Alian 1 Marah Alian Mrs.

Brown English-6 10 October 2012

Joan Aiken, the author of Sonata for Harp and Bicycle, is a very good at writing stories. She knows how to keep the readers interested in the story throughout. That is important because no one will enjoy reading your stories if they arent. Sonata for Harp and Bicycle is a short story in which two main characters help two ghosts reunite and live happily ever after. In the story Sonata for Harp and Bicycle, the author hooks the readers by using suspense, unusual situations throughout the story, and creating an interesting picture in the readers mind. In the story Sonata for Harp and Bicycle, one of the ways Aiken grabs the readers attention is by using suspense. One time that she uses suspense is when Jason re-enters the building at night. Jason describes how it is dark, how he keeps hearing noises, and wonders why the building is extremely empty and seems forbidden. Another example of suspense is when the ghost, William, finds Jason. In the story it explains that scene that the ghost stops right next to Jason on his bike. All Jason can see is his eye floating in the air. Then, the ghost starts asking if he is Daisy, Williams girlfriend. When William figures out it isnt Daisy, he takes Jasons arm and goes all the way to the fire escape and tries to make him jump off the fire escape just like he did. How about it? How about jumping? Its an easy death compared with some (Aiken, 53). That would make the reader think that Jason might die. The third way she uses suspense in her story is when Miss. Golden and Jason call Daisy at ten at night. Miss. Golden thinks no one will

Alian 2 answer, but then Daisy answers and Miss. Bell gets scared because she is talking to a ghost. Bernice went a little pale. Her eyes sought Jasons and prompted by him. (Aiken, 56) This is suspenseful because the readers dont know how Daisy will react since no one usually calls her anymore. Switchboard here, Miss.Bell, Your ten oclock call. (Aiken, 56) Another way the author grabs the readers attention is by putting unusual situations in the story. One of them is when the intercom comes on and gives orders to all the workers that are working in the building Some of the orders are washing your hands; empty your desks, dont leave anything behind, and telling them to leave the building. An example of this is Look at your desks, ladies and gentlemen. Any documents left lying around? Kindly put them away. Desks must be left clear and tidy. Drawers must be shut (Aiken, 50).Another unusual situation is when Jasons hair turns gray after seeing the ghost. Youve not been in grimes building after dark? (Aiken, 54). That again doesnt happen in daily life after seeing a ghost. When he is in work the next day, Miss. Golden sees him; she is horrified. She then tells him that if you come in contact with William the ghost then you will jump off the fire wall within the next 5 days. and anyone who meets the ghost of William Heron will himself, within five days, leap down from the same fatal fire escape ( Aiken,55). The readers would find this unusual because this wouldnt happen in real life. Another thing that is unusual is when in the story it says the city is empty after five. When readers compare this to New York City, its the complete opposite. In the story it explains it as no one is outside, most lights are off, and no one is left in that building. This is very unusual because usually that doesnt happen in the city; New York is called the city that never sleeps. A third way the author grabs the readers attention is by putting an interesting picture in the readers mind. One picture that an individual might imagine is when Jason is back into the

Alian 3 building and how the ghost finds Jason. Joan Aiken explains it by writing, He was looking into two eyes carved out of expressionless air: he was held by two hands knotted together out of the width dark (Aiken, 53). Then it says how the author keeps asking if that is Daisy. As a result of that Jason, is terrified at that moment. Daisy, Daisy? ... Is that you, Daisy? Have you come to give me your answer? (Aiken, 53). Imagine that very well in your mind and it also makes the audience think of a Halloween scene. Another interesting scene is when the ghosts are leaving together at the end of the story. It explains that the bicycle has the harp on it, with the glass of wine and the flower bouquet while the two ghosts are riding down the hall. The readers might think this a very cute scene and picture it as a love story. The third scene is when the intercom is giving orders to the workers. Readers can imagine everyone doing everything at the same time like in a factory, then everyone running out the building at once while remaining silent. Joan Aiken does a great job of keeping the readers interested throughout the story. She does this by using suspense like when in the story the ghost, William, finds Jason, through unusual situations throughout the story like when the intercom is giving orders out to all workers, and by creating an interesting picture in the readers mind, like when the ghosts find each other and live happily ever after. Once the reader reads this story they will notice that Joan Aiken did a great job in keeping their attention, and they will realized that they have enjoyed reading this story throughout the story till the very end.

Alian 4 Works cited Aiken, Joan. Sonata for Harp and Bicycle. Prentice Hall Literature. Feldman, Kevin and Kate Kinsella, et al. Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007.48-57. Print.