The slow - paced narrative in his stories adds to the suspense. He takes his time to develop the characters and their situations before fully delving into the ghostly encounters. This gradual build - up makes the appearance of the ghosts or the climax of the supernatural events all the more impactful.
He uses the unknown. By not clearly stating whether the ghosts are real or not, it creates suspense. We keep reading to find out if they are truly supernatural beings or something else.
He uses sudden changes in the setting. For example, a previously calm room suddenly getting very cold.
In addition, 'The Aspern Papers' is often mentioned. While not as straightforwardly a 'ghost story' as the others, it has an air of mystery and a sort of spectral presence in the form of the papers of the long - dead poet Jeffrey Aspern. It has elements that draw readers interested in Henry James' ghostly tales.
Hitchcock was great at creating complex characters in his ghost stories. The psychological state of the characters added to the suspense. In 'Vertigo', the main character's mental instability and his obsession with a woman made the audience constantly on edge. He also used lighting to great effect. Dark shadows in 'Psycho' hid secrets and added to the overall feeling of unease.
Henry James often started with a simple premise of a strange occurrence. Then, he gradually built up the tension through the characters' reactions. For instance, if a character saw a strange figure, he would show how the character's disbelief, fear, and curiosity played out, which drove the plot forward.
Well, 'Owen Wingrave' also has elements of the supernatural. It tells the story of a man who defies his family's military tradition. There are some strange occurrences and a sense of the otherworldly that add to the overall ghostly feel of the story.
He depicts New York as a complex and dynamic place. The city is full of diverse characters and social situations.
He uses a lot of mystery. For example, he might start a story by only showing a little bit of what's going on, like a strange sound in the dark. This makes the reader or listener wonder what could be making that sound.
He uses misdirection. He makes the readers focus on one aspect of the story, and then suddenly reveals something completely different at the end. For example, in some stories, he may lead the reader to think a character is going to succeed in a particular endeavor, but then at the last moment, something unexpected happens that thwarts that success.
Christie is great at creating unreliable narrators in her ghost stories. You're never quite sure if what they're telling you is the truth or if their own fears are clouding their perception, which keeps you on edge throughout the story.