Typical elements in a gothic horror story are: ghosts, gargoyles, curses, hidden room and monsters. For settings it usually has: cemeteries, castles, underground rooms or passages, stair cases, dark and spooky places.
The Victorians loved gothic stories because they enjoyed having something scary and bad to add excitement to their lives. It went against the pure Christian beliefs of the Victorians. All three stories have gothic elements in them to make the Victorian audience more interested in them.
Charles Dickens chose the title ‘The Signalman’ because the story is about a signalman. By naming the story ‘The Signalman’ Charles Dickens informs the reader that the story will be about or in a signalman.
‘The Signalman’ is written in first person, “but I know it was remarkable enough to attract my notice...” This gives the narrators point of view and makes it more realistic.
Charles Dickens uses a lot of language techniques in the story to make it more exciting and to build suspense. One of the techniques that is used is effective verbs “barbarous, depressing, and forbidding air.” this makes the description more effective and dramatic it also gives a dangerous feeling. Another technique that is used is personification “angry sunset” this means ominous like a warning or a sign, this makes it interesting and brings it to life. Another technique that brings the story to life is an appeal to the senses “clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter” these senses of touch, sight and smell make the story more realistic for the reader and brings it to life.
Short sentences for impact are also used as a technique in the story “It was there”, this gives a punchy, dramatic effect, and this is also effective emotive language. Another technique in the story which makes things more dramatic is long list sentence to build tension “On either side, a dripping-wet wall of jagged stone, excluding all view but a strip of sky, the perspective one way only crooked prolongation of this great dungeon, the shorter perspective in the other direction terminating in a gloomy red light, and the gloomier entrance to a black tunnel, in whose massive architecture there was barbarous, depressing and forbidding air.” This builds up tension, to make it more dramatic. The author has used effective verbs, the sense and adjectives in this complex sentence which makes it very detailed, descriptive and paints a clear picture in the readers mind.
Repetition “don’t call out” is used to build up tension. Similes are also used as a technique in the story “as if I had left the natural world” this makes the comparison more interesting and clear.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle chose the title ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ because one of the main characters has a twisted lip it also informs the reader of what the story is going to be about.
‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ is written in first person, “I sat up in my chair”. This is done because it gives the narrators point of view and makes it more realistic. Dr Watson, Holmes friend, is the narrator of the story.
Arthur Conan Doyle uses a lot of language techniques in the story to make it more exciting and to build suspense. Repetition is one of the many techniques in the story “I came to find a friend.” This use of repetition emphasise what is being said. Alliteration is also used “broad balustraded bridge.” This emphasises the size of the bridge. Arthur Conan Doyle also uses the five senses to set the scene “heavy brown opium smoke.” This quote shows two of the five senses, sight and smell, this describes the sight and smell of the smoke and it makes it more realistic for the reader and shows them how horrible it was in the den.
Personification is also used “vile alley luring” this use of personification makes it more interesting and brings the description of the alley to life. The ally is seen as dangerous place. Metaphors are another technique in the story “a bulldog chin” this enhances the comparison of the chin and giving added meaning. Similes are also used “Like bird to a light house.” This simile explains that whenever people were in trouble they would always go to Dr Watson’s wife for help. The simile makes the comparison more interesting and clear.
Effective verbs and short sentences for impact both make what is being said more effective. “peering through the gloom” this is an effective verb that is used in the story, it makes the story more frightening and effective. Short sentences are also used “murdered!” “I don’t say that.” “perhaps.” Holmes is telling Mrs. St. Clair that her husband may have been murdered the short sentences make it more punchy and dramatic. it also makes it effective and emotive for the reader.
Long list sentence to build tension is another technique in the story “I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manger.” This makes the sentence more complex and full of description.
In ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ tension gradually builds, then fades away, only to build up again. The three scariest points in the story are, when Kate St. Clair finds her husbands jacket and blood in the room she had seen hi in, The second is when Mrs St. Clair says that she has received a letter from her husband. The third is when Sherlock Holmes revels that Hugh Boone is in fact Mr St. Clair.
Another technique used in the story is leaving things unsaid “the future only could show how strange, it was to be.” This makes the reader want to read on it also keeps the reader in suspense. Keeping the reader guessing is another technique “though the future only could show how strange it was to be.” I have used the same quote as it shows the points of the different techniques. This makes keeps the reader on edge wanted to find out what it to happen next. Making the reader sympathise with the character’s another technique “It was a long fight between my pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first chosen, in spring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets with coppers.” Mr Neville St. Clair asks Sherlock not to expose him because he doesn’t want shame his wife and children. The story provides a twist in the tale “Great heavens, it is indeed the missing man.” Neville St. Clair was never dead he was disguised as Hugh Boone.
This story gives clues so that the reader can guess what will happen next “On the very day I saw his last he cut himself in the bedroom.” Neville St. Clair and Hugh Boone both had cut their fingers this hints that they are the same person.
H.G Wells chose the title ‘The Red Room’ because the fear which is in the story takes place in the ‘Red Room’.
‘The Red Room’ is written in first person “I can assure you”. This is the narrator writing the story from his point of view. H.G Wells story contains a lot of language techniques, repetition is one “It’s your own choosing” this builds up tension for the story as it makes the reader feel that something is going to happen. An appeal to the senses is also used in the story “I heard the sound of a stick”. This shows the rear of the character. Another example of the senses is “My hands trembled so much”. This shows the fear in the character this also brings the story to life. Personification is another technique “The shadows cover and cluster”. This makes the setting come alive and is terrifying to the audience. Metaphors are also in the story “left an ocean of mystery”, this enhances the comparisons it also gives added meaning, and this also shows that there are loads of hidden secrets.
Similes also occur in this story “It was like a raged storm-cloud”. He is comparing fear to a cloud this makes the comparison more interesting and clear.
Effective verbs are used in the story “The echo’s rang up”. This shows that there is nothing moving only him. It also shows the spiral staircase is long. Effective verbs also makes the story more scary and effective. Another technique is short sentences for impact “This won’t do” “What’s up?” “Steady on!” This gives a punchy impact to show fear. “I turn to where the flames were still dancing between the glowing coals, and splashing red reflections upon the furniture, made two steps towards the gate, and incontinently the flames dwindled and vanished, and as I thrust the candle between the bars darkness closed upon me like the shutting of an age, wrapped about me in a stifling embrace, sealed my vision, and crushed the last vestiges of reason from my brain.” This complex sentence is full of descriptions to make it more interesting.
In this story the tension gradually builds to a climax, the climax in the story is when the man bumps his head with that is knocked. In this story the author doesn’t make you sympathise with the character. The author has made the character arrogant he looks down on the old people this makes the reader dislike him. This story also provides a twist in the tale “The worst of all the things that haunt poor mortal man,” “Said I, and that is all its nakedness fear”. This shows there is no ghost only fear itself.
This story also withholds important information right to the end. “There is neither ghost of earl nor ghost of countess in that room, there is no ghost there all” This keeps the reader, reading and builds up suspense, as they want to find out what is in the room if there are no ghosts.
In the last part of the essay I will be comparing all of the three gothic stories and looking at their similarities and differences. I will also be comparing things like descriptions each writer chose, and the setting in which they based their stories.
All of the three chosen stories have steep leading down, this signifiers the unknown, dark, spooky, scary and discomforting, as if they are going down towards hell.
In ‘The Signalman’ there are steps leading down to the signal box, these steps are damp and very weird. “I found a rough zig zag descending path...” This shows that the steps are meant to give the reader an unsettling feeling almost like a warning that something spooky and unearthly is below.
In ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ the steep flight of stairs leading down to the opium den. “approached by a steep flight of steps leading downing to a black gap like a mouth of a cave.” These steps signify something frightening, spooky and sinister, this also gives the reader a discomforting feeling.
In ‘The Red Room’ there’s a spiral flight of stairs going down to the dark unknown. “The echoes rang up and down the spiral staircase”. These steps signify something menacing. In addition the stairs are a spiral this also signifies something weird and a twist.
All three stories also have red lights. These red lights signify death, evil and blood. In the signalman the red light is the light in the train tunnel. “He pointed to the red light...” This red light alone gives a feeling of unsettlement, but as the red light is in the dark train tunnel it adds to what this is meant to signify. The light in the tunnel also represents ghosts when the red light comes on ghosts appear and deaths take place “...in the gloomy red light...” This also tells us that something bad, maybe to do with death, is going to take place in the dark train tunnel.
The red light in the ‘Red Room’ is in fact the light which makes the red room red. “The door to the red room”. This tells us that the ‘Red Room’ in self is a dangerous, spooky and scary place. This also signify death, evil and blood as the whole room is red and this is what the colour signify.
the light in the ‘Man With The Twisted Lip’ is the flames which are being lit to smoke the opium. “Little red circles of light, now bright, now faint as the burning poison waxed.” Theses little red lights tell the reader that the opium den is not a good place it also tells the reader that there is evil presence of there id going to be a death.
A similarities with all three stories is that they are all written in first person narrative, this allows there senses and feelings to be shared with the reader. In the signalman the narrator is unnamed, the narrator is also unnamed in the red room. In The Man With The Twisted Lip the narrator is Dr Watson who is Sherlock Holmes assistant.
All three stories have gothic elements in their settings. ‘The Red Room is cold and dark with a musky dead smell. “The sombre reds and blacks of the room troubled me, even with seven candles the place was merely dim.” It is like this because it is an unused room and is haunted. It is has the effect of making it scary, unknown and a sense of ancientness.
In ‘The Red Room’ there is also a subterranean passage. “The long draughty subterranean passage was chilly and dusty, and my candle flared and made the shadows cover and quiver.” It is like this because it in a Lorraine castle which has three old people living in it, which means it would not be looked after or cleaned at all. This has the effect of making it creepy, spooky and scary. It is an underground passage below the castle almost like it is going to a dungeon or an evil, hellish place. It is underground also therefore almost unknown.
In ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ the opium den is a long room with bunk bed on either side, it is also below ground. “I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager.” The opium den is dark, malodorous as well as being very tight. This has the effect of making it seem going into the dark, foul unknown. It is compared to a slave ship. The people in the opium den are the slaves to the opium drug, it also makes it seem small and claustrophobic.
The signalman is a remote and lonely signal box in the country, the rail line runs in the middle of a valley. The signal box is sited around grey sky’s, deadly smells and above is a gloomy sky. “On either side, a dripping-wet wall of jagged stone, excluding all view but a strip of sky, the perspective one way only a crooked prolongation of this great dungeon, the shorter perspective in the other direction terminating in a gloomy red light, and the gloomier entrance to a black tunnel, in whose massive architecture there was a barbarous, depressing and forbidding air.” it is because it is an remote place in the country that nobody really cares about. This has the effect of making it scary, spooky, strange and unearthly. This setting, like the other two, is also below ground level and is frosty, mysterious, clammy, and smells.
‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ is different to the other stories as it has many settings but they do all have gothic elements. The opium den is long, low room which is full of thick and heavy brown opium smoke. “I found the latch and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship.” It is like this because an opium den was a place were the illegal drug opium was taken, this drug would slow down the reactions and actions of a person. This meant that most people would stay for long durations of time, mostly men. This has the effect of making it foreboding, discomforting and slightly strange.
All Three stories have mysterious openings, this done to give a spooky feeling also gives a feeling of going into the unknown.
In the signal there’s long dark tunnel. “and the gloomier entrance to a black tunnel.” This gives the effect of underground, unknown dark and forbidding. The ides of underground signifies the un-known and secretive happenings.
In ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ the opening of the opium den is described as the opening of a cave. “approached by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave.” This gives the effect of going into the dark unknown.
In The Red Room the door which is opened to the Red Room is dark. “The door to the red room and the steps up to it were in a shadowy corner.” This gives a feeling of entering the dark, menacing, strange unidentified.
There are many grotesque characters in all threes stories.
In ‘The Red Room’ there are grotesque characters there is the man with the shade “his eyes were covered by a shade,” The man with the withered arm “man with the withered arm”. Along with the old woman “The old woman sat staring”. All of these characters are described to be ugly and weird looking. “his lower lip, half averted, hung pale and pink from his decaying yellow teeth.” These grotesque characters are made to give the story an even unearthly feel, they also made the Lorraine castle seem more ghostly.
In ‘The Signalman’ the grotesque character is the signalman himself. The signalman is described negatively “he was a dark sallow man with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows.” The signalman is made to look like this to fit in with the setting and make the story weirder.
In ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ the grotesque character is Mr St. Clair who is disguised as a tramp called Hugh Boone is revolting and grubby he also has ginger hair and a scar to make his lip look disfigured. “A shock of orange hair, a pale face disfigured by a horrible scar.”
There are also similarities with grotesque characters in the gothic stories.
There is a similarity between Isa Whitey in ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ he is described as grotesque “with yellow, pasty face.” and old woman in the red room “pale and pink”. They both are described as ugly and to have discoloured faces, this means that these characters are either unhealthy or old.
All three stories have gothic elements in the stories.
In The Man With The Twisted Lip there is a lot of gloom, fog and smoke. “Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies” “thick and heavy with the brown opium smoke” This makes the place more mysterious and frightening because it gives a feeling of the dark gloomy nameless. The story temperature is constantly cols as it is set at night time, this also give an unknown feel as it is dark.
In ‘The Signalman’ is constantly cold and is sometimes dark, it is set it a deep valley which means that as the sun doesn’t go down into the valley it is constantly cold. The valley walls a very slippery as the rain water will run down it when it rains, this makes the zig zag path dangerous “clammy stones that became oozier and wetter...”
In ‘The Red Room’ temperature is lightly to be cold as it is Lorraine castles, which only three disfigured people live in. There would have also only been fire places and there would not have been lit everywhere otherwise it wouldn’t have been dark.
In conclusion all of the three are gothic horror stories however ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ is a detective story the other two being ‘The Red Room’ also ‘The Signalman’ are ghost stories. All three stories also have a twist in the tale. The twist in ‘The Signalman is that the Signalman’s vision comes true and the narrator’s thoughts are repeated by the workmen. In ‘The Man With The twisted Lip’ the twist is that there was no murder Mr St. Clair was just disguising himself. In ‘The Red Room’ the twist is that there are no ghosts just the mans fear.
Two of the stories are based on real places and one is just imaginary. ‘The Signalman’ is set in a remote lonely signal box in the country next a railway line in a valley this is a real life place. ‘The man With The Twisted Lip’ is also based on a real life place it is set in the East London Docklands and an Opium den. However ‘The Red Room’ is set in an imaginary place, this is an old Lorraine castle.
All three stories were written in the Victorian period however they were written in different years. ‘The signalman was written inn 1865, ‘The Man With The Twisted Lip’ in 1891 and ‘The Red Room’ in 1894.
All three stories are written in first person narrative. Some stories give more information about the narrator then others.
