1. How does the writer create a tense atmosphere in the description of the setting for this novel? Explain your response with detailed reference to the paragraph.
2. You have been asked to design a cover for this novel. Describe in detail what you would include in your design and why.
3. What do you think the author means when she describes Hill House as ‘not sane’?
4. What do you think are the most important features of a good ghost story? Explain your choice of features.
5. Write the opening paragraph for a ghost story of your own. You might like to use some of the techniques used by Shirley Jackson in the extract.
6. The images below show the settings for three different stories. Choose one of the images and write a descriptive paragraph in which you create a picture of the place and give the reader a sense of the mood or atmosphere of that place.