# Supernatural and the Uncanny in Short Fiction

> Theme guide for Short Fiction by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

The book is saturated with ghostly apparitions, haunted houses, and supernatural events, such as the corpse last buried supplying water to purgatory, the spectral figures in Schalken's studio, and the ghost of Judge Harbottle, exploring the thin boundary between the natural and the spirit world.

## Where it surfaces

- [The Ghost and the Bonesetter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/spalatro): The chapter is steeped in supernatural elements: a demonic ball, ghostly figures, a harlequin apparition, and a cursed mansion.
- [The Mysterious Lodger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/ghost-stories-of-chapelizod): The narrator asserts that ancient villages inevitably have goblin populations and promises ghost stories tied to Chapelizod.
- [The Village Bully](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/ultor-de-lacy): The chapter centers on a ghostly legend and eerie occurrences at Cappercullen.
- [III: The Priest’s Adventures in the Glen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/conclusion): The phantom's resemblance to Captain Walshawe and the cursed holy candle highlight the supernatural elements.
- [Squire Toby's Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/squire-toby-s-will): Ghostly apparitions of Squire Toby and a spectral dog haunt Charles, blurring the line between dream and reality.
- [Green Tea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/vii-the-journey-first-stage): The spectral monkey is a supernatural entity that defies rational explanation, haunting the narrator relentlessly.
- [VIII: The Second Stage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/x-home): The return of the speaking, knowing 'enemy' (the monkey) and the eerie atmosphere of the house underscore the uncanny persecution.
- [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/conclusion): Discussion of interior vision and disembodied spirits operating on the nervous system.
- [The Child That Went with the Fairies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/moll-rial-s-adventure): The appearance of a spectral gentleman and the transformation of the lake into blood evoke a supernatural encounter.
- [The Banshee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/the-banshee): The banshee's unearthly music heard during a death vigil exemplifies the supernatural.
- [The Governess’s Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/madam-crowl-s-ghost): The ghostly apparition of the boy and the warnings of possession highlight the supernatural elements central to the tale.
- [Carmilla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/vii-descending): The narrator's encounter with a spectral figure, Carmilla's mysterious disappearance, and the pervasive sense of an unseen malevolent force.
- [Search](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/viii-search): Carmilla's inexplicable disappearance and reappearance, combined with locked doors and windows, evokes a supernatural mystery that defies rational explanation.
- [IX: The Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/xi-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/xii-a-petition): The mysterious and secretive behavior of the Countess and Millarca, along with the unexplained disappearance, evokes an uncanny atmosphere.
- [XIII: The Woodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/xiii-the-woodman): The chapter centers on vampirism, sleepwalking, and spectral visitations, highlighting the uncanny nature of Carmilla's influence.
- [XIV: The Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/xiv-the-meeting): The vampire attack and transformation of Carmilla into Millarca highlight the supernatural horror.
- [Ordeal and Execution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/xv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/xvi-conclusion): The chapter details the nature of vampires, their powers, and the lingering horror they inspire.
- [The Dead Sexton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/mr-justice-harbottle): The spectral court, ghostly servants, and the grotesque gallows scene create a pervasive atmosphere of supernatural horror.
- [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/the-familiar): The chapter centers on a familiar spirit and eerie occurrences that defy natural explanation.
- [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/prologue): The prologue sets up the investigation of supernatural impressions, distinguishing between illusion and external spiritual agencies.
- [I: Footsteps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/ii-the-watcher): The mysterious letters and the sound of unseen footsteps create an atmosphere of supernatural dread and uncanny pursuit.
- [III: An Advertisement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/vii-flight): The reappearance of Barton's spectral pursuer in Calais reinforces the inescapable supernatural persecution central to the chapter.
- [VIII: Softened](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/chapters/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.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/themes/supernatural_and_the_uncanny
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_31_se/themes