The Authors H.G Wells, The Red Room and W.W Jacobs, The Monkey's paw, both attempt to create tension in their corresponding stories, through the use of a typical Gothic horror setting, descriptive language and characterization.
The setting of each story is a very important way of adding to the tension. If the story was set in a happy little house, in the middle of a suburb, there is nothing scary about it. If it is set in an old rotting house in the middle of nowhere, which is engulfed in darkness, there is an aspect of fright and scariness.
The Monkey's Paw is situated in a remote place, 'That's the worst of living so far out'. This adds drama because it shows that if something was to happen then nobody would be able to help the White Family. It is set on a cold, wet night filled with darkness. A stormy atmosphere can also provide an eerie feeling and once again add to the idea of an evil place.
An old castle is the setting for The Red Room. Like Jacobs, Wells uses the weather to create the feeling for the story. 'The moonlight coming in, picked out everything in vivid black shadow, or silvery illumination.' This helps the reader to picture the scene. In this story there seems to be a lot more emphasis on the Gothic Horror idea. Long dark passages and spiral staircases are also part of this setting.
Another great way to add tension to a story is one both Jacobs and Wells have used. Descriptive language can be the difference between keeping the reader on the edge of their seats, and having them throw away the book after three pages. Picture a story with no descriptive language in it. Compare "The man walked down the hallway, moonlight came in through the window", to "The man staggered down the hallway, the moonlight swept through the window like a blanket of hope". I know which one I would pick.
H.G Wells uses technique superbly, he creates a feel to his story through amazing language such as ' The glow vanished, the reflections rushed together and vanished, and as I thrust the candle between the bars darkness closed upon me like the shutting of an eye, wrapped around in a stifling embrace, sealed my vision, and crushed the last vestige of reason from my brain'. This is one of the two aspects I think Wells seems to out do Jacobs in because of the amount of descriptive verbs and adjectives.
W.W Jacobs is not as good at this technique as he may use some descriptive words but still this was not enough to entice me to the story. I do have to have to admit that Jacobs does have his moments in this story 'A fine crash from the piano greeted his words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran towards him'. This may just be something he chooses to do in his stories but I don't believe it was a wise decision on his part.
The third and final technique both the authors use is the one that I think is the most important. Characterization is an absolutely essential element in almost any story ever written. A story about little elves with dancing pixies for friends is not going to be scary.
Once again this is an aspect Wells seems to have a far greater knowledge of. He knows how to get the right idea portrayed through to the reader. The genius idea of using slightly crippled people almost made me repel from the story with a sense of fright in me. Wells doesn't stop there, he continues on and gives each and every one of his characters an extremely weird personality. One of the cripples sits in the corner repeating over and over again, 'Tonight of all nights', while one of the men keeps almost trying to warn him over and over again 'Its your own choosing'.
The third cripple was the one I actually found the most interesting, because he says practically nothing, and yet he is able to keep you wondering who he is. If you think this is where Wells would stop you would be wrong. He gives every character its own special quirk. One man has a withered and wrinkled arm, the other red eyes that could pierce the night sky, yet the lady seems not to have as much of a quirk as the others, she only seems to repeat one thing over and over again.
Jacobs has some interesting characters in his story, such as the general, but doesn't seem to have as much emphasis on this idea. The White family seems to almost not have a personality, until you carefully analyze the text and discover it. Mr White is a poor loser with a temper; where as Herbert and Mrs White seem to have a happy sort of outlook on life. This is until the accident happens, where the personality almost seem to go A.W.A.L. Mrs White starts to go bleak and sad mourning over her dead son, where as Mr White shows his compassionate side having to comfort her.
Surprisingly enough I seemed to enjoy "The Monkey's Paw" a lot more than I enjoyed "The Red Room". I found "The Red Room" surprisingly predictable and a let down at the end because it lost all its suspense at once. "The Monkey's Paw' seemed to hold its suspense right until the finishing lines. In total I believe that Wells might be a better writer, but Jacobs takes the win with an outstandingly good story line and a good finish. He leaves you hanging on, wanting more, visualizing the mangled body of Herbert on the front door step.
