illustration of a ghost standing behid an iron fence with its arm raised against a large mansion

The Canterville Ghost

by Oscar Wilde

Start Free Trial

The Canterville Ghost Questions on Virginia Otis

The Canterville Ghost Study Tools

Ask a question Start an essay

The Canterville Ghost

The Otis family in "The Canterville Ghost" is a quintessentially American family residing in England, characterized by their practicality and skepticism of the supernatural. The family includes Mr....

8 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

Virginia Otis is a compassionate and brave young girl who plays a crucial role in the redemption of the ghost. The ghost, Sir Simon, is initially portrayed as a menacing and vengeful spirit but is...

9 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost" features the Canterville Ghost, Sir Simon, and the Otis family, including Mr. and Mrs. Otis, their daughter Virginia, and their sons Washington and the twins....

7 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

Mrs. Umney explains that the bloodstain in "The Canterville Ghost" is a permanent mark left by Lady Eleanor de Canterville, who was murdered by her husband, Sir Simon. Despite Mrs. Umney's warning...

2 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

The Otis family initially dismisses the ghost in "The Canterville Ghost" as a myth, but the persistent bloodstain, despite their efforts to remove it, begins to raise doubts about the ghost's...

2 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

In "The Canterville Ghost," Virginia encounters Sir Simon, the ghost, and learns about his past life and his remorse for his actions. Sir Simon was cursed to haunt Canterville Chase as punishment for...

2 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

Mr. and Mrs. Otis are practical, no-nonsense Americans who initially dismiss the existence of ghosts. They are characterized by their robust health and straightforward attitudes. Mrs. Otis's...

1 educator answer

The Canterville Ghost

Virginia was not lost in "The Canterville Ghost"; she voluntarily accompanied the ghost to help him find peace by weeping and praying for him. Her family, unaware of her actions, became frantic,...

1 educator answer

The Canterville Ghost

The ghost in "The Canterville Ghost" asks Virginia to pray for him to fulfill a prophecy that will allow him to enter the Garden of Death and finally rest after 300 years. The prophecy states that...

1 educator answer

The Canterville Ghost

Mr. Otis offered Virginia's jewels to Lord Canterville because he believed they rightfully belonged to the Canterville family, given his working-class background and the jewels' significant monetary...

1 educator answer

The Canterville Ghost

Virginia initially feels compassion and pity towards the Canterville ghost. Unlike her family, who mock and terrorize the ghost, Virginia listens to his tragic story and seeks to help him find peace....

2 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

The significance of Virginia and the jewel casket in "The Canterville Ghost" lies in their symbolic value. Virginia represents purity and compassion, which ultimately lead to the ghost's redemption....

3 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

Virginia Otis stands out from her family in "The Canterville Ghost" due to her compassion and kindness towards the ghost, unlike her family who tease and play tricks on him. She does not engage in...

1 educator answer

The Canterville Ghost

Virginia Otis helps the suffering ghost, Sir Simon, towards redemption in Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost." Unlike the rest of the Otis family, who often humiliate and prank the ghost, Virginia...

2 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

The family that moves into Canterville Chase consists of Mr. Hiram B. Otis, an American ambassador, his wife Lucretia, and their four children: Washington, Virginia, and twin boys known as the Stars...

1 educator answer

The Canterville Ghost

Virginia Otis is the only one to notice the depressed ghost due to her unique sensitivity and empathy, distinguishing her from her family, who either mock or ignore him. Her compassion allows her to...

2 educator answers

The Canterville Ghost

Mrs. Otis was lying on a sofa, out of her mind with terror and anxiety, when the twins returned to the house. As she lay there, having her head bathed in eau de cologne by an old housekeeper, she was...

1 educator answer