The Woman In Black – Susan Hill:
The main themes in this ghost story by Susan Hill are fear, isolation and the influence of the
past. These are presented through the setting, characters and the layered storytelling structure.
Other ideas that are dealt with include the conflict between urban and rural life, revenge and, of
course, the theme of the supernatural.
Description of the Gothic:
Women appear as diseased and maltreated – this leads to a sense of danger
(minatory). They often have a pestilent appearance and female fatale = sexually
attractive woman who is dangerous.
An archetypal protagonist is a naïve young man (18-24 years old – on point of change to
adulthood) and is usually drawn from the middle and professional class (e.g solicitors
and lawyers).
Occurs at dark time and involve pathetic fallacy (wind and fog). Elements of
supernatural.
The isolated + vast settings (include sublime). It can also include the transition from
urban to the rural (moving away from civilization).
Theme of Isolation:
The protagonist often feels trapped, alone and away from help. In the novella, we see from the
start when Arthur’s stepfamily gather around the fire to tell Ghost stories - his inability to
participate sets him apart (he removes himself and goes outdoors).
How does Hill show this? Evidence Analysis
Arthur is Arthur is isolated as the stranger in the Until the very last second, it From the moment he leaves London we are
alone village, as the only person who sees the seemed that I was to be alone not made aware of Arthur's aloneness. There is a
ghost physically when he stays the night merely in my compartment but in sense that no one will be able to help him, and
at Eel Marsh House. the entire train. this seems unsettling.
Eel Marsh The house itself is at the end of a Neither could I see the causeway The physical isolation of the place creates a
House causeway that is cut off during high path, not only because of that but sense of entrapment. This makes the eeriness
tides and bad weather. because the tide had now of the house inescapable as we see when
covered it over completely. Arthur wants to leave.
Mrs When Arthur and Samuel talk about Mrs "I gather she had no friends - or The isolation of characters and place is a key
Drablow Drablow, he refers to her isolation. This immediate family - that she was element that builds tension and fear in this
lives is emphasised by the fact that her something of a recluse?" story. We later wonder what role the ghost of
alone funeral is barely attended. Jennet Humfrye might have played in the
isolation of her sister.
Introduction to a response based on isolation:
The Woman In Black by Susan Hill, that was written in 1983, is a traditional gothic ghost story set during
the Edwardian era. Susan Hill successfully draws on many conventions of the ghost story genre to create
a compelling and frightening tale.
, Theme of Fear:
Fear is a human response to the threat of danger or harm. Fear is presented in the novel through 3 main
aspects:
Fear of the past:
Fear causes the separation of his family. ‘and went quickly from the room.’
Fear leads to questioning masculine ability. ‘Like any other man.’ (This reflects with the
questioning of masculinity with Lady Macbeth in the Macbeth Play).
Fear as a ‘wound’. Suggest harm and destructiveness.
An invalid as fear grows and grows and leads to a frantic mindset. It physically affects his
behaviour – paralyses him in his movements.
Fear Of Women:
She appears unconventional, which reflects her unconventional identity when she was ‘not
holding a prayer book.’
She looks like a ‘wasting disease’ and ‘extremely pale.’
Superficial aspects when Arthur Kipps focuses on the appearance of the Woman In Black. (This
reinforces a similar part when Macbeth observes the appearance of the 3 witches).
Reflects an archetype of women in the Gothic – toxic, diseased and harmful.
The WIB actions around the gravestone could foreshadow death, suggest otherworldly and
perhaps even demonic. ‘ Beside another headstone.’
Fear of the Unknown:
When Kipps encounters the WIB. ‘ was hard to guess her age.’ Demonstrates a slight perplexity
from Kipps. Leads to uncertainty and adds a sense of mystery.
‘She was nowhere to be seen.’ This a continuous idea of the mystery of the WIB. It is to create
that uncertainty of future occurrences – Gives a reserved idea on the WIB.
FEAR APPEARS TO BE A CIRCULATING THEME.
How does Hill show this? Evidence Analysis
The story of Arthur She introduces his story in the It would be easy to look back and to The narrator implies from
Kipps' visit to Eel present tense to show how believe that all that day I had had a the start that this memory
Marsh House is a fear has pursued the narrator. sense of foreboding. will be presented as
memory accurately as possible.
Jennet Humfrye is Samuel Daily explains the In some violent or dreadful The way in which the
driven mad by her own story of the woman in black circumstance, a child has died. ghost takes her revenge
past and how her revenge has repeatedly shows how
affected the community. affected she is by her
past.
Setting Within The Woman In Black:
The main themes in this ghost story by Susan Hill are fear, isolation and the influence of the
past. These are presented through the setting, characters and the layered storytelling structure.
Other ideas that are dealt with include the conflict between urban and rural life, revenge and, of
course, the theme of the supernatural.
Description of the Gothic:
Women appear as diseased and maltreated – this leads to a sense of danger
(minatory). They often have a pestilent appearance and female fatale = sexually
attractive woman who is dangerous.
An archetypal protagonist is a naïve young man (18-24 years old – on point of change to
adulthood) and is usually drawn from the middle and professional class (e.g solicitors
and lawyers).
Occurs at dark time and involve pathetic fallacy (wind and fog). Elements of
supernatural.
The isolated + vast settings (include sublime). It can also include the transition from
urban to the rural (moving away from civilization).
Theme of Isolation:
The protagonist often feels trapped, alone and away from help. In the novella, we see from the
start when Arthur’s stepfamily gather around the fire to tell Ghost stories - his inability to
participate sets him apart (he removes himself and goes outdoors).
How does Hill show this? Evidence Analysis
Arthur is Arthur is isolated as the stranger in the Until the very last second, it From the moment he leaves London we are
alone village, as the only person who sees the seemed that I was to be alone not made aware of Arthur's aloneness. There is a
ghost physically when he stays the night merely in my compartment but in sense that no one will be able to help him, and
at Eel Marsh House. the entire train. this seems unsettling.
Eel Marsh The house itself is at the end of a Neither could I see the causeway The physical isolation of the place creates a
House causeway that is cut off during high path, not only because of that but sense of entrapment. This makes the eeriness
tides and bad weather. because the tide had now of the house inescapable as we see when
covered it over completely. Arthur wants to leave.
Mrs When Arthur and Samuel talk about Mrs "I gather she had no friends - or The isolation of characters and place is a key
Drablow Drablow, he refers to her isolation. This immediate family - that she was element that builds tension and fear in this
lives is emphasised by the fact that her something of a recluse?" story. We later wonder what role the ghost of
alone funeral is barely attended. Jennet Humfrye might have played in the
isolation of her sister.
Introduction to a response based on isolation:
The Woman In Black by Susan Hill, that was written in 1983, is a traditional gothic ghost story set during
the Edwardian era. Susan Hill successfully draws on many conventions of the ghost story genre to create
a compelling and frightening tale.
, Theme of Fear:
Fear is a human response to the threat of danger or harm. Fear is presented in the novel through 3 main
aspects:
Fear of the past:
Fear causes the separation of his family. ‘and went quickly from the room.’
Fear leads to questioning masculine ability. ‘Like any other man.’ (This reflects with the
questioning of masculinity with Lady Macbeth in the Macbeth Play).
Fear as a ‘wound’. Suggest harm and destructiveness.
An invalid as fear grows and grows and leads to a frantic mindset. It physically affects his
behaviour – paralyses him in his movements.
Fear Of Women:
She appears unconventional, which reflects her unconventional identity when she was ‘not
holding a prayer book.’
She looks like a ‘wasting disease’ and ‘extremely pale.’
Superficial aspects when Arthur Kipps focuses on the appearance of the Woman In Black. (This
reinforces a similar part when Macbeth observes the appearance of the 3 witches).
Reflects an archetype of women in the Gothic – toxic, diseased and harmful.
The WIB actions around the gravestone could foreshadow death, suggest otherworldly and
perhaps even demonic. ‘ Beside another headstone.’
Fear of the Unknown:
When Kipps encounters the WIB. ‘ was hard to guess her age.’ Demonstrates a slight perplexity
from Kipps. Leads to uncertainty and adds a sense of mystery.
‘She was nowhere to be seen.’ This a continuous idea of the mystery of the WIB. It is to create
that uncertainty of future occurrences – Gives a reserved idea on the WIB.
FEAR APPEARS TO BE A CIRCULATING THEME.
How does Hill show this? Evidence Analysis
The story of Arthur She introduces his story in the It would be easy to look back and to The narrator implies from
Kipps' visit to Eel present tense to show how believe that all that day I had had a the start that this memory
Marsh House is a fear has pursued the narrator. sense of foreboding. will be presented as
memory accurately as possible.
Jennet Humfrye is Samuel Daily explains the In some violent or dreadful The way in which the
driven mad by her own story of the woman in black circumstance, a child has died. ghost takes her revenge
past and how her revenge has repeatedly shows how
affected the community. affected she is by her
past.
Setting Within The Woman In Black:
