Supernatural and the Uncanny

Where it surfaces

• The Ghost and the Bonesetter

  The ghost of the old squire haunts the castle, breaking bottles and causing mischief, and is confronted by Terry Neil.

• The Fortunes of Sir Robert Ardagh

  The mysterious valet Jacque, with his half-demoniac appearance and Sir Robert's inexplicable submission and death prediction, evoke a supernatural atmosphere.

• The Drunkard's Dream

  The dream's prophetic nature and the mysterious circumstances of Connell's death evoke the uncanny and supernatural.

• Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter

  The central event is Schalken's supernatural vision of Rose leading him to Vanderhausen's demonic form, blending the real and the spectral.

• The Quare Gander

  The gander is revealed to be possessed by the soul of Terence's father, a supernatural occurrence that drives the plot.

• Spalatro

  The chapter is steeped in supernatural elements: a demonic ball, ghostly figures, a harlequin apparition, and a cursed mansion.

• The Mysterious Lodger

  The lodger's disembodied voice, invisible specter seen by Fanny, and the family's pervasive terror embody the uncanny.

• Ghost Stories of Chapelizod

  The narrator asserts that ancient villages inevitably have goblin populations and promises ghost stories tied to Chapelizod.

• The Village Bully

  Larkin's encounter with the apparition of Ned Moran on the hill is a central supernatural event, interpreted as a challenge to meet in the afterlife.

• The Sexton’s Adventure

  The appearance of the spectre of the suicide, the blasted thorn tree, and the infernal fire from the bottle.

• The Spectre Lovers

  Peter's vision of ghostly cabins, a phantom regiment, and spectral figures embodies the uncanny intrusion of the past into the present.

• Some Gossip About Chapelizod

  The chapter is steeped in ghostly imagery, with Chapelizod described as a 'living spectre' and tales of Bob Martin's ghost sightings, Luttrell's shadowless existence, and the devil's bargains.

• An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street

  The chapter is centered on supernatural disturbances, including a recurring nightmare of a malevolent portrait and unexplained phenomena in the haunted house.

• Ultor de Lacy: A Legend of Cappercullen

  The chapter centers on a ghostly legend and eerie occurrences at Cappercullen.

• III: The Priest’s Adventures in the Glen

  The priest experiences a series of supernatural misadventures, including a mirage of the castle and a terrifying giant figure, which prevent his visits.

• IV: The Light in the Bell Tower

  The mysterious light in the Bell Tower defies explanation, unsettling the household.

• V: The Man with the Claret Mark

  The spectral figure with the claret mark appears and dissolves into ivy and masonry, defying natural explanation and instilling terror.

• VI: Voices

  Una's inexplicable change, the mysterious male voice, and the shadow of a figure in Spanish dress create an uncanny atmosphere of unseen forces.

• VII: Una’s Love

  Una's possession, ghostly apparitions, and the mysterious chalked names embody the supernatural forces at work.

• VIII: Sister Agnes and the Portrait

  The portrait accurately depicts a phantom that haunted Alice, and the curse of Roderic O'Donnell manifests as a supernatural threat to the De Lacy lineage.

• Borrhomeo the Astrologer

  The chapter features a demonic visitation, a fiend in dog's shape, and supernatural transformations, embodying the uncanny horror of diabolical pacts.

• An Authentic Narrative of a Haunted House

  The chapter centers on unexplained apparitions—a tall figure by the bed and a one-eyed woman with a glowing red light—that defy rational explanation.

• My Aunt Margaret's Adventure

  Aunt Margaret's encounter with a ghostly child and oppressive atmosphere at the inn exemplifies the uncanny.

• V: The Good Woman

  The narrator's allusion to Gothic literature and the sound of female lamentation from a nearby chamber create an eerie, uncanny atmosphere.

• VI: The White Chamber

  The chapter establishes an eerie atmosphere through the decaying inn, the mysterious man watching at the gate, and the maid's suspicious behavior, hinting at supernatural events to come.

• VII: An Accident Befalls the Candle

  The maid's intrusive behavior and the mysterious atmosphere of the inn evoke a sense of unease and the uncanny.

• VIII: Of a Figure Seen by My Aunt

  The chapter builds an atmosphere of dread through the chambermaid's menacing appearance, the mysterious sounds, and the overheard talk of murder, suggesting an uncanny threat lurking within the inn.

• IX: The Funeral Visitation

  The chapter's dreamlike, terrifying sequence with a coffin and dead man in the bed evokes the uncanny and supernatural horror.

• Wicked Captain Walshawe, of Wauling

  The ghost of Captain Walshawe haunts the living, embodying the supernatural consequences of a wicked life.

• II: The Blessed Candle

  The blessed candle is treated as a supernatural object that can trap the soul, and the Captain's uneasy reverence reflects the uncanny power attributed to it.

• IV: In the Parlour

  The stormy night, flaring candles, and the uncle's sect's acceptance of ghosts create an eerie, uncanny atmosphere.

• V: The Bedchamber

  The chapter builds tension through unexplained sounds and the uncle's fear of the uncanny, though no supernatural entity is confirmed.

• VI: The Extinguisher Is Lifted

  The chapter is dominated by supernatural occurrences: a tiny hand lifting the extinguisher, a figure that grows from miniature to full size, and other eerie sensations.

• VII: The Visitation Culminates

  The chapter centers on a ghostly visitation that retrieves hidden papers, with the apparition undergoing grotesque transformations, blurring the line between the living and the dead.

• Conclusion

  The phantom's resemblance to Captain Walshawe and the cursed holy candle highlight the supernatural elements.

• Squire Toby's Will

  Ghostly apparitions of Squire Toby and a spectral dog haunt Charles, blurring the line between dream and reality.

• Green Tea

  The invisible monkey demon that haunts Jennings embodies the uncanny intersection of the supernatural and psychological horror.

• I: Dr. Hesselius Relates How He Met the Rev. Mr. Jennings

  Mr. Jennings's odd behavior—glancing at the floor as if following something unseen—and his unexplained breakdowns hint at an uncanny influence.

• III: Dr. Hesselius Picks Up Something in Latin Books

  The passages describe evil spirits, interior sight, and the dangerous consort between man and spirits, reinforcing the uncanny atmosphere.

• VI: How Mr. Jennings Met His Companion

  Mr. Jennings's encounter with the spectral monkey in the omnibus exemplifies the intrusion of the uncanny into everyday life.

• VII: The Journey: First Stage

  The spectral monkey is a supernatural entity that defies rational explanation, haunting the narrator relentlessly.

• VIII: The Second Stage

  The spectral monkey is a persistent, malevolent supernatural entity that defies natural explanation and grows in power.

• IX: The Third Stage

  The entity speaks to Mr. Jennings in a voice that is not heard by the ears but felt as a singing through the head, representing a supernatural intrusion into the mind.

• X: Home

  The return of the speaking, knowing 'enemy' (the monkey) and the eerie atmosphere of the house underscore the uncanny persecution.

• Conclusion

  Discussion of interior vision and disembodied spirits operating on the nervous system.

• The Child That Went with the Fairies

  The fairy carriage, the vanishing child, and the ghostly visits embody the supernatural and uncanny elements central to the story.

• The White Cat of Drumgunniol

  The white cat appears as a death omen, and a spectral woman walks across water, embodying the uncanny.

• The Magician Earl

  The Earl's magical transformations, the enchanted castle at the bottom of the lake, and the ghostly cavalcade every seven years embody the supernatural and uncanny.

• Moll Rial's Adventure

  The appearance of a spectral gentleman and the transformation of the lake into blood evoke a supernatural encounter.

• The Banshee

  The banshee's unearthly music heard during a death vigil exemplifies the supernatural.

• The Governess’s Dream

  The governess's recurring dream and the spectral messenger with a wand introduce a supernatural element that drives the narrative.

• The Earl’s Hall

  The governess's encounter with a demonic-looking little man in the Earl's Hall exemplifies the intrusion of the supernatural into everyday life.

• The Vision of Tom Chuff

  The vision of a ghostly hand writing Tom's doom and the supernatural elements of the story.

• Madam Crowl's Ghost

  The ghostly apparition of the boy and the warnings of possession highlight the supernatural elements central to the tale.

• Carmilla

  Carmilla's arrival and behavior introduce a pervasive sense of the supernatural, with hints of vampirism and the uncanny that challenge the boundaries of reality.

• Prologue

  The prologue introduces a mysterious subject involving 'the profoundest arcana of our dual existence and its intermediates,' hinting at supernatural themes.

• I: An Early Fright

  The mysterious visitation and the needle-like pricks introduce an uncanny, possibly supernatural element, leaving the narrator deeply frightened.

• II: A Guest

  The chapter introduces supernatural undercurrents through the General's letter, which hints at a monstrous agent, and Mademoiselle De Lafontaine's discussion of the moon's mystical and magnetic influences.

• III: We Compare Notes

  The shared prophetic dreams and the strange, unsettling recognition between the narrator and Carmilla evoke a supernatural connection.

• IV: Her Habits—A Saunter

  Carmilla's strange behavior, her aversion to religious rites, and the mysterious illness suggest a supernatural presence.

• V: A Wonderful Likeness

  The portrait's uncanny resemblance to Carmilla, who is revealed to be a 1698 countess, hints at her supernatural nature and immortality.

• VI: A Very Strange Agony

  Laura's dream of a monstrous black creature and the apparition of a female figure that passes through a locked door evoke a pervasive supernatural dread.

• VII: Descending

  The narrator's encounter with a spectral figure, Carmilla's mysterious disappearance, and the pervasive sense of an unseen malevolent force.

• Search

  Carmilla's inexplicable disappearance and reappearance, combined with locked doors and windows, evokes a supernatural mystery that defies rational explanation.

• IX: The Doctor

  The mysterious blue spot on Laura's neck and the doctor's grave reaction suggest an uncanny, possibly supernatural cause for her illness.

• X: Bereaved

  The General attributes his niece's death to 'hellish arts' and a 'preternatural conspiracy,' framing the loss as a supernatural attack.

• The Story

  The mysterious mother's uncanny knowledge of the General's past and the pale gentleman's ominous appearance suggest a supernatural undercurrent beneath the glamorous ball.

• A Petition

  The mysterious and secretive behavior of the Countess and Millarca, along with the unexplained disappearance, evokes an uncanny atmosphere.

• XIII: The Woodman

  The chapter centers on vampirism, sleepwalking, and spectral visitations, highlighting the uncanny nature of Carmilla's influence.

• XIV: The Meeting

  The vampire attack and transformation of Carmilla into Millarca highlight the supernatural horror.

• Ordeal and Execution

  The chapter details the discovery and destruction of a vampire, emphasizing the uncanny preservation of the corpse and the supernatural nature of the creature.

• Conclusion

  The chapter details the nature of vampires, their powers, and the lingering horror they inspire.

• The Dead Sexton

  The mysterious circumstances of Crooke's death, the stranger's eerie behavior, and the discovery of the bell and corpse in the church tower evoke a supernatural atmosphere.

• Mr. Justice Harbottle

  The spectral court, ghostly servants, and the grotesque gallows scene create a pervasive atmosphere of supernatural horror.

• Prologue

  The prologue introduces the concept of an 'opening of the interior sense' and the intrusion of the spirit-world into the material domain.

• I: The Judge’s House

  The chapter centers on a ghostly apparition of two figures that appear in the tenant's bedroom, walking silently and without awareness of him, creating a sense of dread and the uncanny.

• II: Mr. Peters

  The mysterious appearance of Mr. Peters, his unnaturally chalky complexion, and the Judge's fear suggest an uncanny or supernatural element underlying the conspiracy.

• IV: Interruption in Court

  The appearance of Pyneweck's ghostly figure in the courtroom, complete with a rope mark on his neck, introduces a supernatural element.

• V: Caleb Searcher

  The mysterious letter from 'Caleb Searcher' and the 'High Court of Appeal' blur the line between reality and supernatural judgment.

• VI: Arrested

  The eerie moor, the gigantic gallows, and the reappearance of a dead servant create a supernatural atmosphere of horror and unreality.

• VII: Chief Justice Twofold

  The entire chapter is a supernatural vision where the Judge confronts a distorted version of himself and a hellish court.

• VIII: Somebody Has Got Into the House

  The chapter features a mysterious figure seen in the Judge's locked sedan-chair, which vanishes without a trace, suggesting a supernatural presence or illusion tied to the Judge's troubled mind.

• IX: The Judge Leaves His House

  Apparitions of a rope-carrying figure and a chain-forging monster haunt the house before the Judge's death.

• The Familiar

  The chapter centers on a familiar spirit and eerie occurrences that defy natural explanation.

• Prologue

  The prologue sets up the investigation of supernatural impressions, distinguishing between illusion and external spiritual agencies.

• I: Footsteps

  Captain Barton, a confirmed disbeliever in preternatural agencies, is haunted by inexplicable footsteps in a lonely street, challenging his skepticism.

• II: The Watcher

  The mysterious letters and the sound of unseen footsteps create an atmosphere of supernatural dread and uncanny pursuit.

• III: An Advertisement

  The stranger's maniacal appearance and Barton's disproportionate terror introduce an uncanny, possibly supernatural element, foreshadowing a mysterious fate.

• IV: He Talks with a Clergyman

  Barton's conviction in a malignant spiritual world and the recurring apparition of the little man in the fur cap.

• V: Mr. Barton States His Case

  Barton's detailed account of being haunted by a demonic entity and hearing supernatural voices exemplifies the uncanny and the intrusion of the supernatural into everyday life.

• VI: Seen Again

  The persistent, inexplicable apparition that haunts Barton defies rational explanation, and even the skeptical General Montague is forced to witness its reality.

• VII: Flight

  The reappearance of Barton's spectral pursuer in Calais reinforces the inescapable supernatural persecution central to the chapter.

• VIII: Softened

  The chapter is steeped in supernatural elements: the threatening little man, the vision of a girl singing by a lake, and Barton's premonition of a final horrific encounter. The household is filled with superstitious panic.

• IX: Requiescat

  The mysterious presence in Barton's room, the owl's spectral warning, and the unexplained events surrounding his death.

• Sir Dominick's Bargain

  The central demonic pact, the Evil One appearing in the oak-wood, and the supernatural elements (blood pact, enchanted needle) drive the narrative.

• Laura Silver Bell

  The entire narrative is steeped in fairy lore, witchcraft, and demonic transformations, from the sinister stranger to Laura's fate among the fairies.

• Dickon the Devil

  The ghost of Squire Bowes appears to abduct Dickon, and the idiot's haunting cry 'Bowes, the devil!' underscores the supernatural terror.