Dickens also played with the characters' emotions. He would make the characters feel a sense of dread or foreboding long before the actual appearance of the ghost. This psychological build - up makes the arrival of the ghost more impactful. For example, a character might have a strange feeling in a particular room, and as the story progresses, it is revealed that this is where a ghost is likely to appear.
Hugh Walpole created a spooky atmosphere by his choice of words. He would use words that have a certain connotation of fear and unease. Also, the pacing of his stories helps. He would slowly reveal the supernatural elements, building up the tension bit by bit.
His use of language was crucial. He often chose words with dark connotations and a slow, deliberate rhythm. This made the stories seem more menacing. In 'Ligeia', the way he described Ligeia's appearance and the strange events that occurred after her death was very effective in creating a spooky atmosphere. The words he used to talk about her eyes, for instance, made her seem like a spectral figure.
Doyle often introduced mysterious characters. These characters, with their strange behaviors or secrets, added to the overall sense of unease. Also, he played with the element of the unknown. He didn't always explain things right away, leaving the readers in suspense and a bit scared. For instance, in some stories, things happen without an obvious cause at first, like strange noises or sudden apparitions.
Faulkner uses the element of time. He often has a sense of the past lingering in the present. For example, a character might see a ghostly figure that represents a past event or person, and this creates an eerie atmosphere as if the past is not truly gone but still haunts the present space.
Dickens' personal beliefs and values are evident in his ghost stories. He was concerned about moral and social reform. The ghosts in his stories often serve as agents of change, pushing the human characters to become better. His own journey through life, from a poor boy to a famous writer, gave him a unique perspective that he used to create stories that were not only entertaining but also thought - provoking, especially in the context of his ghost stories.
He used vivid descriptions. For example, in 'The Signal - Man', he describes the dark and gloomy railway cutting in great detail, making the reader feel the isolation and the potential for something bad to happen. Also, the appearance of the apparitions is described in a way that makes them seem very real and menacing.
They use descriptions. For example, they might describe a dark and damp cellar with cobwebs everywhere in great detail. This immediately gives a sense of something old and uninviting.
He uses detailed descriptions of settings. For example, in his stories set in old mansions, he describes the creaking floors, the dark hallways, and the musty smells. This makes the reader feel as if they are actually there, in that spooky place.
Roald Dahl often uses the element of the unexpected. He sets up normal situations at first and then suddenly throws in something strange. Like in some stories, the characters seem ordinary but then they do or experience something completely out of the ordinary, which makes the atmosphere spooky.
He uses detailed descriptions. For example, in 'The Haunted Doll's House', he describes the old, creaky doll's house in great detail, making it seem really spooky.