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
"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
"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" - In her after word, the writer talks about "the evil - for I think I evil-of Hooper". What do you think the novel says about the nature of evil in people?
I'm the King of the Castle" Qn: In her after word, the writer talks about "the evil - for I think I evil-of Hooper". What do you think the novel says about the nature of evil in people? In my perspective, I do not believe that people are born evil. "Evil" is undisputedly an arbitrary term whereby different people have different scope of what evil is. Susan Hill's definition of "evil" is that of Hooper -being sadistic and afflicting harm in others, as seen in Hooper. Yet, I feel that Hill's definition of "evil" is rather cynical and biased. Hill should not even relate Hooper to "evil" in the first place, as the child is still growing up and does not know how to differentiate between good and bad, and the fact that he does not receive any love and care sort of make him an "emotionless" person. Thus purely describing him as evil is somewhat biased. I think better adjectives to describe him are probably contumacious and unfeeling. In my essay, I'll first prove that Hooper's cruelty is due to his lack of fundamental love and care and that it is due to some circumstances that drove him to be who he is. Secondly, I'll prove that Hooper cannot be really blamed for his evilness, and lastly, I'll counter opposing arguments put across and further reinforce on my motion. Firstly, the fact that Hooper is cruel cannot be denied. Yet, one must take into consideration that it is the
The national cross-country championship is tomorrow. I lay in my bed frantic and sleepless because of the everlasting anxious thoughts of the race. I use my remaining time awake to plan my race strategy.
The Journey through The Dream An exotic landscape with pleasant underfoot ground and the freshest air I have ever breathed. That is a place where I can truly relax and unwind. When I am in the countryside, I feel as if I am the last person on earth. Yet through my mood of calm, a piercing unbearable feeling arises. A feeling deep within me overtakes the contentment and I am left with emptiness and sorrow. After years of dreaming I have yet to fulfil my destiny of winning a major cross-country championship. I can feel my victory eagerly waiting to become a reality. Over the years, through an experience of mixed emotions, I have developed a deep passion for cross-country running. After giving years of dedication and determination to the sport it seems as though it has taken over my life. Everything in my life has come to relate to the subject of running. I wonder if my desire to run is playing with my thoughts of reality. Or is the world simply turning into a place where running is the only thing left? Will these thoughts ever stop swimming in my mind? What began as a hobby has grown into the most powerful force that directs my life. I am obsessed. But why cross-country, you may ask me? Isn't this a bit of an over-reaction? Thinking it through, going into the sport naturally talented, I realised that I enjoy running immensely. The national cross-country championship is
Is 'The Woman in Black' a successful ghost story? - Susan Hill believes that a ghost story depends on 'atmosphere' and 'a sense of place'. Choose three passages from 'The Woman in Black' to show this.
Is 'The Woman in Black' a successful ghost story? Susan Hill believes that a ghost story depends on 'atmosphere' and 'a sense of place'. Choose three passages from 'The Woman in Black' to show this. Susan Hill believes that the ghost depends on 'atmosphere' and 'a sense of place'. However, a believable storyline and characters does help bring out the atmosphere and place. 'The Woman in Black' is about a man, Arthur Kipps. He is the narrator throughout the novel. Arthur Kipps tells his most haunting revelation that had happened to him, and how by writing his story as a novel, it was hoping to help exorcise the ghost that still haunts him. He tells the story of when he was a junior solicitor and, how he was ordered by his firm's partner to travel up from London to attend a funeral and then sort out the papers of the dead woman. While in Crythin Gifford he glimpses a young woman with a wasted face, dressed all in black. He sees her at the back of the church during Mrs Drablow's funeral, and again later in the graveyard to one side of Eel Marsh House. He is the only one that appears to see her. However, soon the lady in black slowly reveals herself to him, as is her purpose. The first passage is extracted from the chapter 'Across the Causeway'. The first sighting that Arthur Kipps has with the woman in black is in the churchyard after Mrs Drablow's funeral. Susan
The King of the Castle Character Assessment Joseph Hooper.
29th September 2002 H/W The King of the Castle Character Assessment Joseph Hooper Joseph Hooper is a man of his own and he thinks that he is a great man of status; because of this he is very selfish, and he only cares about himself. 'I will not live here again, until it belongs to me.' He was a very self-centred man because his father had suffered from a second stroke and he didn't want to look after him or live there unless the house was his. Joseph Hooper was master in his own house, but his son Edmund should have been the master because he's hardly there. He is very controlling and domineering and it is ironic what he says. He finds it hard to cope as a single parent, so the father and son relationship becomes cold, clinical and distant and they don't have a good respectable attitude towards one another. Joseph wants to try and get his son a friend and someone to look after them in their home, so they can have some company and not be alone. He is also very sensitive and overprotected about his son going into the Red Room. This was because it belonged to his father and he wanted it to be left the way it was, so they could have something to remember him by. Joseph is very soft and weak with his son and he listens to him and does what he says. The father is thinking about one thing and his son is doing another, so Edmund is not the son he thinks he is. Edmund says that his
Explain and discuss the importance of the setting to the actions of characters and events in 'Wuthering Heights' and 'I'm the king of the castle'
Explain and discuss the importance of the setting to the actions of characters and events in 'Wuthering Heights' and 'I'm the king of the castle' I'm the king of the castle is written by Susan Hall. It was written post 1914.Susan Hill was born in Scarborough in Yorkshire 1942 and was educated at grammar schools there and later in Coventry. She took a degree in English at Kings College, London and established a literary reputation at a relatively young age. She has written many books including novels and short stories a number of which are aimed at young children. I'm the king of the castle has four main characters: Mr Hooper the owner of Warings, and his son Edmund. Elina Kingshaw and Charles her son whom the book is revolved around. The book tells the story about Charles Kingshaw who comes with his mother to live at Warings with Mr Hooper and his son Edmund. Warings is a large house built by the first Joseph Hooper who was a successful businessman. The present Mr Hooper made no contribution to it and knows himself to be weak and unsuccessful, but he believes the house will provide him with the status he believes is right. Warings represents the family pride. The house is very isolated and has a dark and gloomy atmosphere, it is an ugly house holding no happy memories and creates a sombre atmosphere from the beginning. 'Warings was ugly, it was entirely graceless, rather
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,
The Woman In Black How does Susan Hill build suspense in the Woman In Black?
Toqeer Hassan The Woman In Black How does Susan Hill build suspense in the Woman In Black? In the Woman In Black Susan Hill uses various types of characters and the way the characters react in the story therefore creating suspense. Firstly Mr Bently his reaction and change of mood in the story when Arthur asks him questions about Mrs Drablow 'Children? Mr Bently fell silent for a few moments' (...) "According to everything we've been told about Mrs Drablow "he said carefully "No, there were no children" (29) Here Mr Bently seems to be hiding something from Arthur by the way he pauses and falls silent for a few moments, therefore causing slight suspense from the reaction of Mr Bently, and the way Mr Kipps reacts on the hearing of Mrs Drablows name as if she was like an evil witch "I'm here to attend a funeral - Mrs Drablow, of eal marsh house. Perhaps you knew of her?" his face flickered with ... what? (42). There you can see that Mr Kipps knows something about Mrs Drablow something not very nice but wasn't saying, not telling Arthur what he was hiding to himself. Susan Hill also uses first person narrative which tells the reader there is something wrong. I also think Spider the dog causes suspense especially when the events happen in the house. 'I realised that Spider was up and standing at the door, every hair of her body