The Interval by Blanche Colton Williams
Blanche Colton Williams’s study of “The Interval” examines Mr. O’Sullivan’s stated starting point: his 1915 anticipation that war would renew interest in supernatural fiction. It tests the title, London setting, haze imagery, and the author’s apparent command of English locale and character. Williams maps the story’s construction through Mrs. Wilton’s mental struggle after Hugh’s death, the delayed disclosure of her purpose, the clairvoyant visit as initial incident, and the bedroom episode as climax of action. The analysis also considers the suggestive final detail of the missing slippers, the escalating order of Hugh’s visitations, the clairvoyant’s possible fraudulence, and competing natural versus supernatural explanations for Mrs. Wilton’s illness and visions.
By Blanche Colton Williams · First published 1919 · Genre: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Literary Essay · 576 words
First lines
STARTING POINT. Mr. O'Sullivan states that the story arose primarily from his foreseeing, in 1915, that one result of the War would be a revived interest in the supernatural. This foreknowledge illustrates that the author must be a little ahead of his time, rather than a little behind it.
The clearness of his prevision is illustrated in such stories as Gordon Arthur Smith's "Jeanne the Maid" (1915), Edith Wharton's "Kerfol" (1916), Alice Brown's "The Flying Teuton" (1917), and Frances Wood's "The White Battalion" (1918). It would be safe to hazard that these authors foresaw a similar demand.
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Genres
- Literary Analysis — Breaks down the story’s situation, struggle, incidents, climax, and interpretive alternatives.
- Literary Criticism — Evaluates narrative choices, motivation, atmosphere, and the implications of supernatural ambiguity.
- Literary Essay — Presents a concise instructional critical discussion organized by title, setting, plot, and details.
- Non-Fiction — This is a study-volume section offering commentary and reading questions rather than fiction.
Tags
Blanche Colton Williams · The Interval · Mr. O’Sullivan · supernatural fiction · ghost ambiguity · Mrs. Wilton · Hugh · clairvoyant · plot structure · dramatic climax · London setting · atmosphere and color
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The Interval is listed on Textopian as an essay by Blanche Colton Williams, dated 1919 CE.
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- Work type: Essay
- Author: Blanche Colton Williams
- Date: 1919 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Analysis, Literary Criticism, Literary Essay, Non-Fiction
- Length: 576 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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