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A resource to support my IGCSE group.
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How does the opening chapter of Hill’s ‘The Woman in Black’
foreshadow a story of haunting and evil?
What methods does Hill use? Only focus on the opening chapter
Anticipate, or lay the ground for the novel
How does the opening chapter set up the themes / tone of rest of the novel?
How does the opening chapter of Hill’s ‘The Woman in Black’ foreshadow a story of haunting and evil?
Introduction
In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Susan Hill
uses certain techniques to foreshadow the story of
haunting and evil. By ‘planting seeds’ of things to come,
some of these however are red herrings that disrupts the
readers expectations of the book. For instance the title of
the opening chapter which is called Christmas Eve which is
a time of year not usually associated with ‘haunting and
evil’.
In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Susan Hill
anticipates the novel’s central themes and establishes its
menacing tone, while at the same time disrupting many of
our expectations. For instance the title of the opening
chapter is ‘Christmas Eve’ which is a time of year not
usually associated with ‘haunting and evil’ and yet she
subverts this festive celebration and presents instead a
chilling tale from the perspective of the first person
narrator, Arthur Kipps.
In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’, Susan Hill
definitely anticipates the novel’s central themes and
establishes its menacing tone. She does this, not only
through manipulating her choice of narrative perspective,
but also by making good use of descriptive language.
Furthermore, she plays with the conventions of the ghost
story in order to disrupt our expectations; signposting that
the tale we are about to read is not merely frivolous
entertainment but something far more chilling.
Topic sentences to reflect a developing argument
Topic sentences to reflect a developing argument
How does the opening chapter set up the themes / tone of rest of the novel?
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Narrative perspective – 1st person framed narrative• Disruption of expectations via title and/or use of
intertextual reference (Dickens / M.R. James)• Withholding information / sense of the unspoken• Ridiculing the stereotypes of ghost stories• Use of pathetic fallacy• Use of setting• Lexical field of watery imagery
The title of the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ is
titled Christmas Eve, this presents a twist in the plot before
the story has begun.
In ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill uses narrative perspective to
create suspense.
In ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill uses pathetic fallacy of the
weather which is a typical element of a ghost story.
By setting the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ at
the warm, family home of Monk’s Piece it provides contrast
with the dark and cold Eel Marsh House.
In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill hints at
many things.
By setting the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ at
the warm, family home of Monk’s Piece it provides contrast
with the dark and cold Eel Marsh House.
In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill hints at
many things.
?
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Narrative perspective – 1st person framed narrative
Perhaps the most striking method Hill uses to foreshadow the novel’s haunting tone is her decision to present a first person framed narrative.
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Narrative perspective – 1st person framed narrative
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Disruption of expectations via title and/or use of intertextual reference (Dickens / M.R. James)
Arguably, Hill’s choice of title for the opening chapter (‘Christmas Eve’) is another means by which she prepares the reader for the story to follow.
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Withholding information / sense of the unspoken
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Withholding information / sense of the unspoken
Another means by which Hill uses the opening of her novel to foreshadow the events to come is, ironically, by withholding information which we might reasonably expect to be presented with during the exposition phase of the tale.
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Ridiculing the stereotypes of ghost stories
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Ridiculing the stereotypes of ghost stories
It is no accident that Kipps goes out of his way to ridicule and dismiss the conventions of the ghost story in the first few pages of the text; this is another means by which Hill prepares us for the chilling tale of the woman in black.
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Use of pathetic fallacy• Use of setting
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Use of pathetic fallacy• Use of setting
Hill’s use of setting and pathetic fallacy in ‘Christmas Eve’ is a subtle, but nonetheless effective way in which she further anticipates the horrors to come.
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Lexical field of watery imagery
Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter to foreshadow
• Lexical field of watery imagery
Moreover, Hill’s use of descriptive language in the first chapter includes the development of a lexical field which evokes a relationship between memories and water, anticipating the events to come at Eel Marsh House and its surroundings.
Conclusion
During the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill
uses numerous techniques to foreshadow a story of
‘haunting and evil’. Some of these techniques are obvious
such as pathetic fallacy of the weather which is typical of
many ghost stories, however some are just hinted at such
as Kipps’ haunted past. The foreshadowing in the opening
chapter is a way Hill adds dramatic tension and suspense in
the novel.
It can be seen, then, that Hill employs a number of different
methods in an effort to ensure that the opening chapter of her
novel foreshadows the events to follow. In doing so, she pays
tribute to other writers of ghost stories who have influenced
her own work, including Dickens and James, while at the same
time, seeking to break away from the conventions of her
chosen genre. The result is a tale that wastes no time in
establishing its grip on the reader; and by the time it lets us go
again, there can be little doubt that we have been in the
clutches of something both ‘haunting and evil’!