The Canterville Ghost
by Oscar Wilde
1. Which of the following words means 'a practical joke'?
=
a. a prank. [✓]
b. a plank. [ ]
c. a crank. [ ]
d. a clank. [ ]
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Quick Answers
Tick the right answer:
1. The day after being frightened by the dummy ghost, the Canterville ghost was feeling:
a. strong, energetic and confident. [ ]
b. shaken and nervous but not weak or tired. [ ]
c. weak, tired, shaken and nervous. [✓]
2. After being frightened by the dummy ghost that the twins had made, the Canterville ghost did not leave his room for
a. five days. [✓]
b. three weeks. [ ]
c. four weeks. [ ]
3. The Canterville ghost wanted to be a:
a. dignified and frightening ghost. [✓]
b. dignified and frightened ghost. [ ]
c. frightened and undignified ghost. [ ]
4. Dressed as the Headless Earl, the ghost was pleased with his appearance because he thought he looked:
a. handsome. [ ]
b. happy. [ ]
c. horrifying. [✓]
5. The Canterville ghost thought that the Otises were a rude family because:
a. They showed great fear and regard for all ghostly happenings. [ ]
b. They showed no fear nor regard for all ghostly happenings. [✓]
c. He was from England and they were from America. [ ]
Reference to context
6. "He did not see how he could honourably escape from his obligations."
a. What obligations or regular duties did the ghost have?
= The ghost had obligations or regular duties to appear in the corridor once a week, and to gibber from the large oriel window on the on the first and third Wednesday in every month.
b. Why did he not want to be seen or heard while doing these duties?
= He did not want to be seen or heard while doing these duties he did not want to get in the trap of the Otis twins and be humiliated by them.
c. What did he use in order not be heard?
= He used the Rising Sun Lubricator for oiling his chains in order to not to be heard.
7. "This last insult so enraged him that he resolved to make one final effort to assert his dignity and social position...."
a. What was the 'last insult'?
= The 'last insult' was that he met with a several fall while walking in the corridor as the Otis twin had stretched several strings across the corridor. He fall several times through treading on a butter-slide which the twins had constructed.
b. How did the 'insult' make him feel?
=The 'insult' made him feel very engraved.
c. What did the ghost decide to do next?
= Next, the ghost decided to make one final effort to assert his dignity and social position and determined to visit the insolent young Etonians. The next night he disguised in his celebrated character of 'Reckless Rupert' or The Headless Earl.
8. "The final blow he received occurred on the 19th of September."
a. Where was the ghost when he received the final blow?
= The ghost was at the downstairs to the great entrance hall and he was strolling towards the library when he received the final blow.
b. What time was it?
= It was about a quarter past two o'clock in the morning.
c. What was the final blow?
= The ghost was approaching the library to see the leftover of the blood strain. Suddenly the Otis twins appeared before him and frightened him with a boo sound. This seized him with a panic and he rushed for the staircase.
Read, reflect and write
9. Describe the Canterville ghost.
= The full name of the ghost is Sir Simon de Canterville. He was a dead nobleman. He used to frighten the families who came there to live in the said castle of England.
He had to do some duties like to appear in the corridor once a week, and to gibber from the large oriel window on the on the first and third Wednesday in every month.
He used to disguise in different characters. He used to take his celebrated character of 'Reckless Rupert' or The Headless Earl. His another remarkable impersonation is of 'Jonas The Graveless' or The Corpse Snatcher of Chertsey Barn.
10. What is the setting of the story? What strange sights and sounds do you think the Otis family saw and heard when they moved in?
= The Canterville Ghost is a humorous story about the Otis family who moved from America to a castle in England. The castle was haunted by the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville.
The Otis family head clanking of the iron chains of the ghost and the creaking of the wooden furniture. They saw marks of blood strain here and there. They might observed the opening and closing of windows and doors automatically.
11. The extract you have just read ends with the reaction of the ghost. Predict how the ghost would felt the following morning. Would he have felt better or worse than he did at the beginning of the extract? Give a reason for your answer.
= The ghost would have felt frustrated and decided to leave the castle. He would have felt worse than he did at the beginning of the extract. He tried again and again to frighten the Otis family and save his reputation as a ghost. He failed every time. He was even humiliated and molested by the twin boys of the Otis family. He tried to assert his dignity and social position for the last time by disguising in the character of 'Jonas The Graveless' or The Corpse Snatcher of Chertsey Barn. This time also the twins of the Otis seized him with panic.
12. In what ways is the Canterville ghost like an ordinary person? What is your opinion of him?
= The Canterville ghost was like an ordinary person in various ways of his character traits. First of all he is a coward. He got scared by the 'ghost' made by the Otis twins. They made it out of a curtain, a cleaning brush and a turnip.
Secondly, he is very sincere towards his duties and obligations. Next, he feels humiliated and molested when he is tricked the two boys. He is conscious about his dignity and social position. He did not give up. He tried again and again to accomplish his mission.
13. Extended Writing: In this story, the narrator tells us what the ghost thinks and feels and gives us the reasons behind the ghost's actions. Take another point of view. Imagine that you were one of the Otis twins and describe what happened when the Canterville ghost decided to dress like Reckless Rupert and frighten you and your brother.
= In one of the twin boy's perspective, the whole incident cycle would be described in a very humorous way. He took three hours to do his make up like any actor of the Hollywood. At last he was ready like a king and pleased with his make up.
He kept his head out of his body like he is saving his treasure. Then he was like a train with out engine. He was no intelligence left even to walk. He had to glide and creep.
He reached to our room after a hard effort and we kept our door slightly opened. He thought we are scare. But we did so to let him see us and get scared. He opened the door more to enter into the room and it was the moment for us to throw the mug of water upon him.
It was so funny to see his reaction after getting drenched by the water. He is so socked. He is running back to his room. He is such a coward.
About the author:
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a famous playwright, novelist, poet and critic. Wilde wrote nine plays, one novel, short stories and several poems. He is famous for his wit, sparks of which brighten up his works like The Canterville Ghost and The Importance of Being Earnest.