1. Why do you think Wilde chose Virginia to be the one who puts Sir Simon to rest?

2. What does the subtitle "A Hylo-Idealistic Romance" signify?

3. Who are the most compelling characters in the story? How does this choice enhance the story's overall meaning?

4. In what ways does Mrs. Otis embody the "ugly American" stereotype?

5. What do you think Wilde implies by the statement, "In many respects, [Mrs. Otis] was quite English, and was an excellent example of the fact that we have really everything in common with America nowadays?"

6. What elements make "The Canterville Ghost" a parody? What aspects classify it as a satire? What does Wilde aim to accomplish through parody and satire?

7. Imagine a British family moving into a haunted house in the United States; what type of house in the U.S. would be fitting for such a haunting? How do you think the British would react to a haunting?