw is known to be claustrophobic and thus this nightmare proved to be very traumatizing towards him. It can be seen from these quotes "beach was very small" and "crowds of them, thousands of boys, as far as he could see, and more kept arriving, sitting down and pushing in, tighter and tighter" which gives an impression of the area surrounding him was becoming smaller and smaller, thereby enclosing him into a tight spot. He can never escape from Hooper and particularly he is imagining how the boys at Hooper's school will outnumber and trap him. The boys surround him, bringing out his claustrophobia, trapping him on the beach and forcing him to watch the horrible Punch and Judy Show. This shows how trapped he is and how hopeless he will be in his new schools with
Write a critical appreciation of the passage paying particular appreciation to the ways in which the writer created mood and atmosphere - Susan Hill's "A London Particular".
Write a critical appreciation of the passage paying particular appreciation to the ways in which the writer created mood and atmosphere. In the extract from Susan Hill's "A London Particular" the mood is set by the use of language and structure in the first paragraph. "It was a Monday afternoon" are the first few words of the extract and suggests that the setting is quite normal yet as we read on to "growing dark" it creates a sense of apprehension. Susan Hill also structures her first paragraph by using hyphens and this shows the abnormality of the situation. With the felling of abnormality in the passage the reader starts to feel apprehensive and scared at what is to come. "The fog" is introduced in the first paragraph and is suggested to be controlling by not "allowing" daylight to penetrate it. The daylight represents purity and goodness and the fact that the fog is stopping this conveys the idea that it is threatening to the citizens of London. As we read on "the fog" is now just referred to as "fog" which suggests that it has been given a name and therefore personified. The theme of personification runs throughout the passage but more so in paragraph two as the fog is said to be "creeping in and out of alleyways and passages". As the fog is "creeping" it is quite sinister as it is normally a movement usually associated with dubious characters. The fact that the fog is
Who or what is to blame for the death of Kingshaw?
Who or what is to blame for the death of Kingshaw? There are many factors that could be said to be responsible for the death of Kingshaw. Primarily, many people believe that Hooper is to blame as it is his malevolence that tortures Kingshaw everyday. Hooper manipulates Kingshaw from their very first meeting, before that even, he sends Kingshaw a note warning him before he has even given Kingshaw a chance. Hooper not only manipulates Kingshaw, but all those around him. He uses Mrs Kingshaw's search for acceptance to his advantage, she tries to favour both boys equally but subconsciously it is Hooper that she always sides with, making Kingshaw feel rejected and desolate. Hooper also manoeuvres Fielding to where he wants him, turning him away from Kingshaw. Although Hooper's constant torment of Kingshaw appears a twisted, mature plan it is hard to neglect the fact that Hooper is just a child. He had a unemotional, distant relationship with his father, therefore his childhood responses with anyone are at best, likely to be cold. It is through no fault of his own that he is cold-hearted and corrupt, just the influence of society, and the lack of influence his father's presence has had on him. Mrs Kingshaw does not recognise the signs of her son's pain, she is too rapped up in her own world, building a life for not just herself and Kingshaw, but her alone. She relies on her
I'm the king of the castle, by Susan Hill. Chapter Notes. Chapter 5.
I'm the king of the castle, by Susan Hill. Chapter Notes. Chapter 5. This chapter is viewed almost entirely from Kingshaws point of view as he undertakes the ambitious project to escape from Warings and from Hooper. The chapter is highly descriptive in parts and adopts some of the symbolism that we saw earlier in chapter 3. Susan Hill makes this chapter very intense through precise description of the landscape and through a probing of Kingshaws thoughts and ideas. The chapter is very similar as chapter 3 because Kingshaw has already made part of the journey once before, into Hang Wood. I found that you are deeply involved in Kingshaws inner thoughts as he plans and makes his escape. The relative immaturity of Kingshaws mind is explored very well in this chapter, and in particular through the way he plans his escape. Chapter 6. Kingshaws attempts to escape through Hang Wood are described in great detail in this chapter, introducing also a strong element of suspense as the chapter unfolds. The conflict between Kingshaw and Hooper now has a basic, elemental quality in that they are entirely alone with each other in the world of nature, rather then he domestic environment of Warings. There is a great deal of precise, detailed observation in this chapter and the journey deeper and deeper into the woods helps Susan Hill make further points about Kingshaws
"I'm the King of the Castle" - An account of the change in power between Kingshaw and Hooper in chapter eight.
An account of the change in power between Kingshaw and Hooper in chapter eight. Throughout the book up till chapter eight we have come across many battles between Hooper and Kingshaw. One of the battles the boys have is one which is who gains the power over the other. So in this chapter I will be analysing every element where either Kingshaw or Hooper wins the power over the other. Hooper is the first to accumulate the power because he makes out that he has a father who dearly loves him and that he would buy anything for him and Kingshaw knows that his mother doesn't feel the same about him. He also makes himself to be more knowledgeable than Kingshaw because he wins the discussion on the prices of watches can be more than fifty pounds but Kingshaw does not believe a watch can cost more than fifty pounds. The next discussion though Kingshaw wins as he demonstrates his understanding on nature to prove that smoke kills midge bites and it is not the fire that makes the midges depart. Kingshaw wins control as he picks up a long wide stick thinking to hit Hooper but he resists since Hooper said, "You'd better try and not hit me", after his eyes had widened after Kingshaw had picked up the stick. This shows that Hooper was frightened of Kingshaw and felt vulnerable other wise he wouldn't have said such a comment. Hooper though fights back and wins control of the power as he
I'm the King of the castle
Themes in I'm the King of the Castle by Susan Hill I'm the King of the Castle has more than one theme. Some are more obvious and clear than others. Hatred is one of the main themes. There is much hatred between Hooper and Kingshaw in I'm the King of the Castle already from the start. Hatred is very important to the plot and much attention is paid to it. Bullying is how the hatred starts. The bullying starts because Kingshaw came and Hooper didn't want him there (Hooper drops a note saying "I didn't want you to come here"). There is also the absence of love in the book. Both parents do not understand their children well and are distant from them. The evilness in children is shown in the book. It is mainly present in Hooper. His bullying has a big effect on Kingshaw and the evil in it leads Kingshaw eventually to suicide. The suicide by Kingshaw was inevitable as it was the only way out for Kingshaw at the end. Edmund Hooper's evilness can not be fully explained but one might say it is because of his mother being dead and the lack of the attention proper parents normally give. There was no proper influence as Mr. Hooper is very distant from his son. Hooper's cruelty is shown on numerous occasions, except when he was afraid in the wood. The placing of the stuffed crow in Kingshaw's bedroom, the locking of Kingshaw into the Red Room once he realizes Charles is afraid of the
Woman in Black Question What features of language does hill use when describing the "London Fog" and how effective is it
Woman in Black Question What features of language does hill use when describing the "London Fog" and how effective is it in creating the atmosphere that she wants. The passage that refers to the "London fog can be found in the beginning of chapter 2 "A London Particular". This is the start of Kipp's story about the women in black, in which he describes the fog. Prior to chapter 2 is chapter 1, in chapter 1 you are introduced to most of the characters in the book E.G. Kipps, Esme. Chapter 1 sets the scene for the rest of the book, chapter 1 is written in present day and chapter 2 is written in past tense. In chapter 2 kipps describes the effect the weather has on him "my spirits for many years now been excessively affected by the ways of the weather, and I confess that" Susan hill uses more than 500 words to describe the fog, but at the time she doesn't seem to be going anywhere with it but as you read on in the story you realise that all the describing in the earlier chapters is building the basis for the story to unfold, The mist is paramount to the plot, by the time we get to the end of the book, when Arthur hears the noises that he has associated with the sinking of the pony and the trap into the marsh, we know that the mist made it so that kipps vision was impaired and therefore he could not defiantly define if the pony and trap did sink into the marsh or not, we