The Turn of the Screw Essay
Readers (critics) of The Turn of the Screw generally fall into one of two camps: the so-called “apparitionists” and the “non-apparitionists.” Meegan Kennedy explains the difference between the two:
“Apparitionist” critics read it “straight,” as a simple ghost story; they are supported by James's preface to the novella in his 1908 New York Edition of the text, and by his familiarity with psychical research. Others see the ghosts as figments of the governess’s imagination; in particular, her obsession with the sexualized spirits may represent a hysterical response to her repressed desire for her employer. This critical question is virtually undecidable, because James so strictly limited readers’ access to the events (we have only the governess’s word for the apparitions, which the children deny and Mrs. Grose cannot see), and because his characters communicate, if at all, in maddeningly broken and nonspecific phrases.
(Kennedy, Meegan. "Literature Annotations: The Turn of the Screw." Literature, Arts, and Medicine
Database. New York University, 2011. Web. 31Jan2011.)
Which way do you read the story: the ghosts are real or the ghosts are only hallucinations of the governess? Pick one of these two positions and defend it in a four paragraph essay. Clearly state your opinion in a thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph. In your body paragraphs, use topic sentences (TS) to structure each. Be certain to support your position using events from the novel (CDs). Restate your thesis and generally review your main points in your conclusion.
Rough Draft Due:
Final Draft Due:
Readers (critics) of The Turn of the Screw generally fall into one of two camps: the so-called “apparitionists” and the “non-apparitionists.” Meegan Kennedy explains the difference between the two:
“Apparitionist” critics read it “straight,” as a simple ghost story; they are supported by James's preface to the novella in his 1908 New York Edition of the text, and by his familiarity with psychical research. Others see the ghosts as figments of the governess’s imagination; in particular, her obsession with the sexualized spirits may represent a hysterical response to her repressed desire for her employer. This critical question is virtually undecidable, because James so strictly limited readers’ access to the events (we have only the governess’s word for the apparitions, which the children deny and Mrs. Grose cannot see), and because his characters communicate, if at all, in maddeningly broken and nonspecific phrases.
(Kennedy, Meegan. "Literature Annotations: The Turn of the Screw." Literature, Arts, and Medicine
Database. New York University, 2011. Web. 31Jan2011.)
Which way do you read the story: the ghosts are real or the ghosts are only hallucinations of the governess? Pick one of these two positions and defend it in a four paragraph essay. Clearly state your opinion in a thesis statement at the end of your introductory paragraph. In your body paragraphs, use topic sentences (TS) to structure each. Be certain to support your position using events from the novel (CDs). Restate your thesis and generally review your main points in your conclusion.
Rough Draft Due:
Final Draft Due:
