In the Dark by E.F. Benson
In the Dark by E.F. Benson is a short story about a man who finds himself in an unfamiliar room with no windows and only one door, which he cannot open. He discovers that there are two other people in the room, but they do not speak to him or acknowledge his presence. The man becomes increasingly frustrated and desperate as time passes, until finally he decides to leave the room and find help. However, when he opens the door, he finds himself back in the same room with no windows and only one door. He tries again and again, but each time he leaves the room, he returns to the same place. The man eventually realizes that he is trapped in a nightmare from which there is no escape.
By E.F. Benson · Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Gothic · 4,519 words
First lines
Reginald Case, newly promoted to the rank of Captain in the 43rd Native Cavalry of the Indian Army, was picking his way back to his bungalow by the light of a somewhat ill-burning lantern from the regimental mess-room where he had dined. It was early in July, the long-delayed rains had broken at Haziri, in the Central Provinces, ten days before, and it was an imprudent man who would venture on a mere field-path like this at night without some illumination for his steps, lest inadvertently he might tread on a meditative and deadly kerait, with murder behind its stale small eyes, or step on the black coils of some hooded cobra. Only a few days before, Case had found one such in the bathroom of his bungalow, curled up on the mat within a few inches of his bare foot, when he went there to bathe before dinner, and he had no desire to give his nerves any further test of steadiness under such circumstances.
What this Textopian page supports
In the Dark is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.F. Benson, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.F. Benson
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Gothic, Short Stories
- Length: 4,519 words
- Structure: 1 section, 62 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In the Dark by E.F. Benson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering In the Dark?
- How does this short story by E.F. Benson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Horror Horn by E. F. Benson
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Genres
- Horror — The book features ghost stories and horrifying elements, commonly seen in the horror genre.
- Supernatural — The story includes otherworldly events and ghostly occurrences, indicating a supernatural genre.
- Gothic — The creepy and bleak narrative style can be categorized as gothic.
- Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories, placing it in the short stories genre.
Tags
mystery · suspense · psychological · thriller · darkness · secrets · deception · intrigue · relationships · isolation · fear · tension