Turn of the Screw Review

Literary Techniques of the Story

-frame story

-serial - 12 installments

-cliffhangers

-unreliable narrator

Governess background info:

-grew up in the country and poor

-youngest daughter of a Parson (Church worker) — religious

Mrs. Grose info:

-older than Governess

-cannot read

-below stairs housekeeper

What is the setting of the frame tale?

A mansion, story told by Douglas, people telling scary stories. Narrator is unknown, is unreliable. He has to get the story from a box that is locked up (builds tension).

Douglas

-the Governess was his sister’s governess after Bly

-he had a crush on her when he was college

Why is this story dreadful?

because it is a horror story involving 2 children

What rules was the Governess given by the uncle?

-under no circumstance may she contact the Uncle

-she’s in complete control

Governess’s initial opinion of Flora

-completely amazed and smitten by Flora’s perfection and beauty

What is Mile’s school situation?

Governess get a letter that Miles has been expelled from school, she dismisses it and puts it away because she thinks Miles is a good child. Governess thinks it is because he was an injury to others however never asks.

Previous Governess

-young and pretty (Uncle has a type)

-dead after she went home for holiday (could be from childbirth)

First Ghost Sighting

-man on a tower, seen by Governess when she was on a walk

-Peter Quint

Second Ghost Sighting

-outside a window

-Peter Quint

-Governess asks Mrs. Grose — Mrs. Grose and the Governess finish each other sentences

Peter Quint

-former valet for Uncle

-died when he slipped on ice outside a pub

-had a tight relationship with Miles

-had a relationship with the former Governess Miss Jessel (inappropriate)