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Woman in Black Book Seminar

The document provides 18 guiding questions for students to use in preparing 5 minute presentations on elements of the novel The Woman in Black. The questions cover topics like the use of gender, historical setting, conventions of ghost stories, narrative structure, and comparisons to other Gothic texts.

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Enlai Rooney
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18 views4 pages

Woman in Black Book Seminar

The document provides 18 guiding questions for students to use in preparing 5 minute presentations on elements of the novel The Woman in Black. The questions cover topics like the use of gender, historical setting, conventions of ghost stories, narrative structure, and comparisons to other Gothic texts.

Uploaded by

Enlai Rooney
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Woman in Black

book seminar -
Monday
Your first homework will be to prepare a five minute
presentation on an element of The Woman in Black, our class
reader.

You should use the guiding question as a focus.


- Use examples from the text and other sources to support your
ideas
- Creatively present your response using PPT when you are
speaking. This should be attached to Firefly.
- The prompt question is just a starting point. You should aim to
move beyond this in your discussions.
4. The author has chosen a woman as the central ghost figure – how is the concept of gender handled in the novel? (Henry)
5. The story is set very firmly in Victorian times, with clear descriptions of daily life at that time. How does the historical setting add to the horror?
Would a ‘modern’ version of The Woman in Black be as frightening? (Hector)
6. What makes a good ghost story? How has The Woman in Black been received critically? (Giacomo)
7. The Woman in Black is a modern ghost story not only in the strength of its writing, but also in its use of the conventions in this genre of writing. How
does the author use these conventions to effect, and how does the novel compare to other ghost stories, not only in books but in film as well? (Riccardo)
8. When creating a story which draws upon all the traditional elements of a particular genre there is always a potential risk of the story turning into a
parody. Although Susan Hill’s novel began life as a list of traditional ghost story conventions, these elements are always used for genuinely chilling
effects rather than to poke fun at the genre. Think about how she succeeds in doing this. Do any elements of the story acknowledge the literary basis of
the novel? If so, what effect does this have? (Lucas)
9. Do you agree with Susan Hill’s assertion that ghost stories are more credible than horror stories? Think particularly about contemporary reactions to
horror films; about the popularity of Point Horror novels; and about recent television series such as The X-Files. (Leo)
10. What is the effect of having the novel’s narrator, Mr Kipps, aware of the literary qualities of his own story? (Oscar)
11. Why does Susan Hill believe that the narrator of the ghost story should be someone who does not believe in ghosts? Does this affect how we respond
to the story? (Viktor)
12. Do we feel we can rely upon Mr Kipps account of events. If so, why? (Vlad)
13. Does it make a difference, hearing a story from someone to whom it has happened? (Think about ‘urban myths’ which have always, apparently,
happened to a friend of a friend).
(Max)
14. In the novel, Mr Kipps spurns the Christmas Eve storytelling games of his stepchildren, retiring to his room to write down his own ghost story. What
effect does this contrast between two different types of storytelling have? (Alizhan)
15. Why do you think Susan Hill’s novel is divided into quite short chapters? What is the effect of breaking up a story this way? (Alex)
16. How does the author make use of the chapter endings to make transitions in time and place and mood and to encourage the reader to continue?
(Albert)
17. What other Gothic texts has Susan Hill drawn on for inspiration to Woman in Black? (Niam)
18. How does The Woman in Black compare to our class reader My Swordhand in Singing? (Ibrahim)
1. The novel opens with a detailed description of happy family
life and builds to a ghastly climax. How does the author create
the continual suspense to bring things to their terrifying
conclusion?
2. The novel’s narrator, Arthur Kipps, seems a straightforward
character and surprisingly level-headed through the
extraordinary drama of the novel. Do you as a reader trust the
narrator more because of this? How does this calmness
contribute to the effect of the more chilling and supernatural
events later in the book?
3. The description of the woman in black is a gradual unveiling
throughout the novel. How effective is this style of description?
How do details, such as the cloak or hints of disease, contribute
to our growing impression of her?

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