The Signalman, by Charles Dickens; The Battler by Ernest...

The Signalman, by Charles Dickens; The Battler by Ernest Hemingway - In what way do the two authors create and maintain interest and suspense in their stories? In Charles Dickens The Signalman the story starts by introducing the main character (a railway signalman). Another character is also introduced: the narrator. Dickens describes the signalman as a dark sallow man and as having a dark beard and heavy eyebrows. It seems that Dickens wishes to portray the signalman as a dark and ominous figure. However, he then sheds some light on the character of the signalman. Dickens portrays him to be very lonely and afraid of something. This is shown in the way he turns himself about and looked down the Line when the†¦show more content†¦Another way in which Dickens shows this is by making the signalman appear to be a little strange. This is done, at first, by his lack of speech: He looked up at me without replying. Dickens continues this suggestion (the signalman is insane) when he does finally speak. He speaks only in a low voice, adding to the suggestion of danger. Then he tells the narrator what is wrong: the ghostly sightings. This aga in makes us question his sanity. Dickens maintains this suspense that he has created with use of a leitmotiv of the red light, which is linked to the menacing apparition and maybe an accident on the railway. When the narrator leaves after the first visit the signalman still has not told him the full story about the apparition. We have to wait until their next meeting to find out for ourselves. This leaves the story as a so-called cliff-hanger and encourages us read on. On their second meeting, the signalman tells the narrator, and us, of the accident that seemed so obviously linked to the apparition by the fact that every time it appeared there was an accident on the line somewhere. After, sustaining the suspense through the first meeting of the two men, Dickens creates even more with the revealing of this ominous event. Dickens then maintains