How do the writers of The Red Room and The Signalman Essay Example

use of the supernatural, which is a key aspect of gothic literature. In horror stories, the supernatural is often portrayed through entities like ghosts and monsters. The inclusion of supernatural elements is crucial in creating suspense and fear. In 'The Red Room', the reader is compelled to question the occurrence of the candles being extinguished simultaneously, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The protagonist in "The Red Room" blames the abnormal occurrence on his own fear instead of the supernatural, which is the more obvious choice. Additionally, the creation of mystery and suspense is a typical element in gothic horror stories. In this story, the old people discussing the red room create a sense of mystery from the beginning.

The text discusses the mysteries behind the red room that the reader is yet to know about. The characters talk about the house and how there are many things to see and be sorrowful for when one is still young. "The Signalman" is an unconventional gothic horror story that puts emphasis on horrifying the reader.

The text highlights two ways in which the author generates fear in the reader. Firstly, it is evident that every death in the story is somehow linked to the presence of the ghost. This is evident as the signalman observes the spectre and shortly thereafter a death occurs, "Within six hours after the appearance, the memorable accident on this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and the wounded were brought along through the tunnel over the spot were the figure stood". Secondly, the author frightens the reader through the narrative of the signalman himself. The signalman shares his unsettling experiences with the

supernatural entity and how it fills him with horror each time he hears its call, 'Holloa! Below there! Through the signalman's story, readers gain a deep understanding of and empathy for his emotional torment.

Charles Dickens effectively emphasizes the terror in the narrative through his description of the tunnel. Using phrases like 'Great dungeon' and 'Lonesome post', the author creates a gloomy atmosphere that unnerves the reader, evoking images of a desolate dungeon or a haunting tomb.

The author emphasizes terrifying the reader by using the word 'terminating'. This word has a powerful connotation and exemplifies a typical element of gothic horror. Additionally, gothic horror stories often utilize archaic settings such as castles, monasteries, dungeons, and medieval architecture to create a tense atmosphere. In 'The Signalman', the signalman himself occupies a 'lonesome post' near a tunnel that has been previously described as a 'great dungeon'.

An archaic setting is constructed from an average tunnel in the following phrases, which depict "... clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter as I went down". This description conveys a visual of damp and moist stone caused by oozing. These words also evoke the same type of dampness and moisture found in graves and tombstones. The use of supernatural elements is another common feature in gothic horror stories. Ghosts and monsters are familiar characters used to portray the paranormal in these types of stories.

The inclusion of any supernatural elements is important in horror stories that revolve around the unknown. In 'The Signalman', the ghost takes on the form of a man who cries out for help. As the signalman approaches the ghost, it suddenly disappears. Typically, after the appearance of the

ghost, a disaster follows. The signalman recounts his encounter with the ghost, saying, "I heard a voice cry 'Holloa! Below there!'...and saw someone else standing by the red light near the tunnel, waving as I just demonstrated... I rushed towards it and reached out my hand to grab its sleeve, but then it vanished".

The quotes mentioned here summarize the initial sighting experienced by the signalman. It is a common element in gothic horror stories to include acts of barbarism and brutality. 'The Signalman' portrays evident signs of such brutality. The appearance of the spectre witnessed by the signalman is usually accompanied by dreadful accidents on the train track. As a train emerged from the tunnel, I observed something resembling a chaotic mix of hands and heads. I hurriedly pursued it, all the while hearing horrifying screams and cries.

The beginning of 'The Signalman' establishes a sense of mystery and suspense. When the traveller calls out "Holloa! Below there!" to the signalman, his response is intriguing. Instead of looking up at the traveler who stood on top of a steep cutting above him, the signalman turns around and looks down the line. This demonstrates acts of brutality and terror as many people screamed terribly and a young woman met her demise.

The signalman's peculiar response to a routine call creates an air of strangeness that immediately captivates the reader. The tension in 'The Red Room' grows steadily throughout the story, with the initial depiction of the elderly individuals and their slightly unsettling behavior leaving us questioning what is abnormal. As the story progresses, the tension continues to mount. The repetition of the phrase "This night of

all nights" by the elderly individuals intensifies the feeling of unease surrounding the approaching time.

As the conversation among the elderly continues and turns to describing the location of the red room, the tension escalates. Despite the numerous warnings from the old people, the protagonist separates from them and proceeds towards the red room. The portrayal of the surroundings while he makes his way intensifies the journey itself. While heading towards the red room, the protagonist believes he spots a crouching figure, but eventually realizes it is merely a statue. This moment serves to generate a slight thrill before the true excitement takes hold.

Upon entering the red room, the protagonist's attention is drawn to an alcove in the corner. This diversion from his main objective creates a sense of unease and doubt in the reader's mind. The tension escalates dramatically when the candle in the alcove unexpectedly goes out at the stroke of midnight. This moment intensifies as the protagonist desperately battles with the extinguishing candles, which mysteriously go out on their own. The climax is action-packed. Ultimately, having escaped the room, the protagonist suffers a blow to their head and is reunited with the elderly individuals.

At this point, the tension has diminished and the protagonist is safe. It is daytime, and the story concludes on a positive note. In contrast, the tension in 'The Signalman' is sporadic, with breaks in its structure. From the start of the story, the traveller notices the signalman's odd reaction, potentially misleading the reader into perceiving him as eerie and abnormal. As the story progresses, the traveller makes several observations about the signalman.

He concludes that he is very skilled at

his job. This initial analysis of the signalman characterizes him as the 'good guy', which is important in generating sympathy for him when he ultimately dies. Later in the story, the signalman expresses his doubts about the traveller due to the frequent calling of 'Holloa! Below there! The waving and the red light.' The purpose of this element in the story is to connect different sections of the narrative and create a mysterious link between the natural and supernatural worlds. At this stage, the reader should be even more invested in the story, as it reaches a climactic moment.

As the story progresses, the tension reaches its peak when the signalman subtly alludes to an issue that is troubling him but refuses to disclose it. This moment is highly tense because the reader becomes intrigued and curious, yearning to discover the source of the signalman's turmoil. The tension momentarily subsides when the traveller departs from the signalman for the night, providing a momentary respite. However, as the narrative unfolds and the traveller reunites with the signalman, tension once again begins to escalate.

The reason for the sudden increase in speed is because the signalman has finally revealed the chilling tale of the tunnel ghost and its connection to the accidents. This is the central focus of the story, around which everything else revolves. After this, there is a momentary break from the tension when the traveller leaves the signalman for a second night. However, the tension mounts once again for the shocking conclusion - on the traveller's third visit to the railway, he discovers that the signalman has tragically died in an accident.

Both 'The Red Room' and

'The Signalman' effectively create fear and tension in the reader through their openings. In 'The Red Room', H. G. Wells utilizes various techniques to captivate the readers' interest and encourage them to continue reading. One technique employed is the repetition of certain lines, such as the old man's warning to the protagonist, "it's your own choosing." This repetition instills a sense of fear and anticipation, compelling readers to eagerly delve further into the story.

Additionally, the protagonist's dialogue in which he states, 'it would take a very tangible ghost to frighten me,' clearly displays his skepticism towards ghosts. However, it is impossible to not anticipate that he will be proven wrong as the story unfolds. This curiosity drives the reader to continue reading, eager to discover the ultimate fate of the protagonist. Similar to Wells' story, Dickens employs peculiarly behaving characters at the beginning of his narrative. Furthermore, he utilizes extensive imagery to illustrate both the signalman and the surrounding setting.

The traveler observes the signal man's appearance, remarking, "I observed that he possessed a dark beard, thick eyebrows, and unattractive skin." Despite the unfavorable description, this characterization piques the reader's curiosity, prompting further interest in this enigmatic individual. Furthermore, the signal man's actions compel the reader to continue delving into the narrative, as the traveler notes, "When I drew near enough to touch him, he retreated a step and raised his hand." This peculiar behavior captivates the reader's attention, fostering a desire for further exploration of the signal man's story. Additionally, both protagonists in these tales display skepticism towards specters.

According to the protagonist in 'The Red Room', he is not easily scared

and it would require a physical ghost to frighten him. This implies that he either does not believe in ghosts or is not afraid of them. In 'The Signalman', the traveller insists, '... I assure you it did not ring when you went to the door'. This suggests that he does not want to entertain the possibility of a ghost, although he could also be trying to comfort the signalman. A common technique employed in ghost stories is the author's appeal to the reader's senses, and H.G. Wells utilizes this technique extensively in 'The Red Room'.

An example of this would be, 'I heard the sound of a stick... ' Here the writer is appealing the sense of hearing. In 'The Signalman' the traveller says, 'It had a strange dead smell,' here Charles Dickens has appealed to the reader's sense of smell. Another way both the writers create fear and tension in the reader in both stories, 'The Red Room' and 'The Signalman' is through their climaxes. In 'The Red Room' the protagonist enters the room and many extraordinary and unexplained things begin to occur, the candles simultaneously blow out one by one and even after relighting them, still go out.

H. G. Wells effectively builds tension and suspense throughout this portion of the story by employing specific techniques. One way he achieves this is through the use of long sentences, accompanied by commas, which creates a sense of speed and urgency. For instance, the passage "I have a vague memory of battering myself to and fro in the darkness, of a cramped struggle, and of my own wild crying I darted to and fro, of a

heavy blow, at least upon my forehead, a horrible sensation of falling that lasted an age..." exemplifies how the inclusion of commas in lengthy sentences maintains a fast-paced narrative, further adding to the overall suspense.

Both 'The Red Room' and 'The Signalman' create fear and tension in the reader through their endings. In 'The Red Room', the protagonist explains the unusual incidents, such as the candles going out, to be caused by 'fear'. The lack of a rational explanation may frustrate readers who, as humans, naturally seek rationality. Similarly, the ending of 'The Signalman' is not satisfactorily resolved.

The deaths of both the signalman and other individuals before him are unexplained. The protagonist in 'The Red Room' can be seen as both foolish and brave. Despite receiving warnings from the older characters and learning about the room's dark history, he still chooses to enter. However, it could also be argued that he displays heroic qualities by having the bravery to enter, survive, and come back out alive. I believe that the ending of 'The Signalman' is more impactful since it aligns better with the reader's expectations of a gothic horror story.

Both 'The Red Room' and 'The Signalman' employ language and stylistic features to create fear and tension in the reader. H. G Wells, author of 'The Red Room,' utilizes repetition as a stylistic feature. In the opening of the story, the old people repeatedly warn the protagonist about the red room and its history: "It's your own choosing," said the man with the withered arm once more. The repetition emphasizes the extent to which the protagonist was warned before entering the red room.

H. G. Wells employs adjectives

and personification to describe the protagonist's experience in the red room. The subterranean passage, depicted as "long and draughty," presents a chilling and dusty atmosphere that evokes discomfort in the protagonist. Additionally, the candle's flame flickers, causing the shadows to "cower and quiver." By personifying the shadows, Wells enhances the sense of vulnerability and unease. The act of cowering, typically associated with humans rather than shadows, intensifies the reader's apprehension and fear.

According to H. G. Wells, as the protagonist enters the red room, the vastness of the room is emphasized compared to the candle's small flame. In a powerful quote, Wells describes the candle as a tongue of flame that fails to reach the end of the room, leaving an ocean of mystery and suggestion in the darkness. This personification and metaphor are used by the author to portray the vastness and density of the room's darkness.

The use of personification is a preferred stylistic feature of H. G Wells, as seen throughout the story. One example is when he personifies the shadows, stating that they are "Lit and where the shadows had lain deepest". Another instance of personification is used to describe the shadow of a candle being blown out, when it is said that "Its shadow fell". This story also displays personification through the protagonist relighting one of the candles, as "The black shadow sprang back to its place". Overall, these instances of personification emphasize the vulnerability and danger that the protagonist faces, while also portraying the candle light as insignificant.

The shadows become almost sentient and relentlessly follow the main character until the very end, as noted by "The shadows seem to take another

step towards me." The personification of the shadows escalates until they ultimately surround and consume the protagonist. The depiction of the signalman's isolated position is described in a way that intensifies the reader's unease and dread. The phrase "dripping wet wall of jagged stone" incorporates language typically associated with hell or a burial site. In my opinion, out of the two narratives, the signalman has greater significance for contemporary audiences.

The signalman is faced with a psychological dilemma: the sighting of a spectre. Whenever he sees the spectre, it serves as a warning of an imminent accident. The burden of this predicament is that the signalman alone carries the weight of many lives on his shoulders. He cannot confide in others about his warnings and troubles, fearing they will perceive him as insane. In today's society, many people may understand and empathize with the signalman's psychological entrapment.

In contemporary times, a significant number of individuals may find themselves able to empathize with the psychological struggles highlighted in the text. These struggles are not necessarily derived solely from encounters with spectral entities, but rather may stem from problems like social isolation and substance abuse. Yet, the Signalman's predicament is primarily rooted in his belief that if he were to confide in others, they would dismiss him as mad and fail to comprehend his experiences. This sense of profound isolation and the perception that one's troubles are not understood remain deeply psychologically impactful, and are highly applicable to modern individuals who feel lost and uncertain about seeking assistance.