How did Elizabeth Gaskell create suspense in her Ghost Stories?

Elizabeth Gaskell's personal life was filled with interactions with different classes of people. This exposure allowed her to understand the various beliefs and fears that people held. In her ghost stories, we can see how she incorporated these diverse beliefs. Her own family life, with its joys and sorrows, may have also influenced the emotional depth in her stories. The relationships between characters in her ghost stories, whether it's family members or lovers, might be a reflection of her own experiences and observations of human relationships.

Gaskell's writing style in these stories is very detailed. She describes the apparitions vividly, making the readers feel as if they are right there in the scene. The stories also tend to have a moral undertone, teaching lessons about life, death, and how we should treat others.

One key element is the use of atmosphere. Gaskell often creates a spooky and mysterious atmosphere to set the stage for the ghostly happenings. For example, in her stories, she might describe a gloomy old house with creaking floorboards and dimly lit corridors. Another element is the moral or psychological aspect. The ghosts in her stories often serve as a means to explore the characters' guilt, fear, or unrequited emotions. Also, her use of local folklore and superstitions adds depth to the stories, making them more believable and engaging for the readers.

Hitchcock was great at creating complex characters in his ghost stories. The psychological state of the characters added to the suspense. In 'Vertigo', the main character's mental instability and his obsession with a woman made the audience constantly on edge. He also used lighting to great effect. Dark shadows in 'Psycho' hid secrets and added to the overall feeling of unease.

Christie is great at creating unreliable narrators in her ghost stories. You're never quite sure if what they're telling you is the truth or if their own fears are clouding their perception, which keeps you on edge throughout the story.

She uses vivid descriptions. For example, her detailed descriptions of the old, dark house immediately create a sense of gloom and mystery.

Elizabeth Gaskell creates atmosphere in 'The Old Nurse's Story' by her use of language. She has a way of using words that are both descriptive and evocative. The dialogue, too, plays a part. The hushed tones and the nervous exchanges between the characters contribute to the spooky and mysterious atmosphere that pervades the story.

Elizabeth Bowen's own experiences likely influenced the mood and themes in her ghost stories. For example, living through certain historical events might have added a sense of unease and the idea of things being not quite as they seem, which is reflected in her supernatural tales.

One of the best Elizabeth Gaskell novels is 'North and South'. It vividly portrays the contrast between the industrial north and the more genteel south in England. The characters are well - drawn, especially Margaret Hale and Mr. Thornton. Their relationship develops against the backdrop of social and economic differences, making it a very engaging read.

They create suspense by delaying the reveal of the ghost. Instead of showing the ghost right away, the story builds up the tension. For example, there might be strange happenings like objects moving on their own, and the characters are trying to figure out what's going on. This makes the reader or listener eager to know if it's a ghost and when it will finally appear.