1.
THEBOOKREVIEWON THE
CANTERVILLEGHOST
Efforts by: Parth Khetrapal
Class: XI-B

2.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Oscar Wilde was born on 16 October
1854 in Ireland. He was an Irish writer
and poet. After writing in different
forms throughout the 1890’s, he became
one of London’s most popular
playwrights in the early 1890’s.
• At the height of his fame and success, he
produced his Masterpiece- “The
Importance of Being Earnest” in 1895.
His other works are “The picture of
Dorian Gray”, “De Profundis” and “The
Ballad of Reading Gaol” and “The Happy
Prince”.

3.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Wilde’s parents were successful
Anglo-Irish Dublin Intellectuals.
Their son became fluent in French
and German early in life. At
university, Wilde read greats, he
proved himself to be an
outstanding classicist, first at
Dublin, then at Oxford.
• After university, Wilde moved to
London into fashionable cultural
and social circles.

4.
THEME
• ‘The Canterville Ghost’ was published in two
segments in 1887. The story focuses on the
Otis Family’s experiences living in the
Canterville chase, a castle and interacting
with the castle’s ghost. The theme arises is
American and British Culture. We see this in
the beginning of the story, when the Otis
Family arises to the temporary homestead.
• They later emphasized how can American
Ghost would become a display in a public
Museum.

5.
CHARACTERS
• Lord Canterville  He was the owner of the Canterville Chase for 3
Centuries, he came from a very traditional English Family and he
sold the castle to Otis family.
• Mrs. Otis  She looked like an English lady. She had been a well-
known New York beauty. The mother isn’t scared of ghosts and even
asks him, if he wants a remedy for his stomach.
• Mr. Otis  The father of the Otis Family. The American Ambassador,
He bought the Canterville chase, he comes from a modern country
where they have everything that money can buy.
• Washington  He was Mr. Otis’s eldest son. He was a famous and
excellent dancer. He was a very sensible young man.

6.
CHARACTERS
• Virginia  She was a 15 years old Mr. Otis’s daughter with
large blue eyes. She was a good sportsperson and loved to ride
horses. In respect to her family she is kind and with willing
heart. She is the only one in the family who spoke to ghost at
the end of the story.
• The Twins (Stars and Stripes)  The happy little boys who
laughed and shouted a lot. They liked to play tricks on people
and were often punished for them.
• Mrs. Umney  She was the housekeeper. She was an old
woman in a black dress, she believed in ghosts. She was the
representative of old British traditions.

7.
CHARACTERS
• The Ghost  His name was Sir Simon
and died in 1854, his spirit still haunts
the chase. He murdered his wife. He
disappeared and his body was never
discovered. His aspect is very terrible, he
is an old man. His eyes were as red
burning coals, long grey hair fell over his
shoulders in matted coils. His garments,
which were antique cut, were soiled and
ragged and form his wrists and ankles
hung heavy.

8.
SUMMARY
• The story begins when Mr. Otis’s Family shifted to Canterville palace, despite
warnings from Lord Canterville that the house is haunted. The family includes
Mr. and Mrs. Otis, their daughter Virginia, the twins and the eldest son
Washington. At first, none of them believed in ghosts, but shortly after they
moved in none of them deny the presence of Sir Simon (The Ghost), They heard
clanking chains, witness reappearing of the bloodstains on the floor, which
appears in different colors after cleaning it. But, none of these scared the family.
Wilde describes Mrs. Otis as ‘a very beautiful middle aged woman’ who has been
‘a celebrated New York belle’. The most colorful character of the story is Sir
Simon, he goes about his duties. The ghost has the ability to change forms, he
takes the role of ghostly apparitions such as Headless Earl, a strangled babe,
suicide’s skeleton etc. all having succeeded in horrifying previous castle residents
over the centuries. But none of them work on these Americans.

9.
SUMMARY
• The Otises fall victim to trip wires, pea shooters, butter slides and
falling buckets of water. During the course of story Sir Simon sees
himself frightening, distresses and scared. Unlike the rest of the
family, Virginia does not dismiss the ghost, she took his seriously, she
listens to him and learns an important lesson as well the true meaning
behind the riddle. Sir Simon told her that she must pray for him for he
has not faith and she must accompany him to the angel of death and
beg for deaths' mercy upon Sir Simon. The she disappeared with him
to the Garden of Death, then she reappears at midnight through a
panel in the wall, carrying jewels and news that Sir Simon has passed
on to the next world and no longer resides in the house.

10.
OPINIONS BY OTHERS
• The Canterville Ghost is
definitely up with one of the
most loved ghost stories and
the Wilde’s way of telling
story is wonderfully
refreshing.
• I recommend this story to
those who want some wit in
a gothic setting.