Home Page
Suspense - The Signal Man
Suspense - The Signal Man
Good Essays
623 Words
3 Pages
Open Document
Essay Sample
Check Writing Quality
Suspense - The Signal Man
The author of The Signal Man immediately creates suspense by using
anonymous quotes, which gives a sense of mystery. Dickens begins by
avoiding using terms that identify ownership, i.e. “When he heard a
voice thus calling to him”.
The 2nd person in the story is the signal man, who at this point is
acting in a very peculiar manner. This produces suspicion amongst the
reader and thus generates interest or suspense.
Throughout the entire novel,
Charles Dickens
is using language that is
very obviously uncomfortable, i.e. “Angry sunset”, or “Violent
pulsation”.
The characters are not described as very ordinary. The signal man is
poor and not very knowledgeable whereas the visitor is wealthy,
intelligent and free to do as he pleases. However, there is a trait
that they both share. They are both very isolated. This lonesome
feeling is far from comforting and therefore adds to the general
atmosphere of the novel.
The scene is described to be very unnerving and fits in very well with
the gothic theme. The cutting is like a deep chasm in th...
Get Access