Problem
Stories (4 texts):
• Dickens: No. 1 Branch Line: The Signalman (Jones)
• James: Canon Alberic's Scrapbook
• Poem: Alfred Noyes: "The Highwayman"
• Wilde: Canterville Ghost
Supernatural has been a vehicle for discussing cultural anxieties that are too difficult for explicit discussion (what we might call the "difficult conversations"). Focusing on a topic of such "difficult conversations" that interests peoples, show how the supernatural brings out this cultural anxiety in these four texts stated above.
Explain the 4 texts in detail: Focus on a cultural anxiety producing topic that the supernatural texts seem to be exploring. With these four texts highlight aspects of the cultural anxiety you identify (how many texts you choose to write on depends on the topic, length of each text, and whether leaving something out will seem odd in the context). Give a detailed explanation of how these four texts show this cultural anxiety (a); (b) how they do it; and (c) speculate on the significance (e.g., why is it easier with the supernatural). Explain in detail for each text (total of four stories).
Make sure to include: (i) Explain separately how each of the texts show the cultural anxiety; (ii) how they do it; and (iii) speculate on the significance (e.g., why is it easier with the supernatural).