Charles Dickens and the Ghost Story

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 1996 im Fachbereich Anglistik - Literatur, , Veranstaltung: Proseminar `British Short Stories`, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: Since having read about Old Marley¿s apparitions in A Christmas Carol we have

been fascinated by Dickens¿ way of creating suspense and a ghost-like

atmosphere. A Christmas Carol is probably one of his best known ghost stories,

but it is, however, not his first. Dickens¿ earliest stories were inset tales in the

Pickwick Papers first published in 1837.

In this paper we first of all have a flashback on Dickens¿ life and works. Also,

we will focus on the ghost story itself and explain, what reasons made Dickens

write such stories and how he actually developed his skills.

In a last step we are eventually going to have a closer look at two of his works -

The Signalman and A Madman¿s Manuscript.

With the help of those stories similarities and differences will be analysed and

typical elements of a ghost story pointed out.

[...]