Short Fiction · Character

Winnie Dobbs

A woman who tells a story about a ghostly child.

minor

Also known as Winnie, fat old Winnie Dobbs, Winnie Dobbs, honest Winnie, Winnifred Dobbs, Winnifred

First appearance: the child that went with the fairies

Winnie Dobbs shows up with force in I: Aunt Margaret at Home. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Aunt Margaret's elderly, good-humored maid and confidante, who shares tea with her in the drawing-room and accompanies her on the planned trip to Winderbrooke.

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In I: Aunt Margaret at Home: Aunt Margaret's elderly, good-humored maid and confidante, who shares tea with her in the drawing-room and accompanies her on the planned trip to Winderbrooke. Later, in II: My Aunt…

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See Winnie Dobbs in the child that went with the fairies

Character Web

9 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Fairy abduction tales
Ghost story narrators
Carmilla story figures
Vampire and haunted house

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the psychological peak of the narrator's horror and the r…

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In the story

Winnie Dobbs appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I: Aunt Margaret at Home
Aunt Margaret's elderly, good-humored maid and confidante, who shares tea with her in the drawing-room and accompanies her on the planned trip to Winderbrooke.
II: My Aunt Margaret on the Road
Aunt Margaret's maid, who accompanies her on the journey, struggles with the uphill walking due to her condition, and shares in the delusion that Winderbrooke is near.
III: The Moon Rises
Accompanying Aunt Margaret on the journey.
IV: Perturbation
Winnie Dobbs is a passenger, silent and frightened, staring with 'fat and fatigued sadness' from the vehicle.
V: The Good Woman
Accompanies Aunt Margaret as a subordinate, carrying the basket of provisions and standing dejectedly during the confrontation at the inn door.
VI: The White Chamber
Aunt Margaret's companion, who grows sleepy after tea and is consoled by the warmth of the fire.
VII: An Accident Befalls the Candle
Sleeps soundly by the fire while Aunt Margaret remains awake.
IX: The Funeral Visitation
Aunt Margaret's companion, who was not in the bed as expected.
X: How It All Happened
Accompanies Aunt Margaret to the inn; their arrival causes suspicion due to the innkeeper's secret death.

Chapter companion notes

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See Winnie Dobbs in the child that went with the fairies

See Winnie Dobbs in I: Aunt Margaret at Home