Compare And Contrast The Presentation Of The Supernatural Essay Example

Here was a leader, a strong man, who didn't even resist when the ghost asked him to accompany him. This would have made the audience contemplate their own vulnerability, as they would wonder what this ghost could do to them if it could affect someone as powerful as Napoleon. Additionally, the setting in which they read the story would add to their fear, as they might have been reading it in a similar environment as depicted in the story.

In "Napoleon and the Spectre," the twist provides the reader with a logical explanation, albeit not the most imaginative ending. Nonetheless, it achieves its intended purpose by resolving the built-up tension within the story. Similarly, "An Arrest" follows the same pattern seen in supernatural stories, including the dark settings and deserted surroundings.

The atmosphere in both "Napoleon and the Spectre" and "An Arrest" is similar, with a cold and somewhat foggy setting. Negative language such as "cold" and phrases like "into the gloom" contribute to creating an unpleasant environment. Additionally, the mention of "having murder" early in the story immediately adds a dark tone. The sinister figure in "An Arrest" resembles the "ghost" in "Napoleon and the Spectre" as they both exert a dominating and unyielding control over either powerful or callous individuals they oversee.

The text highlights how the feeling of fear affects the victims in both "Napoleon and the Spectre" and another story, making them more terrifying. Both stories feature calm and composed characters who, in this situation, are "sweating with fear." If a normal person were to experience this, it would likely scare them to death. The text emphasizes this contrast by stating that even someone

who calmly killed a guard with a metal pipe is now sweating with fear.

Just like in 'Napoleon and the Spectre', 'An Arrest' also has a plot twist, but it is slightly different. It does not provide a logical explanation for everything that happened. Instead, it leaves the reader hanging and creates suspense by revealing that Burton Duff, the jailer, is actually a ghost. This revelation occurs right at the end when the text states, "In the corridor lay the dead body of Burton Duff." The placement of this information at the conclusion of the story allows the reader to ponder and keeps the possibility of supernatural elements alive.

In 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band', Miss Stoner is puzzled by her sister's death. The room appears to be securely locked, and the only person who could have entered was herself. The writer portrays her confusion in a similar manner as in 'Napoleon and the Spectre', where everything seems strange and she experiences a sense of horror and impending doom. Napoleon also reacts defensively to every noise he hears, just like Miss Stoner, who fiercely protects her sister. As Miss Stoner narrates the story, an atmosphere of tension and suspense builds up. The writer achieves this through the use of phrases like "the dead of night" and other negative expressions. Additionally, the setting is described as windy, dark, and rainy, resulting in poor visibility, which adds to the mysterious atmosphere. It is also worth noting the mention of a mysterious whistle and metallic sound that seem to originate from nowhere.

All the clues provided by Miss Stoner led Sherlock Holmes to believe that the supernatural was involved. The

impenetrable room and the presence of inexplicable noises suggested that there was no logical explanation, and the only possibility seemed to be that the cause was shock or fear, ultimately pointing to supernatural involvement.

All three 19th-century short stories, 'Napoleon and the Spectre' by Charlotte Bronte, 'An Arrest' by Ambrose Bierce, and 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' by author Conan Doyle, have similarities in terms of the setting. They all take place in a very dark, empty, and mysterious environment. Additionally, all three stories have a similar buildup, creating an atmospheric tension through the presence of strange figures, abnormal occurrences, and eerie noises. However, each story differs in its approach to explaining the supernatural elements. Only 'Napoleon and the Spectre' provides a logical explanation for the events that unfold. Despite these variations, all three stories portray the supernatural in a mysterious manner. Thus, I have compared and contrasted the presentation of the supernatural in these three short stories and observed that though they share a basic structure, each has its own unique characteristics.