The Ways That Each Story Brought The Readers Of Their Time Essay Example

this period in history, people were generally friendlier towards each other than they tend to be in contemporary society.

Initially, the signalman is hesitant and fearful of talking to the narrator. However, we later discover that the narrator's actions reminded him of a past incident. Specifically, someone had shouted "Halloa below there" and warned the signalman to "Clear the way", indicating that two trains were on a collision course. In this incident, the signalman had witnessed a figure in the tunnel waving similar to how the narrator waved. Upon setting the alarm, the figure disappeared and the potential danger was averted. This experience left the signalman frightened and wary of individuals who wave and shout at him.

The supernatural is introduced to the readers through a figure that is not a man, creating an element of uncertainty and mystery. The sighting of this figure occurs in a dark tunnel, reminiscent of ghostly disappearances. Another story, "An Arrest" by Ambrose Bierce, takes place in Kentucky, America, where the liminal space is represented by a forest. Following his jail escape, Orrin Brower must navigate through this unfamiliar forest, as he is described by Bierce as having no knowledge of the land.

The murderer, a member of his own family, was filled with fear while in the forest. Bierce portrays him as having a high likelihood of either becoming lost in the woods or losing his sanity due to extreme fright. This creates a sense of isolation and unease for the readers, making them anticipate a supernatural occurrence in the near future.

To create an eerie ambiance in the forest, Bierce employs a range of words associated with this setting. Phrases like

"Dark," "Moon," "Stars," "Natural," "Escape," "Gloom," "Wood," and "Trees" contribute to a sense of being lost in the forest and enhance the supernatural atmosphere. Furthermore, Bierce employs colloquialism, such as the phrase "Pretty dark," to lend a conversational tone to the story, as if someone were narrating it directly to the readers. This approach was particularly effective during the time when the story was written since literacy rates were low, making oral storytelling by friends and family members the primary means of sharing narratives.

When Brower emerged from the forest, he observed a figure. Bierce chooses to use the term "figure" to evoke a sense of uncertainty. Had he used "Burton Duff," it would not have achieved the same effect. Subsequently, we discover that it was the ghost of Burton Duff. Upon seeing the figure, Brower became immobilized, being "Filled with buckshot." The figure then raised its arm and gestured towards the direction of the jail. Without hesitation, Brower commenced his return journey. Bierce characterizes Brower as a "Courageous criminal," yet when confronted with the figure, his demeanor did not appear particularly courageous as he obediently complied with the figure's wishes.

In the final scene, Burton Duff leads Brower to the jail. Inside, Duff's lifeless body lies on a table, and Brower enters the room alone. This eerie ending leaves the readers in suspense, unsure of what will happen next and suggesting a supernatural element. Moving on to Edgar Allen Poe's "Shadow," this particular story proved challenging to comprehend due to Poe's focus on creating mood and atmosphere rather than an explicit plot.

The text underscores how Poe's specific word choice in "Shadow" enhances the reader's engagement with

the supernatural. The allure for readers is not necessarily rooted in the story's plot, but rather in the vivid language that Poe employs. For example, words like "Pestilence," "Illumined," "Countenance," and "Enshrouded" are used to enrich the narrative and support readers' understanding of events. Moreover, the semantic field of "Shadow" is filled with themes related to evil, darkness, and death. Terms such as "Evil," "Death," "Dead," "Spirit," “Souls,” “Suffocation,” “Terror,” and “Flames” exemplify this.

These words are all associated with the main words, adding power and excitement to boring sentences. The supernatural theme links the words and makes them impactful. "Shadow" stands out from the other stories as it is written in a poetic style rather than a traditional narrative. Poetry allows the writer to carefully choose words that create the appropriate mood and atmosphere, and I believe Poe has accomplished this in "Shadow," effectively immersing readers in the supernatural realm. The story begins with an epigraph that sets the scene: "I walk through the valley of the shadow." Another story to examine is "The Night-Doings At 'Deadman's'."

This is a very strange story that lacks detail and is the complete opposite of "Shadow". Instead of focusing on the mood and atmosphere, Bierce emphasizes the plot and what is happening, which is not ideal for readers who seek a scary atmosphere to engage with the supernatural. Nevertheless, the story does have a liminal space - a shanty on a snow-covered mountain called "Little pine-log shanty".

This narrative illustrates a threshold space bearing resemblances to "The Signalman". The individual living in this area is entirely isolated from the rest of the world, thus forming a perfect backdrop for uncanny

incidents as there's no way out or salvation. This arrangement is mirrored in John Carpenter's movie "The Thing", set in the secluded Antarctic. The seclusion of this location cultivates an atmosphere ripe for paranormal happenings. Ambiguities surrounding characters in this story provide room for readers to construct their own understanding.

The story lacks a clear explanation of who the characters are and why they are present, creating an eerie atmosphere where any of them could potentially be ghosts. The open-ended ending allows readers to form their own interpretations, adding to the shock factor as one character is seemingly portrayed as death without confirmation. Another story worth examining is "The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar," which generated significant controversy in the 1840s when it was written.

When people read it, they believed it to be a true story, but Poe clarified that he himself had written it. He presented the story as a diary, with the narrator being the main character, named "M. Valdemar". This approach of using a narrator is common in stories, such as in "Night Doings At 'Deadman's'", where the narrator states, "Mr Beeson sat there". By employing this technique, stories can be set in the past or present. In this particular story, no supernatural events occur, but there is a supernatural theme present. The narrator's goal is to keep M. Valdemar alive after his death using mesmerism. He succeeds in doing so, but when he reverses the spell, M. Valdemar disintegrates.

This story possesses both a compelling plot and a captivating mood and atmosphere. Unlike other stories such as "Shadow" that predominantly focus on creating a rich atmosphere but lack a strong plot,

this story successfully combines both elements. The author, Poe, effectively establishes the mood and atmosphere by employing emotive language, as seen in his use of words like "Rotted," "Detestable," and "Hideous" in "M. Valdemar." Interestingly, Poe's stories generally do not feature liminal spaces. In contrast, writers like Bierce and Dickens consistently incorporate liminal spaces into their narratives, as exemplified by the cutting and the shack on the mountain.

The text argues that readers can experience the supernatural through storytelling. While Poe's stories lack liminal spaces, they still captivate readers with powerful language such as "Detestable Putridity". The story's semantic field revolves around medicine, featuring words like "Alive", "Dead", "Nurses", "Doctor", and "Health". To immerse readers in the supernatural, a story must have a compelling plot, abundant emotive language, and a liminal space that creates a sense of entrapment and hopelessness.