'The Signalman', 'The Red Room' and 'The Clubfooted Grocer' were all written before 1914. During the time in which they were written, gothic literature was very popular. All three short stories have many associations with gothic tradition.
These include; gloomy settings, mysterious characters, strange noises, language that makes the ordinary seem strange, association with death and dying and twists in the tale. Each author uses the techniques in different ways to create a horror story.The settings in all three stories are spooky and gloomy. The Signalman' is set by a railway line. In the 1980's, the railway was a very recent invention, it was cutting edge technology. Dickens' chosen setting was a very contempory touch.
Dickens describes the setting in great detail, making use of all five senses. He uses the sense of touch, smell and hearing very effectively: "Clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter. " Dickens' use of words makes the setting seem grotesque and disgusting. It gives you the impression of being able to see where you are, it makes you think you're at the scene watching the story unfold.
Gloomier entrance to a black tunnel. " The setting is portrayed as a quiet isolated place, where nobody else goes. The sense of sight is used in a very strange way: "Steeped in the glow of an angry sunset. " The sunset is described as angry when it is usually associated with love, romance and happiness. In contrast to 'The Signalman', 'The Red Room' is set inside, and set in a traditionally gothic castle. However the setting is just as gloomy and mysterious.
Wells' story is the most recent of the three; however he chooses to create an ancient and old fashioned scene.The Red Room' is set in Lorraine Castle which contains haunted rooms to create suspense and fear. Although both H. G Wells and Dickens make use of sensory imagery, Wells' uses less detail.
However his use of darkness evokes the reader's sense of apprehension and fear. In 'The Red Room' Wells uses the sense of hearing the most: "Echoing of stair" and "Absolute Silence". The sense of sound creates a chilling and frightening atmosphere. 'The Clubfooted Grocer' is very much like 'The Signalman' and is set in "wild, isolated hills" and there is "no sign of life". The huge moors" seem very chilling and frightening.
Not only does it seem quite horrific it also shows different emotions, such as "bleak and sad and stern were all my surroundings". This is a use of personification as it makes you think the surroundings are a person and has real feelings and emotions. The author's use of language can make the most ordinary things seem strange. In 'The Signalman', Dickens use of language can make everyday things (such as a train) sound supernatural: "Violent pulsations" and "oncoming rush".
It makes the train sound like a supernatural force or a monster.In 'The Signalman' the phrase "Halloa below there! " is repeated several times to make the story interlink with each other. At different parts of the story the phrase is repeated by different characters and brings about a sense of familiarity. In 'The Red Room', H.
G. Wells uses personification to underline the terror of the castle: "My candle flared and made the shadows tower and quiver. " Candles are usually associated with warmth and romance, however in 'The Red Room'; Wells' description of a candle is horrifying. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle might provide less descriptive detail in his writing.However he creates a chilling atmosphere through his character's actions and dialogue. A perfect example of this is when the sailor strangely asks for a life when it is clear that there is no room: "His excuse was an absurd one, since it was evident that our little trap was as full as it could be.
" This was obviously a strange request and it makes the readers wonder and question about the sailor and his part in the story. The description of the sailor smoking his pipe, a pleasant and "homely" pastime is described as something almost supernatural: And, then a face, illuminated by the glowing bowl of a pipe, came floating towards us.The man was all shadow, but just one dim halo of light with the face which filled it, brighter below and shading away into darkness above stood out against the universal blackness. " This striking visual image of a ghostly, floating head dehumanises the sailor who, like the signalman in Dickens' story, appears more like "a spirit than a man".
In all three stories the reader is introduced to a number of mysterious characters; particularly in 'The Signalman' and 'The Red Room'.In both of these stories, none of the characters are given names. In 'The Signalman', the narrator really has no reason for being by the railway line. It is a complete mystery as to why he is there. When the narrator is told about the ghost, instead of being scared, his is happy and excited: "Thrill that seized upon me. " It is evident that in his past life, he has been confined and shut up but now he is free.
The reader never really knows anything about the narrator. He has strange character traits such as keeping information away from the signalman and keeping secrets.The signalman also has no name. He is described as dark and sallow and made to look like a spectre: "A spirit not a man" It's obvious that the signalman is not right in someway.
"But I am troubled sir, I am troubled. " He is a grave, remarkably exact and vigilant. Maybe this is all to do with his past life; however it's been said that he was highly intelligent and "about his stations". This makes you wonder why he was signalman, when he could've had a better job. In 'The Red Room' there are also odd characters with no names.Again you do not really know who the narrator is, and you don't find out any personal information about him; his name or anything about his past.
There is the man with the withered arm: "It's your own choosing. " It's not explained why he has a withered arm or why he keeps telling the narrator too not go into the room. To add to the chilling atmospheres in their stories, the authors make use of noises at the right time. In 'The Signalman' there are distant clocks striking II as he steps on the path.
This creates an unsettling effect and petrifies the reader.In 'The Red Room', there are different noises such as "A door creaked its hinges" and "Rustling sound appeared" which makes the reader wonder if anything strange is going on anywhere else. Even though Dickens and H. G.
Wells are very descriptive with noises, Arthur Conan Doyle makes more use of noise and hearing. He uses noises frequently throughout the story. "Slamming the door behind him" and "Hoarse scream". These are both quite frightening. "Ominous click clack, click clack.
" He uses onomatopoeia to emphasise the noises. A supernatural/horror story would not be complete without a twist in the tale.In 'The Signalman' there is two twists. The first is how the words and gestures all interlink with each other and how different characters use the same phrases and signals. The second is that, the signalman thought that the spectre was a warning but instead of preventing the death it actually caused the death.
In 'The Red Room', at the beginning it seems that there is a ghost: "It would take a very tangible ghost to frighten me. " But in the end, it is your own fear. "There's fear in that room - Black fear. " In 'The Clubfooted Grocer' the twist is not as obvious as it is in the other two; however there is a subtle twist.
When Steven Maple gets the diamonds, he doesn't sell them for money, but stores them away safely in his shoes. This is therefore an unanswered question and doesn't really make sense. It also doesn't make sense that the man got out of prison early. It brings up questions such as "Why did he get out early? " In conclusion, all three stories include the ingredients of a supernatural/horror story. Each author uses different techniques in order to create suspense and terror.
I think Dickens' most successful technique is the mysterious characters.This is because he gives enough detail and description for the reader to get to know the character yet there is still a sense of strangeness. In 'The Red Room' H. G. Wells has used a lot of personification which is a very effective technique and makes not only the characters, but the setting come to life.
Arthur Conan Doyle uses the gloomy setting; this is very successful because it clearly shows where things are taking place. This and the mysterious characters make the story strange and weird and it gives you a sense of sympathy towards Stephen Maple at the end when everything doesn't go as he planned.
