Setting

Here we discuss the setting of the short story “The Signal-Man” by Charles Dickens.

Time setting

The story “The Signal-Man” by Charles Dickens takes place in and around a cabin station of a railway signalman, next to the entrance to a tunnel. The action spans over a couple of nights, from the time the narrator meets the signal-man up to his death. Consequently, we can say that both the physical … 

Physical setting

The smaller physical location is depicted in detail by the narrator, showing the conditions in which the signalman was working. The isolation of his station is what contributes to making the character of the signal-man less credible. His ghost story might have been the result of a lonely job in a harsh environment: “The cutting … 

Social setting

The social environment is suggested through the category of society the characters belong to. The narrator is addressed as “Sir” by the signalman and other railway workers, indicating he is part of the upper class, wealthier and better …