Compare and contrast the ways in which the authors set out Essay Example

the bed top descended... until the dusty scent from the lining of the canopy began to creep into my nostrils." Collins achieves this sense of tension and suspense by employing emotive language and vivid descriptions.

The purpose of using visual descriptions in both stories is to help the reader imagine the events and add tension. By gradually building up the story, it engages the reader and leaves them wanting more, just like in the other story. Furthermore, the settings of both stories contribute significantly to creating a suspenseful atmosphere and invoking fear in the reader. For instance, in 'The Whole Town's Sleeping,' the writer has opted to place the story in a ravine, a setting that symbolizes danger, isolation, and death.

The text implies that the narrative unfolds in a perilous setting, which hints towards an impending negative event. This selection of environment resonates with readers' fears, as people today usually abhor solitude from their community, enabling the reader to empathize with the character and experience disconnection from society. Conversely, 'A Terribly Strange Bed,' another story mentioned in the text is set in Paris; a locale that may not seem intimidating at present. But during its composition era in the 19th Century, British folks perceived France as an unstable nation.

In the era depicted, Britain was embroiled in the Napoleonic War and feared a possible attack from France. The narrative situates its characters within this context, enabling readers to empathize with their circumstances, potentially inducing discomfort. Moreover, Collins chose to locate a major portion of the story within a gambling establishment notorious for its shady occupants.

In addition, a gambling house is perceived as 'immoral' which would induce fear

in a 19th Century reader due to their spirituality and belief in the corrupt nature of such establishments. This fear is also driven by a deep-rooted anxiety of divine consequences for straying from the righteous path. Ray Bradbury utilizes emotive language and vivid descriptions to further enhance the unsettling atmosphere of 'The Whole Town's Sleeping', allowing readers to visualize the setting and immerse themselves in the story.

The writer uses emotive language in different ways to create a sense of fear in both stories. In the beginning of the story, when describing the ravine, he uses phrases like "Always the black dynamo was humming, with electric sparkles where fireflies hovered." In 'A Terribly Strange Bed', the writer incorporates French words like "Ah! sacre petit polisson de Napoleon!" This use of French words leaves the reader feeling dubious and potentially alienated, adding to the sense of unease in regards to the people and situation.

Not only do descriptive words in "The Whole Town's Sleeping" incite fear among readers, but they might also evoke a higher level of dread amongst women in today's society. This could be attributed to the higher prevalence of crimes during nighttime, which is when the narrative unfolds. Women are frequently perceived as more susceptible than men, making them potential targets for such crimes. Furthermore, the scenario of Lavina and her two companions strolling alone at night rings true with women who can identify with these characters and acknowledge their inherent risks.

The utilization of imagery in both stories is pivotal in generating tension and suspense. In 'The Whole Town's Sleeping', the author employs extensive imagery to establish tension and cultivate the appropriate atmosphere.

A prime illustration of Bradbury's use of imagery takes place when the three women stroll down the street, devoid of any company. The author states, "...the echoes following like gunshots". By employing this quote, Bradbury effectively provides a vivid depiction of the deserted street while using words that elicit associations of mortality and peril.

In 'A Terribly Strange Bed', Collins also effectively generates tension through the use of imagery. When Faulkner and his friend enter the gambling house, the writer begins to portray the other individuals present in the room, such as the "wrinkled old man, with the vulture eyes and the darned greatcoat". This chosen vocabulary is particularly skillful, as the word 'vulture' alone allows us to envision the character's cunning and sly nature.

The text suggests that we need to be cautious of a certain character as he is similar to a vulture, swiftly preying on his victims. This alerts us to the potential danger Faulkner faces and emphasizes the need for him to be wary of this man. Moreover, personification is employed by Ray Bradbury in his story 'The Whole Town's Sleeping' to animate the dummies in the store windows. "Their empty blue eyes observed as the women strolled past them along the dark street."

The efficacy of this method is rooted in the fear it incites by implying that someone or something is always watching, a notion that can be unnerving. The situation becomes even more frightening when one realizes that the dummies within these tales are illusory. The incorporation of vivid imagery serves to amplify the feelings of peril and isolation, resulting in a disquieting reading journey. Both narratives contain 'conventional' characters

whose fates can be predicted by readers from the onset, adding to their suspenseful nature. Moreover, the demeanors of primary characters intensify the narrative tension.

In the narrative 'The Whole Town's Sleeping,' Lavina Nebbs is portrayed as the key character. She is a single lady who exemplifies confidence and typifies conventional norms. Even though she enjoys popularity and admiration from others, her character also reveals a degree of naivety. For instance, when the druggist comments, "Sure look pretty tonight," it underscores her demeanor and how others view her. Her seemingly nonchalant manner evokes fear and apprehension in readers' minds. As readers follow through with her actions, they can't avoid feeling anxious for her safety, anticipating that something ominous could occur while inwardly exclaiming, "No! Don't do that!"

Similarly, in the story 'A Terribly Strange Bed', there is a headstrong character named Faulkner, just like Lavina in a different story. Both characters exhibit similar traits, disregarding the advice of their friends and engaging in unconventional actions that put themselves at risk, evoking a sense of unease in the reader. Furthermore, the supporting characters in both stories serve to intensify the tension by being starkly different from the protagonists.

The text explains that the men in the story are cautious and they try to be watchful of the main characters in order to create suspense. Additionally, the author intentionally does not fully introduce the men, causing readers to be suspicious about who the 'Lonely One' might be among them. Both stories utilize narrative voices to build tension and suspense, albeit using different approaches. In "The Whole Town's Sleeping," the narrative voice is in third person. This technique effectively allows readers

to have some knowledge about the character's fate in the story.

Therefore, this increases reader engagement and discomfort. In contrast, the story 'A Terribly Strange Bed' employs a first-person narrative voice, which is equally impactful as it withholds excessive details, keeping the reader on edge. By limiting our knowledge to that of the character, the first-person narrative instills a sense of fear as we remain unaware of the identity of the character's adversary.

An example of this is shown in the story 'A Terribly Strange Bed' when Faulkner accepts a drink from the French man. "My attentive friend handed me one of the cups with a bow. " This quote demonstrates Faulkner's acceptance of the drink without hesitation, causing discomfort for us as readers regarding the French man. However, we do not anticipate any trouble because Faulkner appears at ease with the man. This further emphasizes the notion that our knowledge as readers is limited to the character's perspective in the story.

Both stories effectively utilize their endings to enhance the overall story and create a sense of fear. Although the techniques used to conclude the stories differ, they are equally impactful. In "The Whole Town's Sleeping," Ray Bradbury opts for a cliffhanger ending. This choice effectively leaves readers wondering about the events that follow, but it may also leave them feeling unsatisfied since the story's conclusion remains unknown.

In contrast, 'A Terribly Strange Bed' has a resolved ending. This is advantageous because it provides closure to the reader, leaving no questions unanswered. However, a drawback of a resolved ending is that it lacks the suspense and tension associated with a cliffhanger. Personally, I believe that 'The Whole

Town's Sleeping' is a superior story due to its more effective use of techniques compared to 'A Terribly Strange Bed'.

Furthermore, the utilization of false plateaus in the story, along with the gradual buildup leading to a cliffhanger ending, is highly effective in creating tension. Overall, these techniques used in both stories effectively tap into the readers' fears, generating a compelling atmosphere. As a result, both narratives are likely to appeal to a wide audience due to the popularity of thriller genres.

People's enthusiasm for thriller narratives is dual-pronged. Firstly, individuals relish the thrill and terror that these stories instill while maintaining a safe boundary. Moreover, there is a widespread fascination with death as it is perceived to be our biggest fear by many of us. It could be speculated that our intrigue towards thrillers originates from the aspiration to face and comprehend our own eventual demise. Plus, in contemporary society, the popularity of thrillers persists as they offer realistic storylines that resonate with everyday occurrences.