Page 48 - The English Carnival 7
P. 48
Listening Text
“The Signal-Man” by Charles Dickens is a mysterious and eerie tale about a narrator who
encounters a signal-man working in a lonely, haunted railway cutting. The signal-man is
tormented by inexplicable apparitions and fears impending disaster. He confides in the
narrator, recounting the ghostly appearances and a recurring warning bell that haunts him.
Tragically, the warning proves true when a fatal train accident occurs. The story explores
themes of isolation, premonition, and fate, leaving readers questioning the supernatural and
the power of human intuition. Dickens masterfully creates an atmosphere of suspense and
unease throughout this classic short story.
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