Question

how does ruskin bond create an atmosphere of strangeness , mystery and supernaturalism in the story a face in the Dark ?

Answer 1

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, 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.

Answer 2

The author slowly and surely builds up the suspense in the story by using different figures of speech like metaphor,personification,imagery and alliteration.

He follows the style of a third person narration which makes the story even more mysterious.He has created an eerie atmosphere in the story by mentioning the mysterious sad sounds of pine trees, indicating that something evil was to happen.

He has given the following details to further build up the atmosphere of suspense in the story:-

"....returning after dark, when he would take a short cut through the pine forest."

"He carried a torch and its gleem- the batteries were running down."

"He had no eyes,ears, nose or mouth."

"The torch fell from his trembling hands."

"....he saw a lantern swinging in the middle of the path."

"... And that's when the wind blew out the lamp."