Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl and The Signalman by Charles Dickens

Compare and contrast Lamb to the slaughter by Roald Dahl and The

Signalman by Charles Dickens

==================================================================

This Essay will analyse and compare two short stories 'Lamb to the

slaughter' by Roald Dhal and 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens. The

Essay will concentrate on firstly the beginning of each story, the

setting of each story an analysis of the characters and finally will

look at how the authors create a sense of suspense and tension.

In the signalman Dickens aims to create a sense of suspense right at

the beginning, which creates an eerie feeling towards the reader. For

Example 'Halloa! Below there!' This suggests to the reader that who is

the mystery person is calling to. This creates an eerie effect towards

the reader who is thinking who could it be, where is he calling from.

Also he aims to create a strange feeling towards the reader

For instance 'Steeped in the glow of an angry sunset' this implies to

the reader that an angry sunset means something strange is going on.

It is not a normal day.

In lamb to the Slaughter at the beginning Dahl starts the story calm,

because Mary Maloney is waiting for someone which also creates

suspense towards the reader when is the person she is waiting for

going to arrive who could it be. For instance 'The curtains are drawn'

'house is clean, warm' 'table light is alight' 'whiskey glasses

prepared' This creates the impression that she is waiting for someone,

the table light and the curtains drawn creates the mood of a romantic

feeling which creates tension towards the reader of what is going to

happen next who is she waiting for.

Dickens sets the story in Victorian times, which creates the

atmosphere of being dark, dingy and scary. For example 'shadowed' this

suggests to the reader that the Victorian times, created the

atmosphere that they were dark and scary. A shadow is a black figure,

which is dark. Also He set it at the time of industrial revolution.

Which creates the impression of 'Dirtiness', 'smoke', and 'Dark places'.

Dahl sets his story in a nice average house, in a city. This creates

the impression of 'nothing would happen in a normal house'. For

example 'The room was warm and clean' this suggests to the reader and

creates an impression that nothing serious in this normal house would

happen.

Dickens describes his main character the signalman as an' dark sallow'

'dark beard', 'heavy eyebrows'. This creates the impression of a

stereotypical average Victorian villain. Which is creates suspense

towards the reader to what is the man like but later in the story this