The Canterville Ghost (Oscar Wilde) — graded reader B1–B2

The Canterville Ghost

A graded reader · Oscar Wilde · B1–B2

Warm-up

• Do you enjoy ghost stories, or do they keep you awake at night?

• Would you live in a very old house? What would you love, or hate, about it?

• What jokes or tricks did you play on people when you were a child?

• What do people in your country think about British people, or about Americans?

The author and the book

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1854. His mother was a poet who wrote under the name "Speranza", the Italian word for "hope". He studied at Trinity College Dublin and then at Oxford, and soon London knew him for his clever talk and his love of beautiful things.

In January 1882 he sailed to New York to give lectures. The tour was planned for four months, but he stayed almost a year and gave around 140 talks across the United States and Canada. So when he later wrote about an American family in an old English house, he knew both sides well.

"The Canterville Ghost" appeared in two parts in a London magazine, The Court and Society Review, on 23 February and 2 March 1887. It was the first of his stories to be published. Later came The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.

In 1895 he was sent to prison for two years. He died poor in a Paris hotel in 1900, aged 46.

Key words

haunt

stain

minister

when a ghost appears in a place again and again, the ghost haunts it

a dirty mark that is very hard to remove

here, a person who represents his country's government in a foreign country

prophecy

mercy

words that say what will happen in the future

kindness and forgiveness for someone who has done wrong, instead of punishment

Let's talk

• Wilde travelled around America for almost a year. How can travel make someone a better writer?

• Some people buy old houses because of their history. Would a ghost make a house more valuable, or less?

• Can a story be funny and sad at the same time? Can you think of one?

• What would a ghost need to do to frighten people today?

PART 1 OF 4

The ghost included

PART 1 · THE GHOST INCLUDED

When Mr Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, everyone told him he was doing a very foolish thing. There was no doubt at all that the place was haunted. Even Lord Canterville, the owner, warned him.

"We have not lived there ourselves," said Lord Canterville, "since my great-aunt felt two skeleton hands on her shoulders as she was dressing for dinner."

"My Lord," answered the Minister, "I will take the furniture and the ghost at a fair price. I come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy. If there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in one of our museums in no time."

"I fear the ghost exists," said Lord Canterville, smiling.

"It has been well known since 1584, and it always appears before the death of a member of our family."

"Well, so does the family doctor. But there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to change for the British aristocracy."

So the Otis family moved in: Mrs Otis, a handsome New York lady; Washington, the sensible eldest son; Virginia, a lovely girl of fifteen with large blue eyes; and the twins, two delightful boys who were always in trouble.

Mrs Umney, the old housekeeper, led them into the library, a long, low room panelled in black oak.

Suddenly Mrs Otis noticed a dull red stain on the floor by the fireplace. "I am afraid something has been spilt there," she said.

PART 1 · THE GHOST INCLUDED

"Yes, madam," said the old housekeeper in a low voice. "Blood has been spilt on that spot. It is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville, who was murdered there by her own husband, Sir Simon de Canterville, in 1575. His body was never found, but his guilty spirit still haunts the Chase. The stain cannot be removed."

"That is all nonsense," cried Washington. "Pinkerton's Champion Stain Remover will clean it up in no time!" He fell on his knees and began scrubbing. In a few moments, the stain was gone.

"I knew Pinkerton would do it!" he said proudly. At that very moment, a terrible flash of lightning lit up the room, thunder shook the house, and Mrs Umney fainted.

"What a monstrous climate!" said the Minister calmly, and he lit a cigar.

The next morning, the stain was back. Washington cleaned it again, but every morning it returned, although Mr Otis locked the library himself at night.

Then, one night at exactly one o'clock, Mr Otis heard the clank of metal in the corridor, coming nearer and nearer. He put on his slippers, took a small bottle from his case, and opened the door.

In the pale moonlight stood an old man of terrible appearance. His eyes were like red burning coals. Long grey hair fell over his shoulders, and from his wrists and ankles hung heavy, rusty chains.

Book club

PART 1 · THE GHOST INCLUDED

1. Why did people think Mr Otis was foolish to buy Canterville Chase?

2. What did Mrs Umney say about the red stain by the fireplace?

3. What happened to the stain after Washington cleaned it?

4. Mr Otis says money can buy everything. Is he right? What can't money buy?

5. Lord Canterville warned him. Would you still buy a house with a ghost?

6. The ghost is standing in front of Mr Otis. What will he do with that little bottle?

PART 2 OF 4

A very rude family

PART 2 · A VERY RUDE FAMILY

"My dear sir," said Mr Otis, "I really must insist on your oiling those chains. I have brought you a small bottle of the Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator. I shall leave it here for you, and will be happy to give you more if you need it."

Then the Minister put the bottle down, closed his door, and went back to bed.

For a moment, the Canterville ghost stood perfectly still, too angry to move. Then he threw the bottle to the floor and fled down the corridor, groaning and glowing a ghastly green. But at the top of the great oak staircase, a door flew open, two little figures in white appeared, and a large pillow flew past his head!

The ghost escaped through the wall to his secret room. Never, in three hundred brilliant years, had he been so insulted. And now some wretched modern Americans were offering him oil, and throwing pillows at his head! He decided to have his revenge.

For a week, all was quiet, except for the blood-stain. Every morning it was back, and its colour kept changing: dull red, then bright red, then purple, and once, emerald-green. The family found it very funny, but little Virginia did not. The stain always upset her, and she nearly cried on the morning it was green.

On Sunday night, there was a terrible crash in the hall.

PART 2 · A VERY RUDE FAMILY

The family ran downstairs and found an old suit of armour on the stone floor. The ghost was sitting in a chair, rubbing his knees in pain. At once the twins fired their pea-shooters at him, and Mr Otis pointed his revolver and told him to put his hands up!

With a wild scream of rage, the ghost swept through them like a mist. At the top of the stairs, he gave his famous, horrible laugh.

Then a door opened, and Mrs Otis came out in a light blue dressing-gown. "I am afraid you are not well," she said, "and I have brought you a bottle of Doctor Dobell's medicine. If it is indigestion, you will find it excellent."

The ghost glared at her in fury and vanished with a deep groan.

For days he was ill. But at last he made a plan. He would visit Washington, who kept cleaning his famous stain, and stab himself three times in the throat to low music. And as for the twins, he would teach them a lesson.

At midnight, in a storm, he set off with a rusty dagger and an evil smile. He reached Washington's corridor, laughed to himself, and turned the corner.

Then, with a cry of terror, he fell back and hid his face in his long, bony hands. Right in front of him stood a horrible ghost! Its head was bald and shining, and its fat white face wore a terrible grin. Red light streamed from its eyes, and its mouth was a well of fire.

Book club

PART 2 · A VERY RUDE FAMILY

1. How did Mr and Mrs Otis each try to "help" the ghost?

2. What strange thing kept happening to the blood-stain?

3. How was Virginia different from the rest of her family?

4. Why do you think the Otis family are not afraid at all?

5. So far, are you on the ghost's side or the family's? Why?

6. Who, or what, do you think the second ghost really is?

PART 3 OF 4

Poor, poor ghost

PART 3 · POOR, POOR GHOST

Never having seen a ghost before, Sir Simon was terribly frightened. He ran back to his room and hid.

At dawn his courage returned. He went back and took the other ghost in his arms, and its head fell off! It was only a bed-curtain, a broom, a kitchen knife and a hollow turnip, with a sign:

YE OTIS GHOSTE. Ye Onlie True and Originale Spook. Beware of Ye Imitationes.

He had been tricked!

After that, the twins tripped him with strings across the corridors and jumped out of dark corners shouting "BOO!" At last he gave up in despair.

One autumn afternoon, Virginia came home from riding with the young Duke of Cheshire.

In the Tapestry Chamber, she saw the ghost sitting sadly by the window. He looked so lonely that she felt sorry for him.

"I am so sorry for you," she said. "But my brothers are going back to school tomorrow, and then, if you behave yourself, no one will annoy you."

"It is absurd asking me to behave myself," he answered. "I must rattle my chains, and walk about at night. It is my only reason for existing."

"It is no reason at all for existing, and you know you have been very wicked. Mrs Umney told us that you killed your wife."

"Well, I quite admit it," said the ghost, "but it was a purely family matter. And it was not very nice of her brothers to starve me to death."

PART 3 · POOR, POOR GHOST

"Starve you to death? Oh, Mr Ghost, are you hungry? I have a sandwich."

"No, thank you. I never eat anything now. But I am so lonely and so unhappy. I have not slept for three hundred years."

Virginia knelt beside him. "Poor, poor ghost," she whispered. "Have you no place where you can sleep?"

"Far away beyond the pine woods," he answered dreamily, "there is a little garden. There the grass grows long and deep, and the nightingale sings all night long."

"You mean the Garden of Death," she whispered.

"Yes. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. You can help me, for love is stronger than death. Have you ever read the old prophecy on the library window?"

"Oh, often," said Virginia.

When a golden girl can win Prayer from out the lips of sin, When the barren almond bears, And a little child gives away its tears, Then shall all the house be still And peace come to Canterville.

"It means," he said sadly, "that you must cry for my sins, because I have no tears, and pray for my soul, because I have no faith."

Virginia stood up, very pale. "I am not afraid," she said, "and I will ask the angel to have mercy on you."

He took her hand in his icy fingers, and the wall in front of them faded away like a mist.

"Quick, quick," cried the ghost, "or it will be too late."

The wall closed behind them, and the Tapestry Chamber was empty.

Book club

PART 3 · POOR, POOR GHOST

1. What was the "horrible ghost" really made of?

2. What tricks did the twins play on the ghost?

3. Why couldn't the ghost sleep, and where did he want to go?

4. Virginia is kind to a man who killed his wife. Is she right to be?

5. Can someone who did something terrible ever deserve peace? Why or why not?

6. Where has Virginia gone? Will she come back?

PART 4 OF 4

Love is stronger than death

PART 4 · LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH

When the bell rang for tea, Virginia did not come down. By six o'clock there was still no sign of her, and the whole family began to search the house, the gardens and the park. Mr Otis rode out to look for her, and the young Duke galloped after him on his pony.

"I'm awfully sorry, Mr Otis," said the boy, "but I can't eat any dinner as long as Virginia is lost."

They rode all over the country, and came home at eleven o'clock, almost heart-broken. Not the smallest trace of Virginia had been found.

Just as they were going to bed, the clock began to strike midnight. As the last stroke sounded, they heard a crash and a sudden cry.

Thunder shook the house, strange music floated through the air, and a panel at the top of the stairs flew open. Out stepped Virginia, very pale, with a little box in her hand.

"Papa," said Virginia quietly, "I have been with the ghost. He is dead, and you must come and see him. He had been very wicked, but he was really sorry for all that he had done, and he gave me this box of beautiful jewels before he died."

She led them down a narrow secret passage to a little low room. Chained to an iron ring in the wall was a skeleton, stretched out on the stone floor. Its long fingers were reaching for an old plate and a jug, placed just out of its reach. Virginia knelt down beside it and began to pray.

PART 4 · LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH

"Hallo!" cried one of the twins, looking out of the window. "The old dead almond tree has flowers on it! I can see them in the moonlight."

"God has forgiven him," said Virginia, and a beautiful light seemed to shine in her face.

Four days later, at night, Sir Simon was buried in the churchyard, under the old yew tree. Virginia laid a cross of white and pink almond flowers on the coffin. As she did, the moon came out from behind a cloud, and a nightingale began to sing.

Lord Canterville insisted that the jewels belonged to Virginia. And some years later, she married her young Duke.

After their honeymoon, they visited Sir Simon's grave.

"Virginia," said the Duke, taking her hand, "a wife should have no secrets from her husband. You have never told me what happened to you when you were locked up with the ghost."

"Please don't ask me, Cecil. I cannot tell you. Poor Sir Simon! I owe him a great deal. Yes, don't laugh, Cecil, I really do. He made me see what Life is, and what Death means, and why Love is stronger than both."

The Duke kissed his wife lovingly.

"You can have your secret as long as I have your heart," he said.

"You have always had that, Cecil."

"And you will tell our children some day, won't you?"

Virginia blushed.

Book club

PART 4 · LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH

1. Where did the family and the young Duke look for Virginia?

2. What did the family find in the secret room?

3. What happened to the almond tree, and what did Virginia say it meant?

4. Why do you think Virginia won't tell anyone what happened?

5. Sir Simon starved to death, chained to a wall. Does that change how you feel about him?

Big questions

1

Is this a ghost story, a comedy, or a love story? Can it be all three?

2

Who really frightened whom in this story: the ghost or the family?

3

Wilde laughs at both the English and the Americans. Who comes out of it better?

4

Was Sir Simon a villain, a victim, or both? Did he deserve his peace?

5

Virginia says Love is stronger than Life and Death. What do you think she learned?

6

Is kindness ever more powerful than fear? When have you seen that in real life?

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

Part 1 · 1 Everyone said the house was haunted. Even the owner, Lord Canterville, warned him about the ghost.

Part 1 · 2 It was the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville, murdered on that spot by her husband, Sir Simon, in 1575, and it could not be removed.

Part 1 · 3 It came back every morning, even though Mr Otis locked the library at night.

Part 2 · 1 Mr Otis gave him oil for his noisy chains; Mrs Otis gave him medicine for indigestion.

Part 2 · 2 It came back every morning and kept changing colour: dull red, bright red, purple, even emerald-green.

Part 2 · 3 She didn't laugh at the stain. It upset her, and she nearly cried when it was green.

Part 3 · 1 A white bed-curtain, a broom, a kitchen knife and a hollow turnip, with a sign: "Ye Otis Ghoste".

Part 3 · 2 They stretched strings across the corridors for him to trip over, and jumped out of dark corners shouting "BOO!"

Part 3 · 3 He had not slept for three hundred years. He wanted to rest in the Garden of Death.

Part 4 · 1 The family searched the house, the gardens and the park; Mr Otis and the Duke rode all over the country.

Part 4 · 2 A skeleton chained to an iron ring, reaching for a plate and a jug just out of reach.

Part 4 · 3 The old dead almond tree had flowers on it. Virginia said it meant God had forgiven Sir Simon.