Roald Dahl creates a vivid picture of boarding school life by focusing on the relationships between the students and the teachers. The teachers are often depicted as overbearing, which is a common perception of boarding school instructors. The students, on the other hand, form alliances and have their own little hierarchies within the school. Dahl also describes the physical environment in detail, from the drafty dormitories to the echoing hallways. He shows how the students interact with these spaces, whether it's hiding in a corner to avoid a teacher or running through the corridors during a prank. All these elements combined make the boarding school in his story come alive in the reader's mind.
Dahl uses detailed descriptions. He describes the old, creaky buildings of the boarding school, which immediately gives a sense of the place's age and perhaps a bit of spookiness. Also, his descriptions of the strict teachers with their stern looks and booming voices make the power - hungry authority figures very real.
He often uses unexpected twists. For example, in some stories, he starts with a seemingly ordinary situation like a person traveling and then suddenly something very strange happens.
One key theme is the sense of isolation. The main character often feels alone in the boarding school environment, away from family. Another theme could be the power dynamics, like the relationship between students and strict teachers. Also, there's often a touch of adventure as the characters navigate the strange rules and situations in the boarding school.
Dahl uses vivid descriptions. For example, in some stories, he describes the settings in great detail. Dark, creaky old houses with strange noises and shadows are common. This immediately sets a spooky mood.
Dahl creates suspense through the situation itself. A man lying in bed with a supposed poisonous snake on his chest is a very tense scenario. The reader is immediately drawn into the danger and the unknown of whether the snake will move or bite.
Roald Dahl creates suspense in 'The Landlady' in multiple ways. First, he sets the scene in a rather quiet and lonely boarding house. The landlady's eagerness to have the young man stay is a bit too much. Then, as the story progresses, little details like the fact that the previous guests never left and the strange smell in the house all add to the suspense. The reader starts to suspect that something is not right, but Dahl keeps the real danger just out of reach, making us keep reading to find out.
Roald Dahl often gives his characters very distinct quirks. For example, in 'The Landlady', the landlady has this overly friendly yet very creepy demeanor. Her fixation on taxidermy and her strange behavior towards her guests make her a unique and memorable character.
Roald Dahl often uses the element of the unexpected. He sets up normal situations at first and then suddenly throws in something strange. Like in some stories, the characters seem ordinary but then they do or experience something completely out of the ordinary, which makes the atmosphere spooky.
Roald Dahl is great at creating creepy characters. Like the landlady in 'The Landlady'. She seems normal at first but as the story progresses, her odd behaviors and the revelation about her past actions make her really scary. He also uses vivid descriptions of settings. A gloomy, old - fashioned house can set a spooky mood right from the start, which he does in many of his stories to enhance the sense of horror.
Dahl may use the local animals in his descriptions. The presence of wild animals like lions or elephants can add to the atmosphere. Their behaviors and the threat they pose can create a feeling of unease or excitement. He might also describe the sounds and smells of Africa, which all contribute to the overall atmosphere.
He creates suspense in multiple ways. Firstly, there's the repeated pattern of Mr. Foster being late. Each time he makes them late, the reader anticipates that something bad will happen. Also, the description of Mrs. Foster's growing anxiety as she waits for her husband builds suspense. And when she finally leaves for the airport and the discovery of her husband trapped in the lift is left as a cliffhanger for a while, that really keeps the reader on edge.