Ghost stories have been popular throughout the ages. During the nineteenth century, there was a sudden boom and ghost stories were made popular. Storytelling was the main source of entertainment as there weren't any films, TV's or computer games. People would gather around in groups telling or reading each other stories. The stories were made more real by the superstitions people kept and as the rooms were lit by dim candle light, it built a sense of atmosphere. Most ghost stories were written in the nineteenth century period, so people could imagine such things happening to them, in the places they lived. As storytelling was the main form of entertainment, people had nothing to compare it to, so it built tension, suspense and fear. In the nineteenth century there weren't many scientific advances. Everything was blamed on higher or supernatural forces, therefore, people believed the explanations given in ghost stories. I will be comparing and contrasting four ghost stories which were all written in the nineteenth century. They are ?The Old Nurse?s Story? by Elizabeth Gaskell, 1855 and ?The Ostler? by Wilkie Collins, 1855. ?The Old Nurse?s Story? by Elizabeth Gaskell is about a young girl (Miss Rosamund) and her nanny (Hester) going to live with her great aunt (Miss Grace Furnivall) at her aunt?s stately house called Furnivall Hall. Strange events take place at Furnivall Hall and family secrets are revealed. The past comes back to haunt Miss Furnivall and unfinished business is resolved. ?The Ostler? by Wilkie Collins is about an unlucky man (Isaac Scratchard) who has a premonition of his death, being killed by a woman. His luck begins to improve when he meets a woman (Rebecca Murdock). He falls in love and decides to marry to he... ... middle of paper ... ...house in order to claim it to the deep unknown. In ?The Ostler?, Isaac Scratchard found a ?lonely, road-side inn? to stay at as he was lost, he was in an area ?which he was entirely unacquainted with?. Surrounding the inn was a ?thick, dark forest? which adds mystery to the lonely inn and creates an ideal scene for the strange event. A reader in 1855 would find ?The Old Nurse?s Story? to be extremely frightening as the setting is located in a typical 1855 town, so people could imagine such events occurring in places they lived. The location is typically ghostly as the story it is in an isolated, large house during bad weather. However, this gives the reader comfort as not few would live in stately houses. A contemporary reader would not find these as scary as they?re used to the special effects being used and in comparison, the ghost stories don?t seem scary.
Every story, every book, every legend, every belief and every poem have a reason and a background that creates them. Some might be based on historical events, some might be based on every culture´s beliefs, and some others might be based on personal experiences of the authors. When a person writes a literary piece, that person is looking for a way to express her opinion or her feelings about a certain situation. A good example is the poem “Southern Mansion” by Arna Bonptems. The main intention of “Southern Mansion” could have been to complain, or to stand against the discrimination and exploitation of black people throughout history. However, as one starts to read, to avoid thinking about unnatural beings wandering around the scene that is depicted is impossible. The poem “Southern Mansion” represents a vivid image of a typical ghost story which includes the traditional element of the haunted house. This image is recreated by the two prominent and contradictory elements constantly presented through the poem: sound and silence. The elements are used in two leading ways, each one separate to represent sound or silence, and together to represent sound and silence at the same time. The poem mixes the two elements in order to create the spooky environment.
The telling of a ghost story entails more than the text itself. Lighting, environment, tone of voice, and many other factors affect how well a ghost story is told. As one can see by reading the following story, simply reading a ghost story on paper does not have the same effect as hearing it performed by the teller in a fitting atmosphere. The following story was told one night in a dark, shadowy room filled with five or six college guys. The teller used long pauses, emphasis on certain words, and body gestures to make the story all the more believable and chilling.
This story, although somewhat unique in its exact plot, contains many elements that make it a typical and traditional ghost story. These elements suggest common fears in today’s society of people in general, and children specifically.
For this assignment I will be looking at two short narratives. One was written by Bradbury, in the mid twentieth century ,'The Foghorn' and the other was written by Dickens, 'The Signalman'' over one hundred years before. Both are based on supernatural themes and ideas.
They live in the castle to keep it safe. The narrator is in the castle
Honestly, I dont believe in scay stories, but some of them can be really scary at times. Ghost strories like the ones in Illinois, England, and Louisiana might make you sleep with you light on at night. Many differnet variety of events and the sound of boisterous noises have been experienced in the haunted McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois. A while family has been brutely murdered by someone and there was very litle evidence to be discovered in the case. A swamp that was a cematary was haunted by a lady named Marie Laveau and her daughter. Also a twelve year old child died by an accident and haunted the slave owners mansion all in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Close to where Mary lived there was a man named Vultair was experimenting putting electricity through Frogs to see if they could come back to life. With that going on close to her as well as the fear of a revolution and the pressure on her to think of a ghost story it is not surprising she thought of a horror story that would still be popular in the 21st Century.
The Signalman and The Red Room as Characteristic Nineteenth Century Ghost Stories There are many characteristics that help to make up a typical nineteenth century ghost story. During this essay certain aspects will be discussed to find out if ‘The Signalman’ by Charles Dickens and ‘The Red Room’ by H.G. Wells contain the elements that constitute a ghost story. The main elements of a typical ghost story include the stereotypical aspects such as distortion of light to create shadow, isolation, and fear as well as emotive imagery, the inclusion of a non-believer/believer and having a suitable ending e.g. a twist. All these elements add to the tension and overall atmosphere of a nineteenth century ghost story. The first element that will be touched upon is the addition of the conventional features of a ghost story.
Epilogue chapter to Spook: A Ghostly Love Story in Three Parts told from Stiles point of view about four years later.
... was with a man. Although the story is a ghost story first of all, it is also a comment on the Victorian society, its cruelty, "destructive pressures" and "restrictive code of behavior," that led to many tragedies. The ghost motive is unquestionably the prevailing one and can be understood in the realistic as well as the symbolic way. As symbols, the ghosts stand for the restrained love and the corrupted psyche of the woman getting mad, who cannot control her sexual desires. The ghosts themselves are not scarier than the condition of the mind of the woman who in pursuit of love becomes insane.
Basics of Ghost Stories INTRODUCTION The ghost story writer has to attract the reader's attention straight away. The way story begins is important and often links with the rest of the narrative. The opening of a short story must try to engage the reader quickly. I think all ghost stories should always have a lot of suspense in it, to create anticipation and excitement. Some symbolic object/place for example a knife, a key must play a major part in the narrative.
During the 19th century the horror genre made its most evolution. Horror stories were the most common during this time. These horror stories are so intriguing because they are filled with suspense. “Suspense is the uncertainty or anxiety you feel about what will happen next,”
Have you ever tried playing a game that is really chilling that you feel the goose bumps all over your skin? Imagine being stuck on a highway and nowhere to go to but to an old strange house full of evil. Haunted House Massacre is a flash game that has the audio and effects made really spooky and realistic at the same time. It all starts from a road trip of Fanny and her boyfriend. After having some car problems, Fanny's boyfriend decided to go to a house to see if they can contact someone and ask from help. However, as Fanny's boyfriend never came back, she went inside looking for him. As a player, you would be playing the role of Fanny, looking for your boyfriend inside the haunted house by passing through different doorways, hallways, and dead ends until you reach him... But be in for a surprise as there are lots of spooky effects and audio sounds that make the game play more exciting. If you fail to rescue Fanny's boyfriend, you can retry the game or start from where you ended.
The Victorian era was a main development stage for the ghost story genre and it was becoming increasingly popular among readers.
Discuss the ways in which The Red Room, The Signalman and The Inexperienced Ghost create and sustain atmosphere and tension. It is clear that atmosphere and tension are of fundamental importance to the success and effectiveness of a ghostly tale. As Susan Hill, a prolific writer of ghostly tales, says ‘one thing a ghost story must have is atmosphere’. Also it is clear that ‘The Red Room’, ‘The Signallman’ and ‘The Inexperienced Ghost’ create tension and atmosphere at varying degrees. The role of the narrator is of fundamental importance when creating atmosphere and tension in the ghostly genre.