The Occupant of the Room
The Occupant of the Room by Algernon Blackwood is a novella that explores the theme of isolation and the supernatural. The story follows a man named Mr. Smith, who rents a room in a remote location to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. However, he soon discovers that the room is haunted by a mysterious presence that seems to be watching him at all times. As Mr. Smith becomes more and more unsettled by the ghostly occupant, he begins to question his own sanity and the nature of reality. The novella raises questions about the fragility of human perception and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.
By Algernon Blackwood · First published 1908 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery · 4,811 words
First lines
He arrived late at night by the yellow diligence, stiff and cramped after the toilsome ascent of three slow hours. The village, a single mass of shadow, was already asleep. Only in front of the little hotel was there noise and light and bustle for a moment. The horses, with tired, slouching gait, crossed the road and disappeared into the stable of their own accord, their harness trailing in the dust; and the lumbering diligence stood for the night where they had dragged it the body of a great yellow-sided beetle with broken legs.
What this Textopian page supports
The Occupant of the Room is listed on Textopian as a short story by Algernon Blackwood, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Algernon Blackwood
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 4,811 words
- Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Occupant of the Room by Algernon Blackwood
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Occupant of the Room?
- How does this short story by Algernon Blackwood fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The narrative revolves around a supernatural occurrence, with elements of suspense and fear.
- Gothic Fiction — The story uses popular Gothic tropes such as a mysterious, ominous setting and elements of the supernatural.
- Mystery — There is a sense of enigma regarding the occupant of the room, generating a state of puzzlement and uncertainty.
- Suspense — The atmosphere of the novel creates tension and curiosity about the potentially dangerous circumstances faced by the protagonist.
Tags
ghost story · supernatural · haunting · psychological horror · mystery · thriller · suspense · literary fiction · classic literature · British literature · Victorian era · gothic fiction