The Red Room, From The Ostler and The Treasure in the Forest Essay Example

dreadful act against his own mother during a heated argument regarding his desire to marry the woman he loves: "Aha! You she-devil, where's the knife? Never mind mother- too late now."

The text discusses the promises made to marry, with a mention of a murder. However, there are several unanswered questions regarding the murder, such as if it was the narrator's mother who got murdered, what caused the dispute, and who the woman the narrator is planning to marry. Collins deliberately creates these uncertainties to generate anticipation in the readers, urging them to continue reading. This portion of the narrative takes place in a stable, where the ostler sleeps and experiences a peculiar dream. The scene then shifts outside a house, where the landlord approaches the narrator and shares his own dream. By revealing this connection, Collins provides readers with a hint that the next part of the story might occur at the same farm, as the landlord is aware of what the ostler dreamt about.

The inclusion of the landlord in the narrator's dream piques the reader's curiosity about their role. In the beginning, four characters are introduced: the narrator, who notices unusual behavior from the ostler while sleeping. It is implied that the narrator stays at an inn since they are deeply impacted by what they have witnessed, as seen when they mention retracing their steps across the inn-yard. This character sets up the subsequent part of the story.

The landlord, who also serves as the narrator, is a character in the story and potentially involved in it. The ostler, who stands out among the others, is troubled by his dream. In the description, Collins indicates

that he slowly moves one thin arm until it rests over his throat and shudders slightly. By using the word "thin," Collins implies that the ostler's actions accurately represent a dramatic moment in his life. The author demonstrates the anguish of the ostler who, while dreaming, seems to be reliving a dramatic experience. Collins depicts him throwing up both hands with a hysterical gasp, emphasizing his lack of control and overwhelming emotions. The use of present tense heightens the reader's feeling of being there, observing alongside the narrator.

The ostler's mother is mentioned as the fourth character, with little information given about her. However, it is clear that she is one of the main characters. Another character described by the ostler in his dream is a woman with flaxen hair and golden yellow streaks. She may be his fiance, as he mentions, "I've promised to marry, and marry I must." This suggests that she may also be a main character, as she is the subject of the argument in the dream. Collins chooses not to introduce her to the story, leaving the reader curious about this character and the reasons behind the ostler's mother rejecting their marriage.

The second paragraph of Collins' work employs a lengthy sentence, punctuated with dashes, to vividly portray the actions of the ostler. This technique creates urgency and tension, while the use of present tense adds immediacy. Additionally, Collins utilizes quick breath-like phrases to intensify this effect.

H. G. Wells gained fame through his science fiction novels like 'The War of Worlds' and 'The Time Machine'. However, Wells also delved into the intricacies of human psychology and mental processes in his narrative 'The

Red Room'.

The choice of the title "Red Room" raises expectations about the story's content. The color "red" is often associated with blood and danger, suggesting a potentially horrific tale. Additionally, the word "room" indicates the setting and conveys an eerie and confined atmosphere. The story immediately establishes its genre as horror with the mention of a "tangible ghost" in the opening lines. The protagonist, an arrogant young man, declares, "It will take a very tangible ghost to frighten me," suggesting that his bravery will be challenged or his mindset altered as the story progresses. The three other characters in the story are all old and grotesque individuals, each introduced with a unique description like the "man with the withered arm."

Wells uses this technique to create a feeling of horror in the reader. The elderly individuals are eerie characters who have a "droning insistence," but the man with the withered arm appears to be the most intelligent character among the three as he interacts more frequently with the main character. He continually repeats his words of wisdom throughout the story, saying "It's your own choosing," which adds to the sense of mystery. The old woman is comparable to the man with the withered arm, as she also repeats her phrase: "This night of all nights."

The quote in this passage is set in brackets and bolded, attracting attention to its significance and creating curiosity for the reader to continue reading. The third character mentioned is an older individual, described as even more distorted and grotesque than the others. This character relies on a single crutch for support, wears a shade over his eyes, and has a pale

and pink lower lip hanging from decaying yellow teeth.

This character's presence adds tension to the scene, as it appears that the other two elderly characters dislike him. As stated in the story, there is a "glance of positive dislike." Additionally, the young man in the story sees a reflection of himself in the old mirror at the end of the room, which is distorted and exaggerated. This vision furthers the expectation that he may also become like these old individuals - fearful of the legendary ghost. The story begins in the living room of an old and eerie castle, where these elderly individuals seem to reside.

The room creates an impression of protection from the Red Room as it is located far away. The man with the withered arm describes the route to the room: "You go along the passage for a bit until you come to a door, and through that is a spiral staircase, etc..." Despite its warmth and liveliness with a fireplace and occupants, the room ironically instills horror. The fire casts shadows on the walls, including "A monstrous shadow of him crouched upon the wall." The old people in the room, described as deformed, generate a morbid image, as the young man observes their actions as a "droning insistence." Seeking directions to the Red Room, he decides to proceed.

The man with the withered arm provides the reader with several indications of what the atmosphere may be like outside the living room. For instance, he mentions that "There is a candle on the slab outside the door," which suggests that he should take it. This gives an idea that the journey

from the living room to the Red Room will be dark. Additionally, the mention of a "door covered in baize" conveys that no one has entered the Red Room for a long time. Furthermore, the man with the withered arm notes that the young man goes 'alone' to the room, isolating him from the rest of the group and intensifying the tension as it portrays his insecurity.

The language utilized by Wells in the story is indicative of the time it was written. The phrase "Eight-and-twenty-years" signifies a span of twenty-eight years. Wells employs numerous adjectives to depict the characters and their actions: The three individuals caused unease within me, with their thin silences, their hunched posture, their apparent hostility towards me and each other. This suggests that he may eventually become similar to these elderly individuals, who despite disliking one another, coexist out of fear to leave. Moreover, this quote serves as additional evidence that the elderly may be fearful of the legend: "all close together."

The text suggests that the three individuals may be seeking safety together, despite their dislike for one another. The Treasure in the Forest, written by H. G. Wells in 1895, has a title that indicates the story's plot and prepares the reader for a traditional treasure hunt filled with excitement and adventure. Familiarity with The Red Room raises expectations of a similar writing style in The Treasure in the Forest, as both stories are authored by H. G. Wells. Notably, the language used to describe events in both stories provides insight into the characters' nature, such as the use of phrases like "Queer unnatural tilting on his face" (from The

Red Room) and "It's queer" (from The Treasure in the Forest). The absence of any indications of human life can be observed in the first paragraph.

The story's setting is described using various verbs and adjectives. It is situated in a 'virgin forest', indicating that the characters are alone and exposed. This isolation generates tension while also placing them in potential danger, since the forest remains unexplored, leaving them unaware of the perils it holds.

Wells uses vivid descriptions of the forest to create a clear image of the setting. This suggests that the characters, who are seen as villains, will be taught a lesson or punished by nature. The setting is described as hot and exotic with mentions of a beach and a blazing sky. The second paragraph begins with a character speaking about something that should be there, but it is not explicitly mentioned what it is. This creates intrigue and encourages the reader to continue reading. From the title, it can be inferred that the "it" is likely treasure. The initial verses do not reveal the characters' intentions for being in the forest, but it is obvious that they are hunting for treasure. One character possesses a yellow sheet of paper that is believed to be a treasure map. This introduction sparks curiosity about how they acquired the map. Overall, Wells creates expectations that captivate the reader's interest.

The text later explains that the map was obtained from a Chinese man, evidenced by its Chinese writings. However, despite this explanation, Wells creates another anticipation to maintain the reader's curiosity. The focus shifts to the Chinese people who possessed the map, leading one to ponder on

their identity and how they came to possess it. The quote "They all were" induces curiosity about the fate of these individuals and why they have the map.

The term "Chinee" used by one of the characters reflects the time period when this piece of writing was composed, as nowadays Chinese individuals are not referred to by that name. In the story's beginning, there are two men, Hooker and Evans, whose names have an unusual quality, perhaps resembling pirates in order to evoke a sense of treasure-themed storytelling for the reader. Alternatively, it may be Wells' intention to hint that, just as pirates are typically depicted as villains or meet an untimely demise in treasure stories, these characters are unlikely to survive or achieve their goal of obtaining the treasure in this particular narrative.

The passage highlights that the men communicated quietly with each other, potentially indicating that their throats are parched or there is mutual dislike. It also reveals, from the rest of the quote, that their lips are dry and firm, signifying the extreme heat and their prolonged dehydration. This is further emphasized when one of the men expresses the need for a drink: "I could do with a drink now." This comment suggests that they were ill-equipped for the journey and are acting on impulse. The quote "Unprovisioned canoe" supports my argument that these men were unprepared for the expedition and acted hastily.

The story later presents the characters with potential consequences for their weaknesses. The phrase "The intense excitement of the struggle for the plan" raises questions about their motivations, while also suggesting that obtaining the treasure required a significant amount of time during

"the long voyage," emphasizing its value and highlighting their greed. Written in third person, the story allows readers to observe the characters' actions and emotions as if they were being viewed through a camera's lens.

Both "The Ostler" and "The Red Room" do not provide names for their characters, possibly using this approach to convey their roles without delving into detailed descriptions. Openings are crucial in establishing expectations for genre and concisely introducing characters. In my opinion, among these openings, I find "The Red Room"'s opening line most effective as it immediately captivates readers with a quote that arouses curiosity about why the character is discussing ghosts.

The opening line of "From The Ostler" may not be as captivating as that of "The Red Room," but I believe that the entire beginning of "From The Ostler" has a greater impact as it consistently creates anticipation. In contrast, I find the introductory paragraph of "The Treasure in the Forest" to be less captivating, potentially causing younger readers to lose interest and abandon reading.