How Charles Dickens and Ray Bradley Have Used Major Literary Devices to Create Tension and Atmosphere in The Signalman and There Will Come Soft Rains Respectively

Explore the ways in which two short stories vividly create tension and atmosphere

Authors Charles Dickens and Ray Bradbury vividly create tension and atmosphere using several key literary devices. In the short story “The Signalman” Charles Dickens creates a sense of foreboding by slowly describing events and the setting in vivid detail. Ray Bradbury’s story “There Will Come Soft Rains” creates a sense of emptiness by using detailed description and then creates tension later by describing the fire in the house in detail.

Firstly, In the story “The Signalman” Charles Dickens creates a sense of foreboding in the story. Firstly, Dickens says "steeped in the glow of an angry sunset" and that suggests that there is danger ahead and that trouble might be near. Next, Dickens says "The cutting was extremely deep and unusually precipate” This tells us that the cutting is not a good place to be and that it might be dangerous. After that Dickens says "It became oozier and wetter as I went down” and then “So little sunlight ever found its way to this spot, that it struck an earthy, deadly smell”. This hints at the signalman’s post being haunted and creates the sense that the narrator is going to find something terrifying in the post. This also sets the atmosphere for the rest of the story. Finally, Dickens says " it sturck chill to me" this suggests that there is some supernatural element to the story and that creates tension.

Furthermore, the author also creates an element of supernatural in the story which builds up tension. After the narrator talked to the signalman and explained that the “ghost” could be hallucinations, said “A disagreeable shudder crept over me” This suggests that the narrator is also starting to believe that there is a “ghost” and that convinces the reader that the “ghost” is real.

In addition to that, the writer also creates tension by describing the Signalman’s strange behavior. One example of this would be when the author said: “while he was speaking to me he twice broke off with a fallen colour” This tells us that there is something that is haunting the Signalman and that builds up tension. Also, the author wrote “but I am troubled, sir I am troubled” and this further reinforces the idea that the Signalman has a problem and that he may be haunted. This is also a narrative hook so, the reader can only find out what is troubling the Signalman in the morning which builds up tension.

Another way, Charles Dickens also creates a sense of foreboding which builds up the tension. The narrator describes his way to the signalman’s post in the story and he set the atmosphere by saying that something is wrong. He says “With an irresistible sense that something was wrong” This gives the reader the sensation that something undesirable is going to happen and creates nervousness in the reader since they don’t know what to expect next.

In the short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” Ray Bradbury creates an isolated, empty atmosphere in multiple ways. One way Ray Bradbury creates tension is by describing the isolation in the house. Bradbury describes the isolation of the house by saying “The morning house lay empty” which tells us that there is no one in the house. He also says “The rain tapped on the empty house, echoing” This quote sets the atmosphere by telling us that there is rain. The rain makes the atmosphere feel unpleasant and adds a depressing mood to the story. He also said “the rain tapped on the empty house, echoing” which tells us how isolated the house is. Normally people would make many noises in a house and that would not make the rain audible however, in this story the house is so empty that it echoes when rain taps on the house.

Also, Bradbury creates irony in the story by saying “The house was an altar with ten thousand attendants” The house is empty so, saying that it has ten thousand attendants is very ironic. This makes the reader think about the fact that there is no one in the house.

One other way the writer creates tension in the story is by creating the sense of panic and speed. The writer says “The room was ablaze in an instant!” and “Fire, Fire,Fire!” These quotes sound like fast-paced and create nervousness in the reader due to the repetition in the second quote. The first quote creates uneasiness in the reader because of the word “instant” The word makes the quote sound fast-paced which creates an uneasy atmosphere. In addition to that, using an exclamation mark creates the sense of panic among readers which adds to the tense atmosphere.

Also the writer personifies the house during the fire and that builds up lots of tension. The writer said “The house tried to save itself” That makes the house sound like it is a living being who is trying to save itself from the wild fire. This creates lots of interest in the readers due to how natural the phrase sounds. Another instance of personification was when the writer said “ It fed upon Picassos and Mantisses in the upper halls, like delicacies, baking off the oily flesh, tenderly crisping the canvases into black shavings” This creates the feeling that the wildfire is slowly killing the human-like paintings brutally, peeling off the flesh and baking it inside and this gives the paintings human-like features which interests readers.

Furthermore, there are other devices which contribute towards creating personification. One example of this is when the writer says “the regiments of mice hummed out” The humming sound adds to the personification of the house as a whole. With the combination of sounds, action and behavior the writer creates lots of personification.