Compare and contrast two pre 1914 stories about the ...



Pre 1914 Literature Essay

Compare and contrast two pre 1914 stories about the supernatural. ‘The Red Room’ by H.G. Wells, and‘The Monkey Paw’ by W.W. Jacobs. What elements make a good ghost story? Consider the characters, setting, language and endings.

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Introduction

• Briefly explain what is meant by the gothic genre, and when it was popular.

• Introduce the stories, and the narrative style.

• If possible give some background info on the authors, no more than two or three sentences.

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Characters (The Red Room)

• Write a character analysis of the protagonist, what impression is the reader given about him, (refer to his speech, or any descriptions given about his thought or feelings).

• Analyse two other characters of your choice, how does each one contribute to the gothic atmosphere and mood. How might this affect the reader?

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Setting (The Red Room)

• Where is the story set?

• Why is the setting important?

• Discuss two different settings of your choice, what image do these settings give to the reader? How do they contribute to the atmosphere?

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Language (The Red Room)

• Find two or three examples of figurative language e.g. simile, metaphor and personification, discuss how each literary device connects to imagery, mood and atmosphere.

• Comment on typical Victorian language and phrases, what do we learn about social class.

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Ending (The Red Room)

• How does H.G. Wells close the story?

• What is the reader’s final impression about the Red Room?

• Is there a ghost or not? Does the author want the reader to believe that the castles cursed or haunted?

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Characters (The Monkey Paw)

• What impression does W.W. Jacobs give of Mrs White?

• How would you describe Mr White’s personality?

• What does the reader learn about Sergeant-major Morris?

• Do any of these characters add mystery to the story? Explain Why?

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Setting (The Monkey’s Paw)

• Consider the opening paragraph. How does the setting contribute to a gothic atmosphere?

• Jacobs makes several references to the harsh weather, and wind P1, P11, why do you think this could be an important part of the setting?

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Language (The Monkey’s Paw)

• Comment on Jacobs’s use of dialogue and sentence structure, how does this contributes to the pace of the story, create suspense and the build tension?

• Pick out any other words or phrases which heighten the tension, or evoke feelings of terror.

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The magical object (The Monkey’s Paw)

• Why is the monkey’s paw such a strange and mysterious object, consider its place of origin.

• Why are the White family so intrigued to hear more about it P2, P4?

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Ending (The Monkey’s Paw)

• What type of ending is it?

• Is it an effective ending, and why?

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Conclusion

• Comment on the similarities in each ghost story, language, characters and symbolisms.

• Comment on the main differences, titles, narrative strategy.

• Which elements (characters, setting, language, endings, and openings) are most effective, and why do these techniques stand out?

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