Compare ‘The Red Room’ by HG Wells and ‘Examination Day’ Essay Example

Red Room' by Wells. In a traditional manner, Wells gradually constructs the story, enticing the reader to continue. He accomplishes this by steadily increasing the suspense. The protagonist's lengthy passage, spanning pages 208 and 209, contributes to this buildup. Once completed, Wells quickens the pace and establishes a sense of urgency on page 212. He achieves this through the use of brief, impactful paragraphs filled with punctuation.

The intentional placement of punctuation in this text creates a sense of breathlessness for the reader, evoking the image of someone running frantically. To enhance the suspense, there is minimal gory description and limited conversation, with the narrative being presented in the first person to elicit empathy. As previously stated, the ending is paradoxical, deviating from the conventional thriller/horror genre by excluding a monstrous creature. The twist at the end is completely unexpected. This story caters to an educated audience due to its abundant use of complex language.

The author, Slesar, employs a unique approach to building suspense in 'Examination Day.' Rather than using traditional methods, he incorporates red herrings, resulting in a slow and gradual buildup of tension. One such example is the title itself. Typically, one would expect individuals to strive for success in exams. This assumption is maintained until the protagonist's father responds abruptly and inaccurately to the protagonist's simple questions. An instance of this can be seen when the father states, 'Dad... how far away is the Sun? Five thousand miles.' This particular moment in the narrative signals to the reader that something ominous looms over the upcoming exam. As a result, a palpable atmosphere of tension envelops the family's home.

This is demonstrated through the statement:

'The Jordans never mentioned the exam... Mrs. Jordan broached the topic... her worried tone prompted her husband to respond curtly.' There are numerous distractions in this narrative. One of the primary distractions is: 'The government is interested in assessing your intelligence... I excel academically... but this is unlike anything I've encountered before...' This leads readers to once again believe that the exam needs to be passed with high grades. This assumption arises from the protagonist's assertion that he can achieve excellent marks, which typically indicates success.

Throughout the text, the tension is steadily built up until the ending, which is both effective and brief. Several details emphasize the official and significant nature of the examination. Examples include the statement "Your classification number is 600-115..." spoken in a brisk, clipped official voice, as well as a young man seated at a polished desk wearing an insignia-less tunic. The concluding part of the story resolves any confusion and provides a clear explanation for why the protagonist's parents were concerned.