The Canterville Ghost
Summary
When a wealthy American man, Mr Otis, offers to buy Lord Canterville's mansion, the latter warns him that the mansion is haunted. Mr Otis laughs off the warning and moves in with his family. One day, as the Otis family is sitting down to tea, they notice a blood stain on the carpet. The housekeeper Mrs Umney reveals that it is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville who was murdered at that spot by her husband. The Otis family scoffs at her fear and the eldest son, Washington, erases the stain. The stain keeps reappearing and so the youngest members of the family, the twins decide to keep watch in the study for the ghost. One night, Mr Otis is awoken by the sound of clanking chains. Annoyed, he wakes up to find the ghost. Instead of getting scared, he offers the ghost a bottle of lubricating oil for his rusty chains. To make matters worse, as the ghost is walking up the stairs, the twins who have been waiting for him, throw a pillow in his direction. Furious at not being taken seriously, the ghost vows to take revenge.
Unlike most ghost stories, it is humour and not horror that forms the underlying theme. Although the writer creates a spooky atmosphere, characters' reactions to the ghost are both, unexpected and hilarious. Here, we also see that the writer is drawing a contrast between the old and new ways through the Canterville family and the Otis family. This contrast also makes the story very amusing.
Understanding the Text
1. The speaker is talking about Canterville Chase. It gives a strange, scary feeling because the residents have heard strange sounds from the corridor and the library and have reported seeing and hearing a ghost.
2. By this statement, Lord Canterville means to say that the presence of the ghost scares people so much that it often results in their death. However, Mr Otis appears to think that the deaths have nothing to do with the ghost and are a mere coincidence. This tells us that he is not afraid of ghosts and perhaps does not believe in them.
3. In Scene 2, the traditional elements are represented by Mrs Umney while the modern elements are represented by the Otis family. The clash between these two elements is thus brought out in their interactions with each other after the bloodstain is discovered.
Mrs Umney is terrified while the Otis family mocks the very possibility of a ghost. Mrs Umney comes from England, a traditional country and represents traditional beliefs such as fear of the supernatural and the unknown.
We see this in her attitude towards the ghost-she appears to be afraid of it and does not want to anger it. The Otis family comes from America, (a more modern country) and thus they stand for modern beliefs such as the refusal to believe in ghosts and spirits. They refuse to even acknowledge the ghost's presence and ignore all the ways in which he tries to scare them.
4. In scene 1 we see what the ghost did to the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, the great-aunt of Lord Canterville
5. Here, we see that the ghost is trying to take on a monstrous appearance and thus we know that he is trying to scare his tormentors. However, their lack of fear has left him confused and so he feels the need to remind himself that he is scary.
6. a. & b. - Write the Answers in your own words.
7. a & d - Write the Answers in your own words.
Summary
When a wealthy American man, Mr Otis, offers to buy Lord Canterville's mansion, the latter warns him that the mansion is haunted. Mr Otis laughs off the warning and moves in with his family. One day, as the Otis family is sitting down to tea, they notice a blood stain on the carpet. The housekeeper Mrs Umney reveals that it is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville who was murdered at that spot by her husband. The Otis family scoffs at her fear and the eldest son, Washington, erases the stain. The stain keeps reappearing and so the youngest members of the family, the twins decide to keep watch in the study for the ghost. One night, Mr Otis is awoken by the sound of clanking chains. Annoyed, he wakes up to find the ghost. Instead of getting scared, he offers the ghost a bottle of lubricating oil for his rusty chains. To make matters worse, as the ghost is walking up the stairs, the twins who have been waiting for him, throw a pillow in his direction. Furious at not being taken seriously, the ghost vows to take revenge.
Unlike most ghost stories, it is humour and not horror that forms the underlying theme. Although the writer creates a spooky atmosphere, characters' reactions to the ghost are both, unexpected and hilarious. Here, we also see that the writer is drawing a contrast between the old and new ways through the Canterville family and the Otis family. This contrast also makes the story very amusing.
Understanding the Text
1. The speaker is talking about Canterville Chase. It gives a strange, scary feeling because the residents have heard strange sounds from the corridor and the library and have reported seeing and hearing a ghost.
2. By this statement, Lord Canterville means to say that the presence of the ghost scares people so much that it often results in their death. However, Mr Otis appears to think that the deaths have nothing to do with the ghost and are a mere coincidence. This tells us that he is not afraid of ghosts and perhaps does not believe in them.
3. In Scene 2, the traditional elements are represented by Mrs Umney while the modern elements are represented by the Otis family. The clash between these two elements is thus brought out in their interactions with each other after the bloodstain is discovered.
Mrs Umney is terrified while the Otis family mocks the very possibility of a ghost. Mrs Umney comes from England, a traditional country and represents traditional beliefs such as fear of the supernatural and the unknown.
We see this in her attitude towards the ghost-she appears to be afraid of it and does not want to anger it. The Otis family comes from America, (a more modern country) and thus they stand for modern beliefs such as the refusal to believe in ghosts and spirits. They refuse to even acknowledge the ghost's presence and ignore all the ways in which he tries to scare them.
4. In scene 1 we see what the ghost did to the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, the great-aunt of Lord Canterville
5. Here, we see that the ghost is trying to take on a monstrous appearance and thus we know that he is trying to scare his tormentors. However, their lack of fear has left him confused and so he feels the need to remind himself that he is scary.
6. a. & b. - Write the Answers in your own words.
7. a & d - Write the Answers in your own words.
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