The Signalman – Charles Dickins I had seen you before." " Where?" He pointed to the red light he had looked at. "There?" I said. The conversation is very direct in short sentences. They appear to be hurried as if to be a warning for oncoming danger - these short sentences portray worry and urgency. The unusual repetition of questions: 'what's wrong? What has happened? Where?' are signs of anxiety. The story is reaching its climax with a nerve-wracking extract here, which is quick and panicked.
‘he heard a voice…he was standing’
The signalman is referred to simply as “he” and remains unnamed, this gives a sense of mystery about the Signalman and portrays him to be odd. By leaving the Signalman to be un-named this also gives the reader a stronger grip on the story by making it feel less personal to the characters and more open to the thoughts of outsiders. The lack of personality of the man leaves the story down much more to the interpretation of the reader.
‘Instead of looking up to where I stood on the top of the steep cutting nearly over his head, he turned himself about, and looked down the line.’
The Signalman’s behaviour is strange and the narrator notes this at the opening of the story, upon having called down to the Signalman “Halloa below there!” rather than looking up to where the narrator stood and where his voice may have come from, the Signalman looks down the line as he believes it is the words of the ghost which he had seen at earlier on. The narrator asks for a way to get down to the Signalman and he is pointed without speaking to a point on his level, the narrator makes way to the cutting which is described to be “extremely deep, and unusually precipitate.” made of “clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter” giving an impression of a very unwelcoming trail in a possibly even dangerous area.
1. There was something remarkable in his manner of doing so, though i could not have said for my life what. But i know it was remarkable enough to attract my notice, even though his figure was foreshortened and shadowed, down in the deep trench, and mine was high above him, so stepped in the glow of an angry sunset that i had shaded my eyes with my hand before i saw him at all.
This extract, close to the beginning of the story, has many connotations of mystery and of sinister feelings. The sunset is personified and is given the emotion of ‘angry’ adding to the negative feeling of the evening. This is also pathetic fallacy to use weather and surroundings to resemble feelings felt by the humans. Another use of patheic fallacy in this extract is ‘down in the deep trench’. Deep trenches naturally fills the reader with fear, giving implications of being trapped and caged in something you cannot escape, which gives us more of a sense of fear when the man tries to go down to the voice. All of this points illude to the fact that this ‘foreshortened’ and ‘shadowed’ figure may not be as human as first implied.
2. Haloa! Below there!
This sets an eerie tone for this story straight away, making the reader want to know who the man is shouting at, and starting at once with a line that captures the readers attention. This is also quite an odd way of speaking- instead of saying ‘hello’ the man says ‘haloa’ which is different and adds to the mystery.
3. The monstrous thought came into my mind as i persued the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man. I have speculated since, whether there may have been infection in his mind.
The man ‘persues’ the fixed eyes as if it is a challenge to do this, adding to the underline theme or mystery and curiosity. ‘saturnine’ meaning dark and mysterious, is adding to the feeling that this may not actually be a human, but a spirit,k and this is backed up by the following phrase. After that, saying that he has ‘speculated since’ is keeping the feeling that this had deeply disturbed him so he has never forgotten this image of this vacant and gloomy expression on this immortal.
4. The narrator notes the significance of the similarity between the driver's actions and the actions of the spectre as the signalman had earlier described them, but leaves the nature of that significance to the reader. "You look at me," I said, forcing a smile, "as if you had a dread of me." "I was doubtful," he returned, "whether I had seen you before." "Where?" He pointed to the red light he had looked at. "There?" I said. Intently watchful of me, he replied (but without sound), "Yes." "My good fellow, what should I do there? However, be that as it may, I never was there, you may swear." "I think I may," he rejoined. "Yes; I am sure I may." This communication is very direct in short sentences. Thus appearing to be hurried as if to be a warning for oncoming danger. If acted - as Dickens was part of a amateur theater group - these short sentences evoke urgency. Rapid fire tension. Usually victorian authors strung long sentences with detailed descriptions. This was the age of realism. But Dickens' style is for more theatrical than that of his contemporaries.
5. ‘The cutting was extremely deep, and unusually precipitate. It was made through a clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter as i went down.’
The railway cutting is a damp, gloomy and lonely place. The signalman seems still to be in fear of the narrator, who tries to put him at ease. The signalman appears to have seen the narrator before. The narrator assures him that this is impossible. Reassured, the signalman welcomes the newcomer into his little cabin and the two men speak of the signalman's work. His labour consists of a dull, monotonous routine, but the signalman feels he deserves nothing better, as he misused his youthful academic opportunities. The narrator remarks that the signalman seems a sane and dutiful employee at all times but when he looks to his signal bell at two moments when it is not ringing.
The First Line starts with: ‘Halloa! Below there!’ The way this introduces the text sets the tone for the entire passage. The use of older, harsher language indicates that the text isn’t going to be of a light mood. It is almost used to introduce the reader to the scene, because it paints a picture in my mind about the sort of place and people that are going to be involved in the story; this sort of language isn’t used by the majority of people. It gives me the impression that there is something different about the people and the scene.
‘I resumed my downward way, and stepping out upon the level of the railroad, and drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark sallow man.’ This creates the scene at which most of the story is centred at; it creates a stereo-typical sinister scene, because it highlights the shadow of a man, which is generally seen as a creepy set up. The way in which this particular man is highlighted gives me the indication that he is alone, as otherwise it would be bizarre to pick out a single ‘sallow man’ among many. I think this actually creates some suspense early on, because immediately I got the impression that the story would be centred around this ‘dark sallow man’, and I thought that the narrator would go over to meet him, probably to end with peril.
‘He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the light near the tunnels, as if something were missing from it, and then looked at me.’ This is just before the first time that the narrator communicates with the signalman. This line indicates the hesitance of the narrator to approach the signalman, as the way the narrator describes him makes it seem like the signalman is very odd. I think that the narrator could be over exaggerating, because I think he may be nervous about approaching him, and this often leads people to over emphasise the way in which something is described. His reluctance to approach him the shadow of his fears leads him to describe the signalman in the worst possible way, in order to paint the most vivid and daunting picture possible in the readers mind.
‘Within six hours after the appearance, the memorable accident on this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and wounded were brought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood.’ This quote creates both a fright and a rhetorical question in the readers mind. He uses morbidity to create a ‘spooky’ suspicion that something frightening could be about to happen, the persistent thought about imminent death will always be in the back of the mind of the reader while they are in the tunnel, whether it is possible or not. The rhetorical question comes into mind when thinking about a possible connection between the accident and the man in the tunnel; the reader will always be trying to think about how certain events in the story connect with the accident and the man in the tunnel. This short extract combines two techniques well, and it makes the reader think about the background of the story throughout the remainder of the story.
The Signalman “The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man.” Through the use of personification, the writer portrays emotion. The “monstrous thought”, this causes one to think of this inanimate object as grand and almost frightening. This also causes shock with the reader. The writer uses a lot of references toward the supernatural, “monstrous thoughts” and “spirits” this reinforces how nothing is at it seems, that the narrator is peruse[ing] the unknown. “Had he much to do there? Yes, that was to say, he has enough responsibility to bear.” As the writer is asking himself a question it makes the reader himself/herself, and makes you wonder if this is a probable thing that can be possible. Throughout the quote the narrator changes from a state of uncertainty to suddenly being convinced of it. “’What can I do?’ He pulled out his handkerchief, and wiped the drops from his heated forehead.” This quote implies that the signalman is very nervous and on edge as he is frequently asking questions. This is reflected and makes the reader question their judgement and possibly adding t heir own perceptions to the story. The fact that the signalman then reveals a handkerchief to wipe the “drops” of what the reader presumes is sweat, shows the stereotype of anxiety. “A disagreeable shudder crept over me, but I did my best against it.” This quote implies resistance, the “disagreeable shudder” doesn’t just suddenly occur, but it creeps up. This echoes the supernatural aspect, and as the narrator is trying to withstand it or trying to force it back.
This quote is repeated throughout the story and seems to be a key theme throughout the story. Later in the story it is linked to the action of lifting your arms in front of your face. This is what, in the end, seems to lead to the signalman’s death, as the driver of the train that killed him called out ‘Below there! Look out!’ and did the previously described action.
Quote 2- ‘There was something remarkable in his manor of doing so, though I could not have said for my life what. But I know it was remarkable enough to attract my notice.’
This shows us that there is already something slightly odd happening in the story as the narrator is attracted to this spot even though he has no idea why and then there is something remarkable in what he just did but the narrator does not know why he finds it remarkable. The repetition of ‘remarkable throughout the quote emphasises the narrator’s feelings.
Quote 3- ‘The monstrous thought came into my mind, as i perused the fixes eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man.’
This is the first instance in the story that some sort of spector is acctually mentioned, before there have just been inclinatons of some sort of ghost but now it is clearly meantioned. The shock of this is heightened by the description of the ‘monstrous thought’, ‘monstrous’ could be how he would have thought of the signalman for that second in which he had dought of whether there really was a man standing in front of him. It is foreboding in that it is the moment in which the reader realises that the stroy is about ghosts.
Quote 4- ‘he twise broke off with a fallen colour, turned his face towards the little bell when it did not ring, opened the door of the hut ... and looked out towards the red light near the mouth of the tunnel.’
This makes you wonder if the man is slightly crazy or has something wrong with him. You learn earlier that his job is somewhat beneath him as he is clearly over educated for it. This makes you wonder whether the job has bored him so much that he is unconciously making up the sound of the bell ringing in his head so as to have something to do, and to add some entertainment to his dull life. It also brings up the significance of the ‘red light’. There are many references to it and it is clear to the reader that it is of some significance to the story although you do not know to what extent it is significant and you do not know how it is significant.
Quote 5- ‘When you have found it, don’t call out! And when you are at the top, don’t call out!’
The repetition of ‘don’t call out’ shows the odd feeling of fear that the signalman has to this action, and emphasises it to the reader. This is another odd quality of the signalman that is not yet explained. The narrator finds this odd but choses to just ignore it.
Bea: The Signalman Quotes 1. “The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit not a man.” a. This is the first time in the story that the supernatural is obtusely referenced in the story, it is the beginning of the huge build up in suspense that results in the death of the signal man. The signalman is very clearly unhappy, as his suspicious eyes and glum facial expressions show, and perhaps it is this first impression of the unhappiness of the signalman that piques the narrator’s interest in him. 2. “His manner seemed to make the place strike colder to me.” a. The narrator already describes the dwelling of the signalman as “as solitary and dismal place as I ever saw.” However, despite the dreariness and dankness of the train track the place has no malice at first. The surroundings of the signalman are filled with pathetic fallacy, the darkness and the gloom, being shut in, and the “jagged stone.” The surroundings are conducive to the tragedy that occurs there. 3. “It was not to be denied, I rejoined, that this was a remarkable coincidence, calculated deeply to impress his mind. But it is unquestionable that remarkable coincidences did continually occur.” a. Here the narrators mind is still very set on a mundane explanation for these extraordinary events, his mind approaches it in a purely logical way. His use of the words “to impress his mind” though implies that there is someone planning these events, purely to make an impression, this shows that the narrator is beginning to accept the idea of a supernatural input. 4. “I have no peace or rest for it. It calls for me, for many minutes together in an agonised manner.” a. Here we see the extent to which this apparition is affecting the signalman, he feels as if its presence is omnipresent. The use of the word “calls” makes the apparition seem sentient, as though it is actively plotting against the signalman. 5. “What is the danger? Where is the danger? There is danger overhanging somewhere on the line. Some dreadful calamity will happen. It is not to be doubted this third time, after what has gone before. But surely this is a cruel haunting of me. What can I do?” a. The signalman begins to become desperate here, you can tell that he is panicking, he recognizes the inevitability of the disaster after the appearance of the apparition, but he doesn’t know how he can stop it. There is a sense of futility because he doesn’t understand how he can stop the dreadful happenings, and he worries because the apparition is haunting him, he does not know what he has done to deserve this or how he can stop this before more people are hurt. He is deeply paranoid.
Nick: ‘There was something remarkable in his manner of doing so, though I could not have said for my life what’. This section of the passage appears at the beginning of the story, and it helps characterise the Signalman as a bit of a riddle. The narrator quite clearly admires the Signal man, referring to him as ‘remarkable’ as a compliment. However, the narrator is obviously perplexed by him yet cannot put his finger on what is quite wrong. This confusion rubs off on the reader and makes us think of who this Signalman is and what he will do. The theme of the unknown adds to a a cautious atmosphere which give the story a slightly eery feel. ‘Just then there cam a vague vibration in the earth and air, quickly changing into a violent pulsation, and an oncoming rush that caused me to start back, as though it had force to draw me down’. The language used here implies a sense of supernatural presence, a recurring theme in the whole of the story. We at first think that these feeling stem for something ghostly but then we realise these feelings are caused by a material object, a speeding train. This makes the reader feel uncertain about what is logical and spiritual, and this makes the boundaries fade so that we think anything can happen. ‘The monstrous thought that came into my mind...that this was a spirit, not a man’. In this section of the passage, the speaker finally has an epiphany as to what has been really going on, confirming the reader’s suspicions. We see a huge change in the speaker’s opinion of the Signalman, having found out he is a spirit now he refers to the thought of him as ‘monstrous’. This causes huge contrast between the beginning of the story and now, meaning the reader is caught between two minds, much like the speaker. This puts us in the speaker’s shoes and this immersion in the story, makes this passage very dramatic. ‘Before pursuing my stroll, I stepped to the brink, and mechanically looked down, from the point from which I had first seen him’. In this point in the passage, we see a slight ebb in the confused and hectic scenarios of before and more of a calmer atmosphere now. The speaker is now going for a ‘stroll’, a leisurely activity to clear his mind. However we still see an implication that he is not quite right and human as he ‘mechanically’ moves. We pick up the fact that he might miss the Signalman slightly ‘which I had first seen him’, which conveys feelings of nostalgia and themes of things that have come to pass, these things mainly associated with death.
“So little sunlight ever found itself to this spot, that it had a earthly, deadly smell; and so much cold wind rushed through it, that it struck chill to me, as if i had left the natural world.” This is dickens’ first reference to something supernatural happening and cements the feeling of unease that has been growing since the start of the story. The narrator, a rational man, tries to justify his feelings of the supernatural by explaining why he thinks he is struck with a chill and that there is a deadly smell. However, getting the chills is associated with ghosts and the supernatural and so the reader is invited to think that not all is as simple as it seems.
“But I am troubled, Sir, i am troubled” He would have recalled the words if he could. He had said them, however, and i took them up quickly “With what, what is your trouble?” “It is very difficult to impart, Sir, it is very very difficult to speak of.”
We find out something is wrong with the signal-man; this reflects the mysterious nature of the story so far. The signalman is ‘troubled’ by something; however he is reluctant to speak of it. This adds to the intrigue and suspense of the story. The signalman speaks using repeated phrases, this emphasises the true extent to his trouble. Furthermore it implies that he is somewhat afraid, as repetition is often associated with jittering and fear. It also alludes to the main overall plot of the story as the train crash that the signalman sees is repeated over and over.
“Within six hours after the appearancce the memorable accident on this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and wounded were bought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood.” This is the first actual mention of bad things happening in relation to the ghost, or apparition, namely the death of these people. This is the first moment in the story where we realise the full extent of what ‘the figure’ is doing. It is from this point on the story that the bulit up intrigue and suspence and sense of unease throughout the story really comes together and the levels of suspense rise to new levels. The figure is made particularly creepy and obviously related to the cases as the people are placed exactly where he stood.
“Now sir, mark this, and judge how my mind is troubled. The spectre came back a week ago. Ever since it has been there, now and again, by fits and starts.” ... with increased passion and vehementh he gesticualted “For God’s sake, clear the way.” This moments really ramps up the suspense in the story as from what we have already learnt of the ghost so far this means an accident is imminent. This really adds a sense of ominous and imminent danger to the characters in the story. The fact that the spectre is npow displayed as even more manic and worried then before shows that this imminent crash will be the worst accident so far.
“I said, below there! Look out! Look out! For god’s sake clear the way!” I started. “Ah! It was a dreadful time sir. I never left off calling to him. I put this arm before my eyes not to see, and i waved this arm to the last; but it was to no use.” This is the final climactic moment of the story where we find out that the signalman has been run over and died. The signalman is portrayed throughout the whole story as clever and was rational before he became the signalman and living in those conditions all the time drove him insane. It is unclear whether the ghost the signalman saw ever really was there. However in this cloimactic moment it is clear that he went mad and got engulfed by his worry about the ghost and so kills himself.
The Signalman – Charles Dickins
ReplyDeleteI had seen you before." "
Where?"
He pointed to the red light he had looked at.
"There?" I said.
The conversation is very direct in short sentences. They appear to be hurried as if to be a warning for oncoming danger - these short sentences portray worry and urgency. The unusual repetition of questions: 'what's wrong? What has happened? Where?' are signs of anxiety. The story is reaching its climax with a nerve-wracking extract here, which is quick and panicked.
‘he heard a voice…he was standing’
The signalman is referred to simply as “he” and remains unnamed, this gives a sense of mystery about the Signalman and portrays him to be odd. By leaving the Signalman to be un-named this also gives the reader a stronger grip on the story by making it feel less personal to the characters and more open to the thoughts of outsiders. The lack of personality of the man leaves the story down much more to the interpretation of the reader.
‘Instead of looking up to where I stood on the top of the steep cutting nearly over his head, he turned himself about, and looked down the line.’
The Signalman’s behaviour is strange and the narrator notes this at the opening of the story, upon having called down to the Signalman “Halloa below there!” rather than looking up to where the narrator stood and where his voice may have come from, the Signalman looks down the line as he believes it is the words of the ghost which he had seen at earlier on. The narrator asks for a way to get down to the Signalman and he is pointed without speaking to a point on his level, the narrator makes way to the cutting which is described to be “extremely deep, and unusually precipitate.” made of “clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter” giving an impression of a very unwelcoming trail in a possibly even dangerous area.
1. There was something remarkable in his manner of doing so, though i could not have said for my life what. But i know it was remarkable enough to attract my notice, even though his figure was foreshortened and shadowed, down in the deep trench, and mine was high above him, so stepped in the glow of an angry sunset that i had shaded my eyes with my hand before i saw him at all.
ReplyDeleteThis extract, close to the beginning of the story, has many connotations of mystery and of sinister feelings. The sunset is personified and is given the emotion of ‘angry’ adding to the negative feeling of the evening. This is also pathetic fallacy to use weather and surroundings to resemble feelings felt by the humans. Another use of patheic fallacy in this extract is ‘down in the deep trench’. Deep trenches naturally fills the reader with fear, giving implications of being trapped and caged in something you cannot escape, which gives us more of a sense of fear when the man tries to go down to the voice. All of this points illude to the fact that this ‘foreshortened’ and ‘shadowed’ figure may not be as human as first implied.
2. Haloa! Below there!
This sets an eerie tone for this story straight away, making the reader want to know who the man is shouting at, and starting at once with a line that captures the readers attention. This is also quite an odd way of speaking- instead of saying ‘hello’ the man says ‘haloa’ which is different and adds to the mystery.
3. The monstrous thought came into my mind as i persued the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man. I have speculated since, whether there may have been infection in his mind.
The man ‘persues’ the fixed eyes as if it is a challenge to do this, adding to the underline theme or mystery and curiosity. ‘saturnine’ meaning dark and mysterious, is adding to the feeling that this may not actually be a human, but a spirit,k and this is backed up by the following phrase. After that, saying that he has ‘speculated since’ is keeping the feeling that this had deeply disturbed him so he has never forgotten this image of this vacant and gloomy expression on this immortal.
4. The narrator notes the significance of the similarity between the driver's actions and the actions of the spectre as the signalman had earlier described them, but leaves the nature of that significance to the reader.
ReplyDelete"You look at me," I said, forcing a smile, "as if you had a dread of me."
"I was doubtful," he returned, "whether I had seen you before."
"Where?"
He pointed to the red light he had looked at.
"There?" I said.
Intently watchful of me, he replied (but without sound), "Yes."
"My good fellow, what should I do there? However, be that as it may, I never was there, you may swear."
"I think I may," he rejoined. "Yes; I am sure I may."
This communication is very direct in short sentences. Thus appearing to be hurried as if to be a warning for oncoming danger. If acted - as Dickens was part of a amateur theater group - these short sentences evoke urgency. Rapid fire tension.
Usually victorian authors strung long sentences with detailed descriptions. This was the age of realism. But Dickens' style is for more theatrical than that of his contemporaries.
5. ‘The cutting was extremely deep, and unusually precipitate. It was made through a clammy stone, that became oozier and wetter as i went down.’
The railway cutting is a damp, gloomy and lonely place. The signalman seems still to be in fear of the narrator, who tries to put him at ease. The signalman appears to have seen the narrator before. The narrator assures him that this is impossible. Reassured, the signalman welcomes the newcomer into his little cabin and the two men speak of the signalman's work. His labour consists of a dull, monotonous routine, but the signalman feels he deserves nothing better, as he misused his youthful academic opportunities. The narrator remarks that the signalman seems a sane and dutiful employee at all times but when he looks to his signal bell at two moments when it is not ringing.
WEST SIDE IS THE BEST.
The First Line starts with: ‘Halloa! Below there!’
ReplyDeleteThe way this introduces the text sets the tone for the entire passage. The use of older, harsher language indicates that the text isn’t going to be of a light mood. It is almost used to introduce the reader to the scene, because it paints a picture in my mind about the sort of place and people that are going to be involved in the story; this sort of language isn’t used by the majority of people. It gives me the impression that there is something different about the people and the scene.
‘I resumed my downward way, and stepping out upon the level of the railroad, and drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark sallow man.’
This creates the scene at which most of the story is centred at; it creates a stereo-typical sinister scene, because it highlights the shadow of a man, which is generally seen as a creepy set up. The way in which this particular man is highlighted gives me the indication that he is alone, as otherwise it would be bizarre to pick out a single ‘sallow man’ among many. I think this actually creates some suspense early on, because immediately I got the impression that the story would be centred around this ‘dark sallow man’, and I thought that the narrator would go over to meet him, probably to end with peril.
‘He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the light near the tunnels, as if something were missing from it, and then looked at me.’
This is just before the first time that the narrator communicates with the signalman. This line indicates the hesitance of the narrator to approach the signalman, as the way the narrator describes him makes it seem like the signalman is very odd. I think that the narrator could be over exaggerating, because I think he may be nervous about approaching him, and this often leads people to over emphasise the way in which something is described. His reluctance to approach him the shadow of his fears leads him to describe the signalman in the worst possible way, in order to paint the most vivid and daunting picture possible in the readers mind.
‘Within six hours after the appearance, the memorable accident on this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and wounded were brought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood.’
This quote creates both a fright and a rhetorical question in the readers mind. He uses morbidity to create a ‘spooky’ suspicion that something frightening could be about to happen, the persistent thought about imminent death will always be in the back of the mind of the reader while they are in the tunnel, whether it is possible or not. The rhetorical question comes into mind when thinking about a possible connection between the accident and the man in the tunnel; the reader will always be trying to think about how certain events in the story connect with the accident and the man in the tunnel. This short extract combines two techniques well, and it makes the reader think about the background of the story throughout the remainder of the story.
The Signalman
ReplyDelete“The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man.”
Through the use of personification, the writer portrays emotion. The “monstrous thought”, this causes one to think of this inanimate object as grand and almost frightening. This also causes shock with the reader. The writer uses a lot of references toward the supernatural, “monstrous thoughts” and “spirits” this reinforces how nothing is at it seems, that the narrator is peruse[ing] the unknown.
“Had he much to do there? Yes, that was to say, he has enough responsibility to bear.”
As the writer is asking himself a question it makes the reader himself/herself, and makes you wonder if this is a probable thing that can be possible. Throughout the quote the narrator changes from a state of uncertainty to suddenly being convinced of it.
“’What can I do?’ He pulled out his handkerchief, and wiped the drops from his heated forehead.”
This quote implies that the signalman is very nervous and on edge as he is frequently asking questions. This is reflected and makes the reader question their judgement and possibly adding t heir own perceptions to the story. The fact that the signalman then reveals a handkerchief to wipe the “drops” of what the reader presumes is sweat, shows the stereotype of anxiety.
“A disagreeable shudder crept over me, but I did my best against it.”
This quote implies resistance, the “disagreeable shudder” doesn’t just suddenly occur, but it creeps up. This echoes the supernatural aspect, and as the narrator is trying to withstand it or trying to force it back.
Anna and Rory
Quote 1- ‘Halloa! Below there!’
ReplyDeleteThis quote is repeated throughout the story and seems to be a key theme throughout the story. Later in the story it is linked to the action of lifting your arms in front of your face. This is what, in the end, seems to lead to the signalman’s death, as the driver of the train that killed him called out ‘Below there! Look out!’ and did the previously described action.
Quote 2- ‘There was something remarkable in his manor of doing so, though I could not have said for my life what. But I know it was remarkable enough to attract my notice.’
This shows us that there is already something slightly odd happening in the story as the narrator is attracted to this spot even though he has no idea why and then there is something remarkable in what he just did but the narrator does not know why he finds it remarkable. The repetition of ‘remarkable throughout the quote emphasises the narrator’s feelings.
Quote 3- ‘The monstrous thought came into my mind, as i perused the fixes eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man.’
This is the first instance in the story that some sort of spector is acctually mentioned, before there have just been inclinatons of some sort of ghost but now it is clearly meantioned. The shock of this is heightened by the description of the ‘monstrous thought’, ‘monstrous’ could be how he would have thought of the signalman for that second in which he had dought of whether there really was a man standing in front of him. It is foreboding in that it is the moment in which the reader realises that the stroy is about ghosts.
Quote 4- ‘he twise broke off with a fallen colour, turned his face towards the little bell when it did not ring, opened the door of the hut ... and looked out towards the red light near the mouth of the tunnel.’
This makes you wonder if the man is slightly crazy or has something wrong with him. You learn earlier that his job is somewhat beneath him as he is clearly over educated for it. This makes you wonder whether the job has bored him so much that he is unconciously making up the sound of the bell ringing in his head so as to have something to do, and to add some entertainment to his dull life. It also brings up the significance of the ‘red light’. There are many references to it and it is clear to the reader that it is of some significance to the story although you do not know to what extent it is significant and you do not know how it is significant.
Quote 5- ‘When you have found it, don’t call out! And when you are at the top, don’t call out!’
The repetition of ‘don’t call out’ shows the odd feeling of fear that the signalman has to this action, and emphasises it to the reader. This is another odd quality of the signalman that is not yet explained. The narrator finds this odd but choses to just ignore it.
Sammie and Cockers
Bea: The Signalman Quotes
ReplyDelete1. “The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit not a man.”
a. This is the first time in the story that the supernatural is obtusely referenced in the story, it is the beginning of the huge build up in suspense that results in the death of the signal man. The signalman is very clearly unhappy, as his suspicious eyes and glum facial expressions show, and perhaps it is this first impression of the unhappiness of the signalman that piques the narrator’s interest in him.
2. “His manner seemed to make the place strike colder to me.”
a. The narrator already describes the dwelling of the signalman as “as solitary and dismal place as I ever saw.” However, despite the dreariness and dankness of the train track the place has no malice at first. The surroundings of the signalman are filled with pathetic fallacy, the darkness and the gloom, being shut in, and the “jagged stone.” The surroundings are conducive to the tragedy that occurs there.
3. “It was not to be denied, I rejoined, that this was a remarkable coincidence, calculated deeply to impress his mind. But it is unquestionable that remarkable coincidences did continually occur.”
a. Here the narrators mind is still very set on a mundane explanation for these extraordinary events, his mind approaches it in a purely logical way. His use of the words “to impress his mind” though implies that there is someone planning these events, purely to make an impression, this shows that the narrator is beginning to accept the idea of a supernatural input.
4. “I have no peace or rest for it. It calls for me, for many minutes together in an agonised manner.”
a. Here we see the extent to which this apparition is affecting the signalman, he feels as if its presence is omnipresent. The use of the word “calls” makes the apparition seem sentient, as though it is actively plotting against the signalman.
5. “What is the danger? Where is the danger? There is danger overhanging somewhere on the line. Some dreadful calamity will happen. It is not to be doubted this third time, after what has gone before. But surely this is a cruel haunting of me. What can I do?”
a. The signalman begins to become desperate here, you can tell that he is panicking, he recognizes the inevitability of the disaster after the appearance of the apparition, but he doesn’t know how he can stop it. There is a sense of futility because he doesn’t understand how he can stop the dreadful happenings, and he worries because the apparition is haunting him, he does not know what he has done to deserve this or how he can stop this before more people are hurt. He is deeply paranoid.
Nick:
ReplyDelete‘There was something remarkable in his manner of doing so, though I could not have said for my life what’.
This section of the passage appears at the beginning of the story, and it helps characterise the Signalman as a bit of a riddle. The narrator quite clearly admires the Signal man, referring to him as ‘remarkable’ as a compliment. However, the narrator is obviously perplexed by him yet cannot put his finger on what is quite wrong. This confusion rubs off on the reader and makes us think of who this Signalman is and what he will do. The theme of the unknown adds to a a cautious atmosphere which give the story a slightly eery feel.
‘Just then there cam a vague vibration in the earth and air, quickly changing into a violent pulsation, and an oncoming rush that caused me to start back, as though it had force to draw me down’.
The language used here implies a sense of supernatural presence, a recurring theme in the whole of the story. We at first think that these feeling stem for something ghostly but then we realise these feelings are caused by a material object, a speeding train. This makes the reader feel uncertain about what is logical and spiritual, and this makes the boundaries fade so that we think anything can happen.
‘The monstrous thought that came into my mind...that this was a spirit, not a man’.
In this section of the passage, the speaker finally has an epiphany as to what has been really going on, confirming the reader’s suspicions. We see a huge change in the speaker’s opinion of the Signalman, having found out he is a spirit now he refers to the thought of him as ‘monstrous’. This causes huge contrast between the beginning of the story and now, meaning the reader is caught between two minds, much like the speaker. This puts us in the speaker’s shoes and this immersion in the story, makes this passage very dramatic.
‘Before pursuing my stroll, I stepped to the brink, and mechanically looked down, from the point from which I had first seen him’.
In this point in the passage, we see a slight ebb in the confused and hectic scenarios of before and more of a calmer atmosphere now. The speaker is now going for a ‘stroll’, a leisurely activity to clear his mind. However we still see an implication that he is not quite right and human as he ‘mechanically’ moves. We pick up the fact that he might miss the Signalman slightly ‘which I had first seen him’, which conveys feelings of nostalgia and themes of things that have come to pass, these things mainly associated with death.
“So little sunlight ever found itself to this spot, that it had a earthly, deadly smell; and so much cold wind rushed through it, that it struck chill to me, as if i had left the natural world.”
ReplyDeleteThis is dickens’ first reference to something supernatural happening and cements the feeling of unease that has been growing since the start of the story. The narrator, a rational man, tries to justify his feelings of the supernatural by explaining why he thinks he is struck with a chill and that there is a deadly smell. However, getting the chills is associated with ghosts and the supernatural and so the reader is invited to think that not all is as simple as it seems.
“But I am troubled, Sir, i am troubled”
He would have recalled the words if he could. He had said them, however, and i took them up quickly
“With what, what is your trouble?”
“It is very difficult to impart, Sir, it is very very difficult to speak of.”
We find out something is wrong with the signal-man; this reflects the mysterious nature of the story so far. The signalman is ‘troubled’ by something; however he is reluctant to speak of it. This adds to the intrigue and suspense of the story. The signalman speaks using repeated phrases, this emphasises the true extent to his trouble. Furthermore it implies that he is somewhat afraid, as repetition is often associated with jittering and fear. It also alludes to the main overall plot of the story as the train crash that the signalman sees is repeated over and over.
“Within six hours after the appearancce the memorable accident on this line happened, and within ten hours the dead and wounded were bought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood.”
This is the first actual mention of bad things happening in relation to the ghost, or apparition, namely the death of these people. This is the first moment in the story where we realise the full extent of what ‘the figure’ is doing. It is from this point on the story that the bulit up intrigue and suspence and sense of unease throughout the story really comes together and the levels of suspense rise to new levels.
The figure is made particularly creepy and obviously related to the cases as the people are placed exactly where he stood.
“Now sir, mark this, and judge how my mind is troubled. The spectre came back a week ago. Ever since it has been there, now and again, by fits and starts.”
... with increased passion and vehementh he gesticualted “For God’s sake, clear the way.”
This moments really ramps up the suspense in the story as from what we have already learnt of the ghost so far this means an accident is imminent. This really adds a sense of ominous and imminent danger to the characters in the story. The fact that the spectre is npow displayed as even more manic and worried then before shows that this imminent crash will be the worst accident so far.
“I said, below there! Look out! Look out! For god’s sake clear the way!”
I started.
“Ah! It was a dreadful time sir. I never left off calling to him. I put this arm before my eyes not to see, and i waved this arm to the last; but it was to no use.”
This is the final climactic moment of the story where we find out that the signalman has been run over and died. The signalman is portrayed throughout the whole story as clever and was rational before he became the signalman and living in those conditions all the time drove him insane. It is unclear whether the ghost the signalman saw ever really was there. However in this cloimactic moment it is clear that he went mad and got engulfed by his worry about the ghost and so kills himself.
what are the key themes in the signalman?
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