Structure and Summary (The Woman in Black)

This section explores the structure and provides a summary of the novel The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. The structure of The Woman in Black is carefully designed to maximise suspense and tension, following a linear progression with moments of flashback and revelation. Susan Hill’s use of a frame narrative, combined with a first-person perspective, allows readers to connect with Arthur Kipps’ personal journey, while the gradual revelation of the woman in black’s tragic backstory keeps the reader engaged in the mystery. The novel’s climactic ghostly encounters and circular structure reinforce the idea that past traumas continue to haunt the present, making the story not just a ghostly tale, but a psychological exploration of grief and revenge.

Structure of the Novel

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill follows a carefully crafted structure that mirrors the classic conventions of Gothic literature. The novel is written in the form of a frame narrative, in which the protagonist, Arthur Kipps, recounts his harrowing experience of encountering the ghost of the woman in black. This structure allows the novel to unfold in a way that gradually builds suspense, while also reflecting the retrospective tone of the narrator as he recalls events that still haunt him. Below are the key aspects of the structure:

Frame Narrative

The novel begins with Arthur Kipps, now an older man, reflecting on a terrifying event from his past. This frame narrative structure, in which the story is recounted as a memory, gives the novel an air of melancholy and sets the tone of a personal ghost story.

The first and final chapters are set in the present, while the majority of the novel is Arthur’s recollection of his younger self, highlighting how the events continue to affect him.

First-Person Perspective

The novel is told from Arthur’s first-person perspective, allowing readers to closely follow his thoughts, emotions, and perceptions as he experiences the supernatural events. This personal viewpoint draws readers into the narrative and heightens the suspense, as they experience the events alongside Arthur.

The use of first-person also creates a sense of unreliability in the narration. Since the story is told through Arthur’s subjective lens, there is always a lingering question of whether his perceptions are influenced by fear or psychological trauma.

Linear Plot with Flashbacks

The majority of the novel follows a linear plot, with Arthur’s journey to Eel Marsh House and the gradual revelation of the mystery surrounding the woman in black. This linearity allows the tension to build slowly as Arthur uncovers more details about the haunting.

There are also moments of flashback within the main narrative, particularly when Arthur learns about the tragic backstory of Jennet Humfrye (the woman in black) and her connection to the house. These flashbacks fill in the gaps of the mystery and provide crucial context for the haunting.

Gradual Revelation and Pacing

Hill structures the novel to reveal the mystery of the woman in black in stages, with clues and hints emerging slowly. This gradual revelation keeps the reader in suspense, as they, like Arthur, try to piece together the tragic events of the past.

The pacing shifts between moments of quiet tension and eerie calm, and scenes of intense fear and supernatural occurrences. This variation in pacing heightens the suspense and ensures that moments of terror are more impactful.

Climactic Ghostly Encounters

The novel is structured around a series of increasingly intense encounters with the supernatural. Each encounter with the woman in black or other ghostly phenomena escalates Arthur’s fear and builds towards the climactic moment in the nursery, where the full horror of the ghost is revealed.

The structure of these encounters helps to maintain the tension throughout the novel, as the reader is aware that something terrible is going to happen, but is unsure of when or how it will unfold.

Circular Structure

The novel begins and ends in the present, with Arthur reflecting on his past. This circular structure suggests that the haunting has come full circle and emphasises that the trauma of his experience continues to haunt him in the present.

By ending the novel with the devastating revelation of Arthur’s family tragedy (caused by the woman in black), Hill reinforces the idea that the supernatural events have lasting and far-reaching consequences.

Summary of the Novel

Chapter 1: Christmas Eve

The novel opens with Arthur Kipps, now much older, spending Christmas Eve with his family. As they tell ghost stories around the fire, Arthur is asked to share his own. Unwilling to speak of the traumatic events of his past, Arthur leaves the room, reflecting that his story is not one to be told lightly.

Chapter 2: A London Particular

Arthur, as a young solicitor, is assigned the task of attending the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, a reclusive widow who lived at Eel Marsh House. Arthur is eager to prove himself and travels to the small market town of Crythin Gifford, unaware of the sinister events that await him.

Chapter 3: The Journey North

Arthur journeys by train to Crythin Gifford, where he meets local solicitor Mr. Bentley and hears hints of the town’s unease about Eel Marsh House. His arrival is marked by gloomy weather and an eerie atmosphere, foreshadowing the unsettling events to come.

Chapter 4: The Funeral of Mrs Drablow

Arthur attends Mrs Drablow’s funeral, where he first sees the woman in black – a gaunt figure dressed in old-fashioned mourning clothes. He is disturbed by her appearance but dismisses it as nothing more than a strange encounter. However, Mr Jerome, the local solicitor, is visibly terrified when Arthur mentions the woman.

Chapter 5: Across the Causeway

Arthur travels to Eel Marsh House, a large and isolated mansion accessible only by a causeway that is cut off at high tide. The house is surrounded by marshes, and its eerie, decaying appearance sets the tone for the supernatural events that follow. Arthur explores the house, but is unnerved by the oppressive silence and the feeling of being watched.

Chapter 6: The Sound of a Pony and Trap

While at Eel Marsh House, Arthur hears the sound of a pony and trap, followed by a child’s scream. He rushes outside, but finds nothing. He later learns that the sound is linked to a tragic accident involving a pony and trap sinking in the marshes, which is connected to the backstory of the woman in black.

Chapter 7: Mr Jerome is Afraid

Arthur tries to learn more about Eel Marsh House and the woman in black from Mr Jerome, but the townspeople are reluctant to speak about her. Arthur realises that there is a deep-seated fear surrounding the house and the ghostly figure.

Chapter 8: Spider

Arthur returns to Eel Marsh House, accompanied by Keckwick, the local man who provides transport across the causeway. Arthur is left alone at the house, along with Spider, a small dog. He experiences more ghostly occurrences, including terrifying noises and the opening of a locked door.

Chapter 9: In the Nursery

Arthur enters the nursery, a room filled with children’s toys, which appears to be the centre of the haunting. He begins to piece together the tragic story of Jennet Humfrye, the woman in black, who lost her child in a tragic accident and now seeks revenge on those connected to the house.

Chapter 10: Whistle and I’ll Come to You

Arthur is plagued by more supernatural occurrences, including the sound of the pony and trap, and a series of eerie whispers. The tension builds as Arthur becomes increasingly frightened by the malevolent presence in the house.

Chapter 11: A Packet of Letters

Arthur discovers a packet of letters that reveal Jennet Humfrye’s story. She was the sister of Mrs Drablow and had a child out of wedlock. The child was taken away from her and later died in the pony and trap accident in the marshes. Jennet’s grief and anger at being separated from her child led to her vengeful haunting of Eel Marsh House.

Chapter 12: The Woman in Black

Arthur returns to Crythin Gifford, traumatised by his experiences at Eel Marsh House. He believes that the worst is over, but the woman in black's curse is far from finished. Arthur later marries and has a child, but the woman in black exacts her final revenge. While out with his wife and child, Arthur witnesses a tragic accident caused by the ghost, resulting in the deaths of his wife and child.