Professional Documents
Culture Documents
LEVEL 4
Summary
The Canterville Ghost
The Canterville Ghost in real life committed a terrible crime he killed his wife because she was plain and a bad housekeeper. He was punished for it by his wifes brothers, who locked him up in a room to starve to death. And yet, the story of the Canterville Ghost is largely a comedy. The ghost has successfully haunted Canterville Chase for hundreds of years, but the Otis family from America prove too much for him, with their practical solutions to all ghostly manifestations, and the terrible twins who torment him until all he dares to do is creep around the house as quietly as possible, instead of wailing and rattling his chains. Finally the ghost confesses his problems to the girl of the family, Virginia, and she helps him to find eternal rest.
Teachers notes
LEVEL 4
Discussion activities
Before reading
1 Research: Ask students to find information about life in Victorian England. Then, pretending to be ladies or gentlemen of the time, get them to describe a day in their lives.
2 of 3
Teachers notes
LEVEL 4
While reading
14 Discuss: (pages 26 32) Have students find similarities and differences between what they have learnt about the cultural and social life of British aristocracy in Victorian times and the description of Lady Windermeres party. 15 Write: (page 35) Have students write the letter Lord Arthur Saville sent to Sybil with the basket of spring flowers. 16 Group work: (pages 40 45) Ask students to work in groups and explain why each of these sentences is funny. a So youre taking a serious interest in politics? b I didnt know you felt so strongly about religion. c I live only for my art.
After reading
4
After reading
17 Read carefully: Ask students to read the text and find examples which explain why this story is a Study of Duty. 18 Discuss: Get the students to work in groups and discuss the following: Lord Arthur Savilles Crime has a happy ending. Are you surprised or annoyed at this? Give your opinion. Ask students to imagine the ending if Mr Podgers had not died.
While reading
6
7 8
While reading
21 Pair work: (pages 54 56) Get students to work in pairs and to make a list of the strange things that Lady Alroy did. 22 Role play: (page 56) Have students imagine the conversation between Lord Murchison and Lady Alroy when he was angry because she said that she had not met anyone in Cumnor Street.
After reading
10 Artwork: This story takes place in Canterville Chase. What other landscapes can be associated with ghosts? Ask students to find pictures of such places and describe the habits and appearance of the ghost that might live there. 11 Role play: Asks students to role play the conversation between Virginia and her children about the events at Canterville Chase.
After reading
23 Discuss: Have students get into groups and discuss whether Lord Murchison fell in love with Lady Alroy or with the mystery that surrounded her. And why did she appear so mysterious?
Vocabulary activities
For the Word List and vocabulary activities, go to www.penguinreaders.com.
3 of 3