The story 'Red Room' by H.G. Wells was set and written in 1896. It is quite a typical example of a gothic ghost story, which was a genre quite popular in the late 19th century. 'Farthing House' by Susan Hill, however, is based and written in 1992, although there are some elements of the gothic genre in it as it visits the time of the late 19th/early 20th century, which is how the stories are linked chronologically. A typical gothic story often includes the following: a castle/old house, graveyard, candles, shadows, cold, darkness, dust, etc. The setting links the two stories also – they both take place in an old house/castle. In general, gothic stories are quite eerie and often involve events or people from the past.
             The titles of the two stories tell us a lot about the writer and the story. The title 'Red Room' immediately attracts the reader's attention. It provokes questions such as: 'What/where is the Red Room?' and 'Why is it red?' The colour red is symbolic – used in a title it evokes feelings of fear, anticipation, danger and dread. These are some feelings associated with the colour red.
             'Farthing House', however, is not quite so effective. The name of the house is not particularly terrifying, nor does it induce such questions as those above. However, it brings to mind a big house, and mysterious things often happen in big houses, and they often have a lot of hidden history. There is a certain air of mystery about it, as the simple title gives very little of the story away. Indeed you could look at it and not realise it was a ghost story.
             The main difference between the two stories is the time they were written, and when they were set. 'Farthing House' is written in modern language, and Susan Hill uses one-sentence paragraphs very effectively: 'There is just one other thing.' 'I switched off the lamp.' ...