The Red Room

History The Victorians believed that they were quite revolutionary and tended to look back at the past as if it were the dark ages. Because of scientific discoveries etc. they believed very much in explaining things through the use of “reason”. Victorians prized order and appearances and these were seen as important indicators of character. People who neglected themselves and their property were often seen as morally corrupt. The “Gothic” tradition dated back to the beginning of the 1800s, whilst this story was written in 1897 – Wells was using an old genre to show that some views from the past needed to be respected.

Recipe for a ghost story We’ve had a go at creating our own gothic horror stories so you should be experts at this! What ingredients would you expect to find in a ghost story? HINT: setting, weather, characters, etc.

‘The Red Room’ Here’s the easy bit: Close your eyes and listen as I read out ‘The Red Room’.

Close Reading Characters (Pages 1-3) How would you describe the attitude of the narrator towards the old people in the house? What do the old people think of him? How does the dialogue between them create tension? How do the descriptions of the old people add to the spooky atmosphere? The man appears to be confident but, in places, he also shows a little trepidation. Find some examples of each of these.

How would you describe the attitude of the narrator towards the old people in the house? ‘I half suspected the old people were trying to enhance the spiritual terrors of their house by their droning insistence.’

What do the old people think of him? “there’s a many things to see when one’s still but eight-and-twenty” “It’s your own choosing”

How does the dialogue between them create tension? Find 2 examples of repetition

How do the descriptions of the old people add to the spooky atmosphere?

The man appears to be confident but, in places, he also shows a little trepidation(anxiety/unease). Find some examples of each of these.

Close Reading Tension (Character) (Pages 4&5) During this section, the tension increases quite dramatically. The narrator becomes more and more scared. This is done very effectively though, as he constantly tries to remain cheery. Find examples of where he is cheery and where he is obviously becoming quite scared.

Young man is cheery

Young man is scared

Close Reading Characters (Page 6) The story could have ended with the young man leaving the room. Instead, we see him return to the old people. How has the relationship between the narrator/old people changed? What does this section show us that he has learnt from his experience?

How has the relationship between the narrator/old people changed?

What does this section show us that he has learnt from his experience?

Close Reading Setting Even on the first page of the story, the description of the setting makes the house sound spooky. Pick out examples. As he walks towards the room, the setting becomes even more scary. Pick out some examples. (Pages 2 &3)

Even on the first page of the story, the description of the setting makes the house sound spooky. Pick out examples.

StatementOrder The man with the shade enters The narrator is found unconscious in the morning. The man with the withered arm tells the narrator it is his own choosing. The narrator begins the journey to the Red Room. The candles are mysteriously blown out. The narrator arrives at Lorraine Castle The narrator declares that the room is haunted by fear The narrator is knocked unconscious The narrator uses the candles from the hall for extra light.

The setting becomes even more scary. Pick out some examples. (Pages 2 &3)

The Red Room Using the information provided in the story plot and draw the young man’s journey to the Red Room Finish off with a sketch of what the Red Room looks like based on Wells’ description. Label with quotes from your setting notes!

Close Reading Language 1.This is meant to be a scary story full of increasing tension. Pick out any similes/metaphors which you think help to create this atmosphere. 2.Are there any other linguistic devices the author has used to add to this (alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition) ? Try and find some examples of these.

This is meant to be a scary story full of increasing tension. Pick out any similes/metaphors which you think help to create this atmosphere.

Are there any other linguistic devices the author has used to add to this (alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition) ? Try and find some examples of these.

Close Reading Language (Pages 2-4) There is much reference to light/dark in this section. Find some examples of this. Why do you think the writer has used this device?

Close Reading Increasing Tension - Language (Pages 3-5) In this section of the story, the tension reaches it peak. Pick out the point at which you think the story is most tense. Find examples of words which have been used to create this tension.

Analysing: The not so easy bit! ‘I can assure you,’ said I, ‘that it will take a very tangible ghost to frighten me.’ How does this create tension?

Answers Dialogue at the opening – gives a sense of immediacy. We join the story mid-conversation and are therefore drawn straight into the action. What a character says is important – the content (speaking about a ghost) instantly creates a sense of foreboding. How the character says it is also important – his tone is confident and boastful. We are immediately aware of a sense of conflict – is he to be proven wrong?

“It is your own choosing,” said the man with the withered arm…” The old woman sat staring hard into the fire, her pale eyes wide open…She swayed her head slowly from side to side. …as a second old man entered, more bent, more wrinkled, more aged even than the first. He supported himself by the help of a crutch, his eyes were covered by a shade, and his lower lip, half averted, hung pale and pink from his decaying yellow teeth. How do these descriptions of the old people add to the eerie atmosphere? Can you zoom in on any specific words?

“You go along the passage for a bit,” said he, nodding his head on his shoulder at the door, “until you come to a spiral staircase; and on the second landing is a door covered with green baize. Go through that, and down the long corridor to the end, and the Red Room is on your left up the stairs.” How is tension built during this section? Can you zoom in on any specific words?

Whose point of view is the story written from? Who is he speaking to? What is the effect of this? In whose room are the characters gathered? What type of building is this room in? What is the effect of this? How is the furniture of the room described? (In your own words, then quote, then explain its effect.) How are the ornaments and other furnishings described? How does this help create atmosphere? I must confess that the oddness of these three old pensioners in whose charge her ladyship had left the castle, and the deep-toned, old- fashioned furniture of the housekeeper’s room in which they foregathered, affected me in spite of my efforts to keep myself at a matter of fact phase. They seemed to belong to another age, an age when things spiritual were different from this of ours, less certain; an age when omens and witches were credible, and ghosts beyond denying. Their very existence was spectral; the cut of their clothing, fashions born in dead brains. The ornaments and conveniences of the room about them were ghostly –

They seemed to belong to another age, an older age, an age when things spiritual were indeed to be feared, when common sense was uncommon, an age when omens and witches were credible, and ghosts beyond denying. Their very existence, thought I, is spectral; the cut of their clothing, fashions born in dead brains; the ornaments and conveniences in the room about them even are ghostly… How would you describe the attitude of the narrator towards the old people in the house?

…the passage I was in, long and shadowy, with a film of moisture glistening on the wall, was as gaunt and cold as a thing that is dead and rigid…The long, drafty, subterranean passage was chilly and dusty, and my candle flared and made the shadows cower and quiver. The echoes rang up and down the spiral staircase, and a shadow came sweeping up after me… How does the author create tension and atmosphere during this section? Can you zoom in on any specific words?

Imagine… Imagine you are spending the night at this old, quite possibly haunted, mansion. You have made your way up to the red room and got ready for bed. A candle blows out. A little shaken, you relight it. You tuck yourself into bed and pull out your diary… How are you feeling? What are you thinking? Is it how you imagined so far? What are your fears? What do you think may happen to you in this room tonight? It is nearly midnight…

The ending: “There is fear in that room of hers – black Fear, and there will be – so long as this house of sin endures.” What do you make of the ending? Is the room haunted? What haunts it? Was it all in his mind or was there actually a ghost? Discuss with a partner. Write a paragraph explaining your view, using evidence from the story.

Q & A sort Let’s see how well you know the text! Order the questions and answers correctly. 1) What does the man find in the corridor?