How Does Dickens build up a Sense of Surprise in the Signalman? The short story “The Signalman” tells the story of a signalman who is haunted by a spectre on the railway line. The story is told from the point of view of the inquiring inspector. Each time the spectre appears somebody dies. In the first paragraph of the story Dickens describes the first appearance of the spectre. When he describes the spectre he uses …showed first 75 words of 248 total…

…showed last 75 words of 248 total…When Dickens describes the passing of the train he uses words such as “Vague vibration”, “violent pulsation” and “oncoming rush” these words convey the feelings that are experienced when the train passes. All of these feelings conveyed are slowly building up the tension. When the inspector is on his way towards the figure the air is described as barbarous, depressing and forbidding. This is also well done by Dickens as senses are conveyed very well.