Gothic in the Deathly Hallows: Creating a sense of decay

Bathilda's house

Let me do that

The next sentence introduces some dialogue.

'Let me do that,' offered Harry, and he took the matches from her.

Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsJ.K. RowlingSource

Notice there’s less of that sense of decay here; Harry is taking action, trying to help, and this makes us feel a little more normal and safe (a nice contrast to how Bathilda’s house makes us feel).

“How about my phone?” suggested Gabriela, as she took it from her back pocket.

“It would be wiser to go below decks, ma’am,” said Nelson, and he turned to the stairs.

“Let me help you,” I whispered, and I took the man’s elbow.

Your turn

Like what you see?

You’re not logged in!

If you want to save your writing, login and either assign this lesson to yourself or access it via your class.