The Woman in Black- A London Particular

Summary and analysis of 'A London Particular' - The Woman in Black.

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  • The Woman in Black- A London Particular
    • Weather
      • The Fog
        • The fog is used to introduce London as a trap; somewhere where Arthur feels he needs to get away from.
          • "had hemmed us in on all sides"
          • "choking London fog"
        • The fog is  a symbol of the mystery associated with the supernatural.
          • "the fog had scarcely allowed any daylight to penetrate the foul gloom of the atmosphere"
            • Gives the reader a sense of foreboding- will there be nothing good to come out of Kipps' journey?
        • The fog foreshadows a danger present in the near future.
          • "would be easy to look back and to believe that all day I had a sense of foreboding"
            • Highlights his obliviousness and arrogance. He was not a superstitious man and did not take warnings from the weather seriously- the typical Gothic story protagonist.
      • Pathetic fallacy
        • We know that the older Kipps mood often reflects the weather, but here, as a young "sturdy" man, he doesn't seem phased by the fog hanging over London.
          • Makes the reader question, 'what happened to him on his journey that made him into a frail man whose mood is influenced by the weather, as when he left he was a "sturdy, commonsensical fellow"?'
    • Fear
    • Silence
      • In this chapter, Kipps notices the silence that follows after the mention of Mrs Drablow.
        • "Mr Bentley felt silent for a few  moments."
          • Suggests that there is something about her that people don't like talking about; a mystery
            • Everyone seems very reluctant to disclose much information about Mrs Drablow.
              • "There used to  be a      housekeeper...but you'll find out more when you get there."
              • As the conversation   progresses,  Kipps asks a questions about Mrs Drablow and things associated with her. In response, Mr Bentley avoids 'yes, no' answers and provides more vague ones.
                • In response to the question of Mrs Drablow's friends, Mr Bentley said "Eel Marsh house is far from any neighbor."
          • The subject is clearly    uncomfortable but the reader, nor Arthur knows why.
            • The reader feels they don't have enough information about this Mrs Drablow. This creates a fear of the unknown which is a key theme in the book.
      • Another type a silence is introduced in the chapter. It is here that Arthur first encounters the silence in the subject of Mrs Drablow.
        • Everyone seems very reluctant to disclose much information about Mrs Drablow.
          • "There used to  be a      housekeeper...but you'll find out more when you get there."
          • As the conversation   progresses,  Kipps asks a questions about Mrs Drablow and things associated with her. In response, Mr Bentley avoids 'yes, no' answers and provides more vague ones.
            • In response to the question of Mrs Drablow's friends, Mr Bentley said "Eel Marsh house is far from any neighbor."
    • Irony
      • Kipps thinks that Mr Bentley is dramatizing Mrs Drablow and her house to make the job more appealing and interesting.
        • Nothing was exaggerated, everything he said was true is not better than the reality.
  • The Fog
    • The fog is used to introduce London as a trap; somewhere where Arthur feels he needs to get away from.
      • "had hemmed us in on all sides"
      • "choking London fog"
    • The fog is  a symbol of the mystery associated with the supernatural.
      • "the fog had scarcely allowed any daylight to penetrate the foul gloom of the atmosphere"
        • Gives the reader a sense of foreboding- will there be nothing good to come out of Kipps' journey?
    • The fog foreshadows a danger present in the near future.
      • "would be easy to look back and to believe that all day I had a sense of foreboding"
        • Highlights his obliviousness and arrogance. He was not a superstitious man and did not take warnings from the weather seriously- the typical Gothic story protagonist.
  • Analysis

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