The canterville ghost is not a horror book as it said on the cover but it does have something to do with ghosts. The descendent of a ghost imprisoned for cowardice hopes to free the spirit by displaying courage when under duress. Ghost stories belong to the genre called horror literature, whose purpose is to scare the reader with situations. Lord canterville, mr otis, mrs otis, virginia, james, lewis, clark, lewis and clark are twins, mrs umney and sir simon the ghost. Turns out he murdered his wife so he was starved to death and cursed. This engaging summary presents an analysis of the canterville ghost by oscar wilde, which tells the story of a centuriesdead ghost and his vain attempts to terrify the new inhabitants of his ancestral home. The canterville ghost is a humorous short story by oscar wilde.
Today he is remembered for his epigrams and plays, and the circumstances of his imprisonment which was followed by his early death. Descriptions of the wainscoting, the library panelled in black oak, and the armour in the hallway characterise the setting. The canterville ghost is a short story by the irish author oscar wilde which contains elements of both horror and comedy. However, it rapidly becomes evident that these scenes are intended as mockeries of the traditional tales and ghost stories, through the excessively cliched imagery, the presence of pompous and antiquated expressions, and, finally, some highly ironic appositions. In the canterville ghost, wilde draws on fairy tales, gothic novels, and stories of americans abroad to shape his comic ghost story. The canterville ghostoscar wildes gothic parody the gothic. In the canterville ghost, wilde draws upon fairy tales, gothic novels, and. My 9yearold son received this for christmas in preparation for an opera visit tomorrow which sees the canterville ghost aiming to scare the audience at the zurich opera house. Original text the classic novel quick text the classic novel with less dialogue. I suspect, but have no proof, that jk rowling may have read this book before she drew up her ghost characters in.
This is oscar wildes tale of the american family moved into a british mansion, canterville chase, much to the annoyance of its tired ghost. The plot of the canterville ghost is pretty straight forward. The canterville ghost has a large number of characters for such a short novella. An amusing chronicle of the tribulations of the ghost of canterville, chase, when his ancestral halls became the home of the american minister to the court of st.
Canterville chase boasts the comic book attributes of a haunted house. As you would expect from oscar wilde, this charming story is full of humour and wit, dealing with a culture clash between modern america and traditional britain. Victorian gothic as resistance in the canterville ghost, to let, and canon alberics scrap book. Explain how the canterville ghost is a comicohorror.
Canterville chase boasts the comic book attributes of a haunted house and would be immediately recognized as such by its contemporary audience. Us graphic novel editions of the canterville ghost. The canterville ghost graphic novel paperback classical. The canterville ghost graphic novel paperback classical comics. The canterville ghostoscar wildefree downloadpdf epub. Victorian gothic as resistance in the canterville ghost, to let, and canon alberics scrapbook. I fear that the ghost exists, said lord canterville, smiling, though it may have resisted the overtures of your enterprising impresarios. The canterville ghost chapter v one day, virginia was walking along the corridor, when she saw a person in one of the rooms and went in. Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, lord. Class xi novel the canterville ghost academicseasy. In the canterville ghost, wilde draws upon fairy tales, gothic novels, and stories of americans abroad to shape his comic ghost story. Wilde wrote the canterville ghost as a twist on the traditional ghost story, as a satire of american materialism, and as a way to parody english culture as well.
Otis and his children to lord canterville and the chainclanking ghost a gauche, materialistic american family moves into the english mansion of canterville chase, much to the annoyance of the resident ghost. Book revievv or the canterville ghost about the author oscar wilde was an irish writer and poet. Though wilde offers a comic treatment, he finds inspiration for sir simons character in alfred tennysons serious poem maud, as well as in the romantic poet samuel taylor coleridge s. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of londons most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. The canterville ghost literary elements gradesaver. Just at this moment, the twins appeared on the corridor and threw a large pillow at him. Oscar wilde writing styles in the canterville ghost. With charles laughton, robert young, margaret obrien, william gargan. The canterville ghost is a short story by oscar wilde that parodies common elements of the typical ghost story while maintaining genuine. Shocked, the canterville ghost stood quite motionless for a moment, but then he growled angrily.
As dorian gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. The many manifestations of master wildes irony in an excerpt. The action takes place in canterville chase, an ancient. The canterville ghost by oscar wilde book analysis bright. The canterville ghost is a witty tale about a ghost who has the tables turned on him by an unimpressed american family. This unusual short story blends fantastic and comic elements and parodies many of the features of the gothic novel, resulting in a riotously funny tale with an unexpected ending. Oscar wilde s spooky tale of a genteel english ghost clashing with a brash american family is endearing, fun, and perfect reading for all ages canterville chase possesses all of the trappings of a standard haunted country houseincluding large suits of armor and gothic paneled library walls. I am so sorry for you, she said, but my brothers are going back to eton tomorrow, and then, if you. The canterville ghost summary the canterville ghost is a short story by oscar wilde in which a girl befriends the ghost haunting canterville chase and helps him cross over into the afterlife. This is oscar wilde s tale of the american family moved into a british mansion, canterville chase, much to the annoyance its tired ghost. To her surprise, it was the canterville ghost himself and he looked really sad. He is also widely celebrated for his comedic plays, like the importance of being earnest. Ghost stories belong to the genre called horror literature, whose purpose is to scare the reader with situations that cause horror or fear.
The canterville ghost short synopsis a terrifying ghost is haunting the ancient mansion of canterville chase, complete with creaking floorboards, clanking chains and gruesome disguises but the new occupants, the otis family, seem strangely undisturbed by his presence. It was first published in 1887 during the victorian. A very theatrical old ghost haunts a castle in rural england. The canterville ghost was the first of oscar wildes short stories to be published, and continues to captivate adults and children alike. Otis and his family americans bought a house in england, mr. Horror and humour blend in oscar wildes the canterville ghost and. Those not in the otis family include lord canterville, mrs. Explain how the canterville ghost is a comicohorror story. About the play the canterville ghost blends the comic and the macabre. The canterville ghost goodreads meet your next favorite book.
Original text american english sean michael wilson, oscar wilde, clive bryant, steve bryant, jim campbell, jason millet, jo wheeler on. The canterville ghost by oscar wilde book analysis. The canterville ghost essays are academic essays for citation. Despite containing all these elements, the presence of this stubborn and cynical american family helps the canterville ghost make the shift to a comic story. Oscar wildes the canterville ghost teacher resources by. Residents in the area think a ghost haunts the castle. Beginning with comedy, there are a number of humorous elements in the story. Wilde creates an unforgettable gallery of characters, from hiram b. The canterville ghost sanyasareen summary the canterville ghost by oscar wilde is a hilarious and playful look at the spirit world. It takes place in an 1800 british castle, known as centerville chase. In this book oscar wilde trasforms a horror atmosphere in a. When the ghost reached his small secret chamber, he took a deep breath. The plot is set in motion when the american otis family moves into the old english.
The canterville ghost is a short story by oscar wilde, widely adapted for the screen and stage. Otis buys a new place, its never going to be the same. Combining elements of the gothic horror novel and decadent french fiction, the book centers on a striking premise. The canterville ghost is written in a literary form called a novella and this is a narrative longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. The story cleverly evokes the most empathy for the murderous ghost. Having last read the canterville ghost in secondary school, it was great to revisit this humorous horror story in a different form. Both fullcolor graphic novels feature comic book style illustrations throughout, a character list dramatis personae and fascinating support material that details the life and work of oscar wilde all beautifully presented in color. But these modern americans will have no truck with ghostly goingson, and set out to beat the spectre at his own game.
You probably know oscar wilde from his iconic gothic novel the picture of. The family which refuses to believe in him is in wilde s way a commentary on the british nobility of the ay and on the americans, too. It has been well known for three centuries, since 1584 in fact, and always makes its appearance before the death of any member of our family. Choose the text version to match your reading level. The canterville ghost is another highly entertaining piece of classic literature from a writer born well before his time. It has many of the familiar attributes of a classic victorian haunted house story a gothic setting. It was the first of wildes stories to be published, appearing in two parts in the court and. Otis, as an outspoken republican who rejects european ascendancy and believes in the power of the american dollar, represents another stereotype. Otis was warned by the owner of the house that there is the ghost of lord canterville for 300 years. Instead of the displaying the usual reaction to the presence of a ghost in their house which is along the lines of screaming and running away, the otis family of practicality and. The canterville ghost is described as a comicohorror story because it has elements which both amuse and scare the reader. In this text well speak about some humorous devices used by oscar wilde in the canterville ghost. The home of the canterville ghost was the ancient canterville chase, which has all the accoutrements of a traditional haunted house.
The ghost hastily escaped through the wall, and the house became quiet again. A graphic novel version published by classical comics in 2010 adapted by scottish writer sean michael wilson, with. The canterville ghost by oscar wilde book analysis by. Free uk delivery on the canterville ghost graphic novels and teaching resources from classical comics. Washington otiss cleaning of the blood stain with pinkertons stain removal in. They introduce key characters and elements of the story to the audience. Beginning with comedy, there are a number of humorous elements in the. After writing in different forms through the 1880s, he became one of londons most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. Choose the text version to suit your reading level. Outside canterville castle there is a sign for sale which lord canterville is taking down. The canterville ghost is a short story by oscar wilde. The canterville ghost by oscar wilde a playscript for. The most common technique is suspense, the slow insinuating of a doubt or of a frightening revelation, which keeps the.
The humour of the clash between the modern and the traditional, the old world and the. My two favourite works by oscar wilde are the picture of dorian gray and the novella, the canterville ghost. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the canterville ghost by oscar wilde. It took away all of the dark elements of the story. Unlock the more straightforward side of the canterville ghost with this concise and insightful summary and analysis. Oscar wilde was born on 16th october,1854 in ireland. In the canterville ghost, many of the scenes are set up to seem like traditional tale scenes. In a particularly comical scene, he is frightened by the sight of a ghost rigged up by the mischievous twins. What is the theme of the canterville ghost answers.
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