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. 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. My two favourite works by oscar wilde are the picture of dorian gray and the novella, the canterville ghost. 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. Oscar wildes the canterville ghost teacher resources by. Wilde creates an unforgettable gallery of characters, from hiram b. The canterville ghost by oscar wilde book analysis by. It took away all of the dark elements of the story. Just at this moment, the twins appeared on the corridor and threw a large pillow at him. Otis was warned by the owner of the house that there is the ghost of lord canterville for 300 years. The canterville ghostoscar wildefree downloadpdf epub. This is oscar wilde s tale of the american family moved into a british mansion, canterville chase, much to the annoyance its tired ghost.
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. Combining elements of the gothic horror novel and decadent french fiction, the book centers on a striking premise. 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. 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. Choose the text version to suit your reading level. 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 is a short story by oscar wilde, widely adapted for the screen and stage. The canterville ghost is not a horror book as it said on the cover but it does have something to do with ghosts.
The canterville ghost was the first of oscar wildes short stories to be published, and continues to captivate adults and children alike. Washington otiss cleaning of the blood stain with pinkertons stain removal in. The canterville ghost by oscar wilde book analysis. 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. The canterville ghost is a witty tale about a ghost who has the tables turned on him by an unimpressed american family. Explain how the canterville ghost is a comicohorror story. Original text american english sean michael wilson, oscar wilde, clive bryant, steve bryant, jim campbell, jason millet, jo wheeler on. The canterville ghost is another highly entertaining piece of classic literature from a writer born well before his time. The canterville ghost is a humorous short story by oscar wilde. Turns out he murdered his wife so he was starved to death and cursed. The canterville ghost sanyasareen summary the canterville ghost by oscar wilde is a hilarious and playful look at the spirit world. I suspect, but have no proof, that jk rowling may have read this book before she drew up her ghost characters in. Beginning with comedy, there are a number of humorous elements in the story. 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.
The canterville ghost by oscar wilde a playscript for. 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. It was first published in 1887 during the victorian. Oscar wilde writing styles in the canterville ghost. In the canterville ghost, many of the scenes are set up to seem like traditional tale scenes. Otis, as an outspoken republican who rejects european ascendancy and believes in the power of the american dollar, represents another stereotype. Unlock the more straightforward side of the canterville ghost with this concise and insightful summary and analysis. The action takes place in canterville chase, an ancient. Victorian gothic as resistance in the canterville ghost, to let, and canon alberics scrapbook. Choose the text version to match your reading level. About the play the canterville ghost blends the comic and the macabre. It takes place in an 1800 british castle, known as centerville chase.
After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of londons most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. The canterville ghost essays are academic essays for citation. Book revievv or the canterville ghost about the author oscar wilde was an irish writer and poet. I fear that the ghost exists, said lord canterville, smiling, though it may have resisted the overtures of your enterprising impresarios. Otis and his family americans bought a house in england, mr. The plot is set in motion when the american otis family moves into the old english. The ghost hastily escaped through the wall, and the house became quiet again. Today he is remembered for his epigrams and plays, and the circumstances of his imprisonment which was followed by his early death. 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 written in a literary form called a novella and this is a narrative longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. The canterville ghost is a short story by oscar wilde that parodies common elements of the typical ghost story while maintaining genuine. 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.
The canterville ghost is described as a comicohorror story because it has elements which both amuse and scare the reader. 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. The plot of the canterville ghost is pretty straight forward. Residents in the area think a ghost haunts the castle. Ghost stories belong to the genre called horror literature, whose purpose is to scare the reader with situations. I am so sorry for you, she said, but my brothers are going back to eton tomorrow, and then, if you. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the canterville ghost by oscar wilde. The story cleverly evokes the most empathy for the murderous ghost. Horror and humour blend in oscar wildes the canterville ghost and. The canterville ghost is a short story by oscar wilde. Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, lord. Outside canterville castle there is a sign for sale which lord canterville is taking down. It has many of the familiar attributes of a classic victorian haunted house story a gothic setting.
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. 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. The descendent of a ghost imprisoned for cowardice hopes to free the spirit by displaying courage when under duress. In the canterville ghost, wilde draws upon fairy tales, gothic novels, and. The canterville ghost graphic novel paperback classical. After writing in different forms through the 1880s, he became one of londons most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. The humour of the clash between the modern and the traditional, the old world and the.
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. Descriptions of the wainscoting, the library panelled in black oak, and the armour in the hallway characterise the setting. The canterville ghostoscar wildes gothic parody the gothic. In the canterville ghost, wilde draws on fairy tales, gothic novels, and stories of americans abroad to shape his comic ghost story. With charles laughton, robert young, margaret obrien, william gargan. You probably know oscar wilde from his iconic gothic novel the picture of.
The canterville ghost graphic novel paperback classical comics. This is oscar wildes tale of the american family moved into a british mansion, canterville chase, much to the annoyance of its tired ghost. 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. Those not in the otis family include lord canterville, mrs.
Lord canterville, mr otis, mrs otis, virginia, james, lewis, clark, lewis and clark are twins, mrs umney and sir simon the ghost. Canterville chase boasts the comic book attributes of a haunted house. Us graphic novel editions of the canterville ghost. Having last read the canterville ghost in secondary school, it was great to revisit this humorous horror story in a different form. Free uk delivery on the canterville ghost graphic novels and teaching resources from classical comics. The home of the canterville ghost was the ancient canterville chase, which has all the accoutrements of a traditional haunted house. What is the theme of the canterville ghost answers. The canterville ghost has a large number of characters for such a short novella.
In this text well speak about some humorous devices used by oscar wilde in the canterville ghost. A very theatrical old ghost haunts a castle in rural england. The many manifestations of master wildes irony in an excerpt. They introduce key characters and elements of the story to the audience. The canterville ghost by oscar wilde book analysis bright. But these modern americans will have no truck with ghostly goingson, and set out to beat the spectre at his own game. 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. The canterville ghost literary elements gradesaver. Oscar wilde was born on 16th october,1854 in ireland. Beginning with comedy, there are a number of humorous elements in the.
It was the first of wildes stories to be published, appearing in two parts in the court and. Victorian gothic as resistance in the canterville ghost, to let, and canon alberics scrap book. Otis buys a new place, its never going to be the same. He is also widely celebrated for his comedic plays, like the importance of being earnest. 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. The most common technique is suspense, the slow insinuating of a doubt or of a frightening revelation, which keeps the. The canterville ghost is a short story by the irish author oscar wilde which contains elements of both horror and comedy. In this book oscar wilde trasforms a horror atmosphere in a. The canterville ghost goodreads meet your next favorite book. 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. To her surprise, it was the canterville ghost himself and he looked really sad.
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