what is the Critical appreciation of the story face in the dark by ruskin bond
Answers
Answer:
In A Face in the Dark by Ruskin Bond we have theme theme of fear, perception, control and connection. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Bond may be exploring the theme of fear.
Answer:
With its fast-paced plot, an impressive setting and the deployment of various literary techniques, A Face in the Dark makes a quick read that packs a punch in just a couple of pages.
The setting of the story is quickly established by mentioning a couple of things about the school where Mr Oliver used to teach. The solitary, secluded location of the school at some distance from the Shimla Bazaar and the presence of dark pine trees that make spooky noises is an example of the technique of foreshadowing, creating a perfect fearful ambiance for this supernatural story.
The suspense of the story is greatly heightened when we see Mr Oliver encounter the boy who has been sobbing in a dark corner in the middle of the forest, all by himself. His faceless face has baffling and scary effect both on Mr Oliver and the reader.
The use of flickering torch in the dark forest and the lamp of the watchman creates a is a great example of the use of chiaroscuro technique (use of sharp contrasts of light and darkness) which dramatically heightens the tension and increases suspense.
The climax of the story, placed right till the ends has the power to completely arrest the reader’s attention and imprint an unforgettable image on his/her mind, one whose strength is derived not only through the element of horror but also from its sheer strangeness.