CBSE Class 11 English The Canterville Ghost Notes

CLASS XI

SECTION E

Long Reading Text- Novel - 15 Marks

THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Characters

1. Mr. Hiram B-Otis : the American Minister he is new owner of the Chase.

2. Mrs. Lucretia Otis a healthy middle aged woman.

3. Washington Otis : Mr. and Mrs. Otis's eldest son.

4. Miss Virginia E Otis : a little girl fo fifteen.

5. The Twins Mr. and Mrs. Otis's youngest sons, called The Stars and Stripes

6. Lord Canterville : the former owner of conterville chase

7. Mrs. Umney : the house keeper of Lord Conterville.

8. Duke of Cheshire : a young friend of family.

9. The Ghost Sir Simon de Canterrville's guilty spirit

Summary

Mr. Hiram B. Otis. an American Minister wished to purchase conterville chase though his friends warned his against buying the haunted house soon after moving into the conterville chase, Mrs. Otis noticed a blood-stain on the floor near the fire place. However, the Otis reiterated that they were not afraid of the ghosts. The next morning the blood stain was found again. The family decided to go out for a drive to distract their minds. They avoided any mention of super natural in their conversation. Even when the ghost appeared before the Otis, he was taken a back at the unexpected reactions of members of the Olis family. The ghost got furious and decided to take revenge. The Otis decided to take revenge. The Otis family was amused on noticing that the blood stain kept changing colour. Only person

who did not joke was little Virginia who felt depressed to see that after the second encounter with the family, the Ghost was exasperated and fled to this room, injured and in pain. All efforts of the ghost to scare the family were wasted. The ghost decided to retire and take a break. The Otis twins still played their tricks on him. This was when he decided to teach a lesson to the twins, giving them the fright of their lives. The ghost become dejected and gove up all hope of frightening the Otis family. The ghost had become dejected and gave up all hope of frightening the Otis family. The ghost had become an invalid and made no appearance.

However, he was excited to discover his distant connection with Duke of Cheshire. In order to show his relation he planned to appear before Virginia's lover but his fear of the twins forbade him to otis out. On meeting the ghost Virginia broke the news to him about the twins going back. The ghost confided in Virginia about his wife being careless in repair work and horraible at cooking. The ghost pleaded before Virginia to weap and pray for him so that the angle of death would show mercy on him. Virginia agreed to help and pray for the ghost.

Virginia's consequent disappearance became a cause of concern and worry for the Otis fanily. Duke of Cheshire accompained Mr. Otis in his search for Virginia. Mr. Otis was touched by the Duke's concern for his daughter. At midnight, Virginia appeared mysteriously and to everyone's surprise said that she had been with the said ghost. She told them that ghost was dead. Four days later, a funeral procession was held Virginia's eyes were full of tears. She was told to keep the box of jewels gifted to her by the ghost. Following her marriage with the Duke of Cheshire and their honeymoon, Virginia visited the grave and strewed lovely roses on it. She told her husband that Sir Simon made her see "what life is and what death signifieds and why love is stronger than both."

Q. 12 : Answer the following in about 150 words (08 Marks)

Chapter 1 :
Q. Do you consider this as a ghoststory or is it about the courage and steadfast beliefs of people like the otis family?

Chapter 2 :
Q. Narrate two incidents in which the Canterville Ghost was successsful in frightening the victims.

Chapter 3 :
Q : The blood stain in the Conterville Chase kept on changing colours. How did this change the belief of the Otis Family?

Chapter 4:
Q : Narrate the elaborate preparation made by the ghost in his bid to tame the twins.

Chapter 5 :
Q : Trace the shift of focus to theme of solvation and of mans inherant desire to rest in the garden of Death.

Chapter 6 :
Q : Virginia's disappearance brings her to forefront. Explain

Chapter 7 :
Q : Why do you think Sir Simon's funeral was a stately traditional one? Give reasons.

Q. 13 : Answer the following in about 130 words (07 Marks)

Chapter 1 :
Q. Persistent blood stains fail to move the Otis family. Do you think they are foolish, highly modern or enviable? Justify giving reasons.

Chapter 2 :
Q. Why do you think the family members try avoid talking of the ghost?

Chapter 3 :
Q : The ghost desired to befriend another ghost. Give reasons?

Chapter 4:
Q : The twins left no stone unturned to trouble the ghost. What light does this statement throw on their character?

Chapter 5 :
Q : Virginia was the only member of the Otis family who noticed the forlorn and depresed ghost. What do we know about her character from this observation?

Chapter 6 :
Q : Interpret the action of the ghost when he gifted Virginia a box of his family jewels.

Chapter 7 :
Q : There is a noticeable difference in the attitudes of Mr. Otis and Lord Canterville regarding the jewels the ghost to Virginia. Justify the statement throwing light on the characters of both of them.

Chapter 8 :
Q : Why do you think Sir Simon's funeral was a stately traditional one? Give reasons.

Chapter 9 :
Q : Why do you think Sir Simon's funeral was a stately traditional one? Give reasons.

UP Flom Slavery
By Booker T. Washington 

Booker T. Washington was born on a plantation in Franklin Country, Virginia in 1858 or 1859 in a poor slave family. When the blacks got freedom after civil war, all rejoiced Booker showed keen interest in getting education and with the efforts of his mother, he could join a day school. From there, he went to Hampton Normal School in Virginia and worked there as a Janitor. With the support and rdeals of his teachers he learnt dignity of labour. He was placed on the honour roll of commencement speakers. Soon he started a reading room and library and started coaching students for joining the hampton school. Booker was assigned a job of opening a night school for poor children who worked for ten hours and went to night school for two hours. The Students proved to he very enthusistic that Booker called them 'The Plucky Class'.

Booker was recommeded by General Amstrong to take change of a normal school for colure people in the little town of Tuskegee. He managed to find a deserted shanty near the methodist church to begin the school. He as worried to find that the coloured people were poor and lived in untrygienic conditions but were not ready to change. Mr. George W. Campbell and Mr. Lewis Adam co-operated with and agreed to Booker's educational plan and understood his problems. Main Olive Davidson a teacher at Mississippi joined his school and impressed Booker with her dedication and educational ideas. With the loan from general Marshall, he was able to acquires a big house at old plantation. He shifted the school there. Miss Dauidson organised festivals and suppls to earn money for paying the loan. In order to raise money and teach agriculture to his students he increased cultivation and shool got his own horses, oxen, dogs and calves. Booker wised to teach dignity of labour. the studetns not only constructed 42 building but also passed the skill to next generation. The learnt the art of making bricks and sold them. After great hard work, Tuskegee was able to provide well cooked food, tablees with neat tables cloths, meals on time. This progress of the school attracted eminnet people like general J. F. B. Marshall, Miss Mary. F. Mackie and General Armstrong of Hampton Institute. The number of students increased manifold from the time school started facility of boarding. He communicated with the students, directly, frankly and encouraged them to write to him directly on matters concerning life at school.

Booker collected a lot of money through a tour with a band of singers to construct a larger building to accommodate more students. Later, he opnened a night school for the poor students who worked for ten hours to pay the expenses of their eduction.
In 1995 Booker married Miss Oliva damidson, who died in 1889 learning two sons named Booker Tailiferro and Earnest Davidson.

After his speech in North he was intimated by Educational Association and at an international meetings of christian workers at Atlanta. Booker was officially selected to deliver the opening day address for the building constructed showing the progress of the negros since freedom. Booker was introduced as ' The represntative of Negro enterprise and Negro civilization. Booker told the whites that they must make efforts to turn the negroes into stimulating and most useful intelligent citizens. Overnight Booker had become a sensation and a much sought out public figure. Booker sent a copy of his speech to the President of United States. Booker was asked to write a report about the coloured Ministers of South which he gave with exact facts and annoyed the Negro ministry and his Negro friends. The clergymen backed him and there was great improvement.

Booker received an invitation from Dr. Gilmon to he none of the judges of award in the department education at Atlanat. His Atlanta exposition brought a great change in the relations between the whites and the blacks. He convassed to do away with cheating in the elections and citizens should vote and
take interest in the governement. Booker 'marked a new epoch in the history of the world and was described as a whirlwind and received thunderous ovation and great cheering Chicogo Times herald presesnted the picture of a Negro choosing slavery over extinction. At Robert yold show Movement in Bosters, he concluded his address by saying that it was for the white Americans to decide that whether a race that is willing to die for its country should not given the highest opportunity to live for its own country.

In 1893, Booker married for the third times, Miss Margaret James Murray, the Lady Principal of Tuskegce school. She had a daugther Portia, Son Booker Taliaferro and ernest Davidson Washington.

Booker had to go to a tour of Europe on the request of his friends. General Armstrong spent about two months at Tuskegee before his death and insisted that Booker should elevate not only the blacks of the south but also the poor whites. Harvard University conferred an honorary degree on him. He received the Master of Arts degree. On this occasion Booker in his speech stressed that now it is upto America to bring the strong, wealthy and learned into hopeful touch with the poorest, most ignorant and humblest. A Boston newspaper said that 'Horvard University has honoured itself by giving this degree to Booker. He was able to persuade the president Mckinley, to visit Turkegee on 16th December. He wa 

full of praise for this unique experiment in education system and appreciated Booker's efforts is helping the students, to lead a life of honour and diginity by being self reliant.

Booker's students build 66 buildings. There were 110 offices, instructors and a constant population of about 1700 people. He organised Negro Conferences and 'Workers Conferences'.

Question No. 12

1. Answer the following question in about 150 words (8 Markes)

Chapter -1
1. Why is Washington not bitter and anguished despite being a slave?
2. How did the Blacks celebrate their freedom?
3. Give the character sketch of Washington's mother

Chapter 2
1. How did Booker's mother help him in getting over his complexes? What did she play in his life?
2. Why did Booker not wish to claim any previlege on account his skin? What does this reflect about him?
3. Describe Booker's life at the furnance.

Chapter -3
1. Why was sweeping of the 'recitation room' like a 'College Examination'.
2. How did Samual Armstrong influence Booker?

Chapter - 4
1. Describe Booker's second visit to Malde? How was it significant for Booker?
2. Who was General Marshall? How did he help Booker?

Chapter - 5
1. The Negroes had seen deprivation, poverty so they become unrecoverable in their demands. Give reasons to prove that they were deserving/undeserving for political offices
2. Why according to Booker, should a man be educated before exercising his franchise?

Chapter - 6
1. Booker had become a distingunished and powerful speaker, yet he never reacted against the whites a championed the cause of the blacks publically why?
2. Describes Booker's experience of teaching red Indians at Hampton.

Chapter - 7
1. Why was Booker selected for Tuskegee school by Mr. Armstrong?
2. What qualities made Booker such a fascinating character?

Chapter - 8
1. Every set back made Booker look for a new door. What were the set backs and who were the people who helped him through?
2. Mention two most distinctive qualities of Broker that made him the role model for other.

Chapter - 9
1. How did the Tuskegee students celebrate Christmas and other festivals in a selfless and beautiful way?
2. How did the people around Tuskegee school contribute the erection of the new building?

Chapter -10
1. How did Booker improve the interaction of students with the community?
2. Why did Booker compare the students of Tuskergee school to the children of Israel?

Chapter -11
1. How did Booker prove that he was a friend and an advisee of the students, not their overseer?
2. Mention any two instances in which the Whites from the South went out of their way to show their appreciation for Booker.

Chapter-12
1. How did Booker face failure and rejection?
2. What proved to be the, greatest advantage for going door to door for collecting funds? Which character traits does this attitude point to?

Chapter -13
1. What important rule did Booker observe for his public speaking? How did contribute to his sucess as a public speaker?
2. Why did Booker feel nervous before his speeches? What were his feelings after delivering them?

Chapter -14
1. What personal characterstics of Booker come to the forefront during his speech for Atlanta Exposition?
2. How did President Cleveland react to Booker's sending his speech to him?

Chapter -15
1. Describe Booker's feelings and emotions that he experienced before and after a speech.
2. How was Tuskegee school managed during his absence?

Chapter - 16
1. Describe Booker's tour of Europe higlighting people he met and countries and places he visited.
2. What impressed Booker about the English people? What does it reveal about him?

Chapter -17
1. Why and how did Harvard University honour Booker?
2. Describe the growth of Tuskegee institute in the 20 years.

Question No. 13

Answer the following questions in about 130 words.

Chapter - 1
1. What was the single government that Booker wore? Why was it such a painful experience?
2. Describe Booker's early childhood, family and home, What does he do as a young boy on the plantation?

Chapter - 2
1. Describe any two instances that emphasize Booker's extreme thirst for eduction
2. Why was learning their native plantation an ordeal for Booker and his family?

Chapter - 3
1. Describe Booker's journey to Hampton.
2. Why did the Head teacher give him admission though she did not form a favourable impression of Booker intially?

Chapter - 4
1. How did his mother's death shatter Booker emotionally? What had been his deream related to her?
2. What was Booker's first lesson in 'Public Speaking? Who gave and why did it prove significant?

Chapter - 5
1. How was teaching at Washington D. C. different from teaching at Hampton?
2. Why was the period of reconstruction worse than slavery?

Chapter-6
1. Who were the Red Indians? Why did they consider themselves superior to the blacks?
2. What does Booker's enthusiasm to help the poor students reflect about him?

Chapter - 7
1. Why did Tuskegee seem an ideal place to set up a school?
2. What were the new challenges regarding finance that awaited Booker? How did he handle these problems?

Chapter - 8
1. Why did Booker consider 'mere book education' a waste? What kind of knowledge did he wish to impart to the students?
2. How did Booker motivate the students who didn't wish to do any manual work?

Chapter-9
1. How were 500 dollars raised? What was the contribution of the students in this venture?
2. How did Booker made efforts to interact with the community? What were the results?

Chapter - 10
1. How did brick-making become on important industry?
2. Describe how Booker's meeting with Mr. Warren Logon proved to be so fruitful.

Chapter-11
1. Why did the students undergo all the suffering yet never complained?
2. Mention any one example in which the Whites from the South went out of their way to show their appreciation for Booker.

Chapter-12
1. How did the state legislature of Alabama offer help and why did they increase their contribution later?
2. How was asking for donation for Tuskegee institute different tfrom begging?

Chapter-13
1. What were Booker's apprehensions before delivery his Atlanta address?
2. How did the night school prove to he an ideal testing ground of the students worth?

Chapter -14
1. What kind of reforms did Booker wish to bring into as far as the voting was concerned?
2. What suggestions did Booker offer in his speech to blot out sectional difference and racial animosities?

Chapter -15
1. Booker's speech was considered the 'beginning of moral revolution in America'. Give Reasons.
2. Give an example to prove Booker's organisational skills that were in evidence in his administration of the Tuskegee institute.

Chapter -16
1. Who was Booker's third wife? What tasks did she accomplish at Tuskegee institute?
2. Why was Booker impressed with the English people?

Chapter - 17
1. How did Booker keep himself busy in furthering the cause of Negro upliftment after the award?
2. What was Booker's distinction that he was chosen for conferring a honorary degree by Havard University?

General Questions
1. Give examples to prove that Booker was a fantastic teacher and educator.
2. Booker never lost the will to fight in the face of hardships and rejections and failures. Give two examples to illustrate this.
3. Success in measured by the obstacles we have to overcome to reach it and not what we have actually attained. Explain this statement with examples from the text.
4. Booker's contribution to uprooting slavery is significant. " Do your agree? Give reasons.
5. What is the overall "tone" of the autobiographical novel? Illustrate with example.
6. Discuss a few influences on Booker's personality.
7. "Booker could think of new solutions to the seemingly insurmountable problem. Give at least three examples to illustrate this.
8. Booker always stressed "dignity of labour" How did he impress it upon his students.
9. "The sweeping of the room was like my college examination" How and why? What were its impacts?
10. What was Emancipation Proclamation? Describe the Blacks reaction to the achievement of freedom.

Please refer to attached file for CBSE Class 11 English The Canterville Ghost