A resource to support my IGCSE group.

1. What methods does Hill use? Only focus on the opening chapter
How does the opening chapter of Hill’s ‘The Woman in Black’
foreshadow a story of haunting and evil?
Anticipate, or lay the ground for the novel

2. How does the opening chapter of Hill’s
‘The Woman in Black’ foreshadow a
story of haunting and evil?
How does the opening chapter set up the
themes / tone of rest of the novel?

3. Introduction

4. In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Susan Hill
uses certain techniques to foreshadow the story of
haunting and evil. By ‘planting seeds’ of things to
come, some of these however are red herrings that
disrupts the readers expectations of the book. For instance
the title of the opening chapter which is called Christmas
Eve which is a time of year not usually associated with
‘haunting and evil’.

5. In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Susan Hill
anticipates the novel’s central themes and establishes its
menacing tone, while at the same time disrupting many of
our expectations. For instance the title of the opening
chapter is ‘Christmas Eve’ which is a time of year not
usually associated with ‘haunting and evil’ and yet she
subverts this festive celebration and presents instead a
chilling tale from the perspective of the first person
narrator, Arthur Kipps.

6. In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’, Susan Hill
definitely anticipates the novel’s central themes and
establishes its menacing tone. She does this, not only
through manipulating her choice of narrative
perspective, but also by making good use of descriptive
language. Furthermore, she plays with the conventions of
the ghost story in order to disrupt our expectations;
signposting that the tale we are about to read is not merely
frivolous entertainment but something far more chilling.

7. Topic sentences to reflect a
developing argument

8. Topic sentences to reflect a
developing argument
How does the opening chapter set up the
themes / tone of rest of the novel?

9. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Narrative perspective – 1st person framed narrative
• Disruption of expectations via title and/or use of
intertextual reference (Dickens / M.R. James)
• Withholding information / sense of the unspoken
• Ridiculing the stereotypes of ghost stories
• Use of pathetic fallacy
• Use of setting
• Lexical field of watery imagery

10. The title of the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ is
titled Christmas Eve, this presents a twist in the plot before
the story has begun.
In ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill uses narrative perspective to
create suspense.
In ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill uses pathetic fallacy of the
weather which is a typical element of a ghost story.

11. By setting the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ at
the warm, family home of Monk’s Piece it provides contrast
with the dark and cold Eel Marsh House.
In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill hints at
many things.

12. By setting the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ at
the warm, family home of Monk’s Piece it provides contrast
with the dark and cold Eel Marsh House.
In the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill hints at
many things.
?

13. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Narrative perspective – 1st person framed narrative
Perhaps the most striking method Hill uses to foreshadow
the novel’s haunting tone is her decision to present a first
person framed narrative.

14. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Narrative perspective – 1st person framed narrative

15. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Disruption of expectations via title and/or use of
intertextual reference (Dickens / M.R. James)
Arguably, Hill’s choice of title for the opening chapter
(‘Christmas Eve’) is another means by which she prepares
the reader for the story to follow.

16. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Withholding information / sense of the unspoken

17. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Withholding information / sense of the unspoken
Another means by which Hill uses the opening of her novel
to foreshadow the events to come is, ironically, by
withholding information which we might reasonably expect
to be presented with during the exposition phase of the tale.

18. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Ridiculing the stereotypes of ghost stories

19. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Ridiculing the stereotypes of ghost stories
It is no accident that Kipps goes out of his way to ridicule
and dismiss the conventions of the ghost story in the first
few pages of the text; this is another means by which Hill
prepares us for the chilling tale of the woman in black.

20. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Use of pathetic fallacy
• Use of setting

21. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Use of pathetic fallacy
• Use of setting
Hill’s use of setting and pathetic fallacy in ‘Christmas Eve’ is
a subtle, but nonetheless effective way in which she further
anticipates the horrors to come.

22. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Lexical field of watery imagery

23. Methods Hill uses in the opening chapter
to foreshadow
• Lexical field of watery imagery
Moreover, Hill’s use of descriptive language in the first
chapter includes the development of a lexical field which
evokes a relationship between memories and
water, anticipating the events to come at Eel Marsh House
and its surroundings.

24. Conclusion

25. During the opening chapter of ‘The Woman in Black’ Hill
uses numerous techniques to foreshadow a story of
‘haunting and evil’. Some of these techniques are obvious
such as pathetic fallacy of the weather which is typical of
many ghost stories, however some are just hinted at such
as Kipps’ haunted past. The foreshadowing in the opening
chapter is a way Hill adds dramatic tension and suspense in
the novel.

26. It can be seen, then, that Hill employs a number of different
methods in an effort to ensure that the opening chapter of
her novel foreshadows the events to follow. In doing so, she
pays tribute to other writers of ghost stories who have
influenced her own work, including Dickens and James, while
at the same time, seeking to break away from the conventions
of her chosen genre. The result is a tale that wastes no time
in establishing its grip on the reader; and by the time it lets us
go again, there can be little doubt that we have been in the
clutches of something both ‘haunting and evil’!