comment on elements in the story face in the dark that lend it a mysterious nature ? In 1000 words
Answers
A Face in the Dark is a short story by Ruskin Bond. It’s the story set on a windy night when Mr Oliver, an Anglo-Indian teacher in a public school in Shimla, dares to walk through the pine forest on his way back to the school after an evening at Simla Bazaar. He comes across a weeping boy who lifts his face, which is not a face but a flat something without eyes, nose or mouth. Mr Oliver runs only to bump into a watchman who again had a face like that of the faceless boy. The story ends here. SUMMARY A Face in the Dark is an uncanny story in which the author, Ruskin Bond narrates the experience of Mr. Oliver, the protagonist of the story. Mr Oliver who happens to be an Anglo Indian teacher in a public school in Shimla, which is often referred to as the ‘Eaton of the East’ probably in reference to the St. Paul’s school in Darjeeling, India which is 150 years old and was established by the British. Today even it is still actually called the ‘Eaton of the East’ and follows a similar educational pattern to classic British public schools and probably, also in reference to the Eaton College in the UK, which is known as the Elite school and which has seen alumni’s such as international statesmen and royal families and hence, it’s name is synonymous with quality elite education. While going from Shimla to his school late in the evening, Mr Oliver who is rational, and mentally strong, often went to Shimla which was a few kilometres away and return by evening. One day while he was returning from Shimla, it was late in the evening and he decided to take a short cut through the pine forests. He carried his torch along and moved briskly. When he was at a short distance from his school, he encountered a boy who sat crying in pine woods. As a teacher having concern for children, Mr Oliver asked the child, the reason for crying. Having no answer from the child Mr Oliver asked the same question again. At this when the lifted his face, Mr Oliver to his horror found it had no features, no eyes, no mouth, nothing at all. He ran towards his school in fear and found the watchman swinging a lantern. When the watchman saw him running like that,, he asked him why he was running. Mr. Oliver told him that he saw a boy who had no face, i.e., no eyes, ears, or any other feature on his face. The watchman asked him if the boys face looked like it, and he raised the lantern up to his face. Mr. Oliver saw his face, no eyes, no ears and no features. At that moment the wind blew and put the lamp out. CRITICAL APPRECIATION Ruskin Bond once famously remarked that while he does not believe in ghosts, he sees them all the time—in the woods, in a bar, in a crowd outside a cinema. Not surprising, then, that in his stories, ghosts, jinni, witches—and the occasional monster—are as real as the people he writes about. He makes the supernatural appear entirely natural, and therefore harder to ignore. Ruskin Bond stories are not horror they are like experiences. None of these experiences are dangerous, life threatening or altering – they are just different. All his stories are good hearted, honest and believable. They make you warm like the bonfire burning and your attention only diverts when shadows move in the vicinity or leaves rustle as if someone far is listening. Ruskin Bond’s short stories on ghosts are not just scary, but also have a nostalgic and romantic touch to it. The unforgettable “Face in the Dark” is no exception to that. The ghosts in Ruskin Bond’s stories are frightening, but not disturbing. The stories are memorable, hilarious and sometimes heart breaking. Especially this short story – ‘A Face in the Dark’ recounts the story of an English teacher witnessing paranormal encounter with a faceless ghost. On a deeper level it can be read as unravelling the mysteries of the human experience. Though it has been said about Oliver that he is not “ a nervous and an imaginative man” yet it is possible that out of his fear and anxiety or loneliness, he might have really imagined some strange things. .
Answer:
A Face in the Dark is a short story by Ruskin Bond. It’s the story set on a windy night when Mr Oliver, an Anglo-Indian teacher in a public school in Shimla, dares to walk through the pine forest on his way back to the school after an evening at Simla Bazaar. He comes across a weeping boy who lifts his face, which is not a face but a flat something without eyes, nose or mouth. Mr Oliver runs only to bump into a watchman who again had a face like that of the faceless boy. The story ends here. SUMMARY A Face in the Dark is an uncanny story in which the author, Ruskin Bond narrates the experience of Mr. Oliver, the protagonist of the story. Mr Oliver who happens to be an Anglo Indian teacher in a public school in Shimla, which is often referred to as the ‘Eaton of the East’ probably in reference to the St. Paul’s school in Darjeeling, India which is 150 years old and was established by the British. Today even it is still actually called the ‘Eaton of the East’ and follows a similar educational pattern to classic British public schools and probably, also in reference to the Eaton College in the UK, which is known as the Elite school and which has seen alumni’s such as international statesmen and royal families and hence, it’s name is synonymous with quality elite education. While going from Shimla to his school late in the evening, Mr Oliver who is rational, and mentally strong, often went to Shimla which was a few kilometres away and return by evening. One day while he was returning from Shimla, it was late in the evening and he decided to take a short cut through the pine forests. He carried his torch along and moved briskly. When he was at a short distance from his school, he encountered a boy who sat crying in pine woods. As a teacher having concern for children, Mr Oliver asked the child, the reason for crying. Having no answer from the child Mr Oliver asked the same question again. At this when the lifted his face, Mr Oliver to his horror found it had no features, no eyes, no mouth, nothing at all. He ran towards his school in fear and found the watchman swinging a lantern. When the watchman saw him running like that,, he asked him why he was running. Mr. Oliver told him that he saw a boy who had no face, i.e., no eyes, ears, or any other feature on his face. The watchman asked him if the boys face looked like it, and he raised the lantern up to his face. Mr. Oliver saw his face, no eyes, no ears and no features. At that moment the wind blew and put the lamp out. CRITICAL APPRECIATION Ruskin Bond once famously remarked that while he does not believe in ghosts, he sees them all the time—in the woods, in a bar, in a crowd outside a cinema. Not surprising, then, that in his stories, ghosts, jinni, witches—and the occasional monster—are as real as the people he writes about. He makes the supernatural appear entirely natural, and therefore harder to ignore. Ruskin Bond stories are not horror they are like experiences. None of these experiences are dangerous, life threatening or altering – they are just different. All his stories are good hearted, honest and believable. They make you warm like the bonfire burning and your attention only diverts when shadows move in the vicinity or leaves rustle as if someone far is listening. Ruskin Bond’s short stories on ghosts are not just scary, but also have a nostalgic and romantic touch to it. The unforgettable “Face in the Dark” is no exception to that. The ghosts in Ruskin Bond’s stories are frightening, but not disturbing. The stories are memorable, hilarious and sometimes heart breaking. Especially this short story – ‘A Face in the Dark’ recounts the story of an English teacher witnessing paranormal encounter with a faceless ghost. On a deeper level it can be read as unravelling the mysteries of the human experience. Though it has been said about Oliver that he is not “ a nervous and an imaginative man” yet it is possible that out of his fear and anxiety or loneliness, he might have really imagined some strange things. .
Explanation: