Quotes - Essays

Question 1

Bruce Robbins.

“The corruption she…

Answer 1

…perceives has to do with the children’s knowledge of sexual relationships between their former governess and one of the servants”.

Question 2

Edmund Wilson.

“Observe that there…

Answer 2

…is never any evidence that anyone but the governess sees the ghosts”.

Question 3

Edmund Wilson.

“She believes the children do…

Answer 3

…but there is never any proof that they do”.

Question 4

Edmund Wilson.

“The valet appears out the window - it is ‘the…

Answer 4

…white face of damnation’ (But is the governess condemning the spirits to damnation or is she becoming damned herself).”

Question 5

Edmund Wilson.

“She has…

Answer 5

…literally frightened him to death”.

Question 6

Tzvetan Todorov.

“An event which cannot…

Answer 6

…explained by the laws of this same familiar world”.

Question 7

Tzvetan Todorov.

“The person who experiences the event must opt for one of two possible solutions:…

Answer 7

…either he is the victim of an illusion of the senses, of a product of the imagination - and laws of the world then remain as they are, or else the event has indeed taken place”.

Question 8

Bruce Robbins.

“In the New York Preface, James states his intention…

Answer 8

…not to specify the evil of the ghosts but to leave it to the readers imagination”.