Short histories; Oscar Wilde

OSCAR WILDE SHORT STORIES
LORD ARTHUR SAVILE'S CRIME
Chapter 1
It was lady Windemere's last reception, every one was there. All the beautiful pepole were theree. Lady
Windemere's asked his palm reader to read some hands. When he read Lord Arthur Savile's hand he went pale
and his hands clammy. He said Lord would lose a distant relative. He said Lord Arthur was a charming man.
Obviously it wasn't all the truth. Later Lord Arthur asked Mr. Podgers to be told all the truth , all the horrible
truth. Mr. Podgers accepted for an amount of money.
Chapter 2.
Lord Arthur was told that he would comit a murder. He was horrified and walked all night without knowing
what to do, he heard blows and curses. He went home in the morning.
Chapter 3.
The next day had a diferent view of what was to happen. He took what Mr. Podgers said as a duty to be able
to marry Sybil. He thought that he could not marry Sybil until he had no pressure having to comit a murder; if
not it was a betrayal. The sooner the murder was committed, the better it would be for both of them. So he
made a list of his possible victims. He decided that it would be Lady Clementina , an old lady, his second
cousin on his mother's side. He prepared her a pill filled with poison. He gave it to her as an american pill
against indigestion so it must be taken when he had an attack.
Lord Arthur told Sybil to postpone his marriage, and she felt very sad but he trusted him. He left for Venice.
Chapter 4.
He spent 2 weeks in Venice with his brother and then his brother convinced him to go down the coast to
Ravenna. He became anxious about Lady Clementina and he took a train to Venice. He found a telegram that
said that she had died he felt good. He had to go back to London because she had left him his house and
furniture , it wasn't a fortune but that touched Lord Arthur. Arthur planned his marriage for the 17Th of June.
He , Sybil , and the lawyer went to the house; the surprise was when Sybil found the box where there was the
pill and it was still there. Arthur discovered that Lady Celementina had died a natural death.
Chapter 5.
Mr Merton and Sybil's mother were really upset at the second postponement of the marriage and did
everything to end the relationship, but they couldn't change her mind.
Lord Arthur Savile thought that dynamite was the proper thing to try in his next attempt, he decided to blow
up his uncle , the Dean of Chinchester who loved clocks. He decided to send him an explosive clock and for
that asked for his friend Count Rouvaloff, a young Russian of revolutionary tendencies to find a place where
he could get the clock. He went there and they gave him the clock without any charge and it was supposed to
explode on Friday at noon but nothing happened at all. A few days later they received a letter from the
Deanery , it was his cousin, who told about the clock , they thougth it was a toy , a present from someone
which liked them very much.
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Lord Arthur was in despair, he went out , he was sad, he had tried to do his duty but Fate wasn't kind to him.
We sat by the river and then saw Mr. Podegs, and he had a thought, he killed him , he drowned in the river.
The following days he was afraid of failure, he saw Mr. Podgers everywhere, finally came the news that
talked about a suicide, Mr. Podger's suicide. Then he felt relieved , he was happy then he could marry Sybil.
Chapter 6
They got married , they were a handsome couple and happy. Two little children were born. Lady Windemere
went there to visit them some time. Once she was talking to Sybil about love and also talked about Mr.
Podgers she liked him although he was an impostor and didn't tell the truth at all. When Arthur was asked if
he trusted in palm readers he said yes and said he owe them his marriage and his happiness. Lady Windemere
dind't understand anything and said it was nonsense.
THE MODEL MILLIONAIRE.
Hughie Erskine was an enchanting, useless young man with a perfect profile and no profession and he was in
love. The girl he loved was Laura Merton and was the daugther of a retired Colonel who would not hear of
any plans for marriage unless Hughie had 10,000 . One day he entered his friend's (trevor) studio , he was an
artist. He was painting a beggar which looked so piteous. Models ean a shilling an hour . Trevor had to go a
few minutes to talk to the framemaker.
The beggar rested for a moment and Hughie could not help pitying him and gave him a sovereign. Then he
left.
At night he saw trevor at the club. The beggar had been really interessed in Hughie, and Trevor told him all
about Hughie.
Trevor discovered Hughie that the old man was the richest man in Europe and actually he had paid Trevor to
be painted as a beggar, the fantasy of a millionaire. Hughie went blushed , he had been ridiculous but the next
morning he received a visit on behalf of Baron Hausberg ( the beggar ) and brought a letter where there was a
cheque for 10,000 that said : A wedding present to Hugh Erskine and Laura Merton, from an old beggar.
They got married, both Trevor and The Baron where invited and made a speech. Milionaire Models ¡
THE CANTERVILLE GHOST.
Chapter 1
The Otis family wanted the country estate called Carterville Chase, the owner Lord Canterville worn him
about the hauting. A ghost (1584)was living there and told him some incidents that had happened there. But
they didn't feel frightened , they were Americans and they didn't believe in ghosts. Mrs Umney was the
housekeeper gave them welcome. They went to the library and theys saw a boold stain on the floor. Mrs
Umney told them it was the blood of Eleanore de Canterville, sir simon de Canterville's wife who had been
killed by him in 1575. They decided to remove the spot, and went away easlily. A stroke was heard in the
house ans mrs. Umney was terrorised because it would happen terrible things. Mrs Otis and his wife smiled at
the old lady's warnings.
Chapter 2.
The stain reappeared the they afther it was removed , Otis family was intrigued and amused . The existence of
the ghost was proved that night when he walked along the corridor after midnight and sounded lika metal
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clanking. Mr. Otis didn't scare, he jus gave him a lubricator to lessen the noise. The ghost threw the bottle
against the floor and went back groaning and on this attempt to scare the twins the almost got hit with a
pillow. He felt very bad, he had never happened this to him, he had terrorised during his brilliant career and
now was insulted by some hateful modern Americans.
Chapter 3
The family discussed about the ghost, the twins had been very impolite.The only thing that generated any
attention was the continued renewal of the bloodstain on the library floor, and they were particularly
fascinated by the changes in the colour of the stain. Virgina found it not funny, actually they were her
paintings which stole the ghost. The second appearance of the Ghost was a failure too he tried to wear a large
suit of armour but it was to heavy for him and he had hurt his knees. The twins shot him with two pellets and
when he tried withi his demonic laugh Mrs Otis gave him a cure for his illness. He felt extremely weak for the
next few days. He planned another apearance , consisted on stab himself in Washington's room and then to
appear as a corpse in the twins room, groan in Virginia's room , he would touch mrs otis face, etc.. But his
plans were broken when he met another horrible , motionless ghost in front of him. First, he ran but then the
went back to talk to him and discovered that the twis were disguised as a ghost.
Chapter 4
The ghost was very weak and tired. It was his solemn duty to appear in the corridor at least once a week. He
took every possible precaution to keep from being seen or heard, walked as lightly as possible but the twins
didn't leave him in peace. He decided to visit them the following evening like the Headless Earl. He prepared
for nothing because when he approached the door's room a heavy buchet of water fell on him, and was
soaked, felt cold and ran as fast he could to his room . He had now lost all hope of ever scaring this rude
American family. He contented himself wiht patrolling the corridors in slippers and for fear of catching a cold
he wore a thick red scarf. The final insult he received aws at the hall , he was surrounded on all sides by his
enemies. It was generally assumed that the Ghost had permanently left the mansion.
Chapter 5
Virginia found the ghost in his room very sad and she felt sorry for him . He knew he had been very wicked
but he admitted it, he told her it had been a purely family matter . His wife's brothers straved him to death.
The ghost needed a little girl ,beautiful and full of love to cry for his sins for him becuase he had no tears and
pray with him for his soul because he had no faithe and then the Angel of Death would forgive him and take
him at peace. Virgina said she was not afraid to bring him to the Angel of the Death and went there.
Chapter 6
Virginia had desappeared , the whole family looked for her, the Minister sent telegrams to all the police
inspectors in the county , and he went whith Cecil ( The Duke of Cheshire ) they were so worried. At the
stroke of twelve appeared Virginia holding a box in her hands, and the family sorrounded her. At first, they
thought it was a trick but she told them that she had been with the ghost now he was at peace, they entered a
room and saw the skeleton stretched out at full length on the floor and it seemed to be trying to reach an old
jug and bowl.
Virginia knelt beside the skeleton and prayed. The twins saw the almod tree blossomed.
Chapter 7
Fout days later a funeral was celebrated at 11 o'clock, Lord Canterville was the chief mourner . The coffin was
buried in the Garden of Death. The minister wanted to tald to Lord Canterville before going back to Wales
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about the jewels the ghost had given to Virginia. The Lord told himt hat there Virginia's and conviced the
Minister to permit his daughter to retain the Ghost's present.
When the yound Duchess of Cheshire was presented to the Queen on The occasion of her marriage, her jewels
wre the subject of uniiversal admiration. They got married as soon as he legally became an adult. Once at the
Canterville Chase the Duke asked her for the secret she had never told : what happened with the Ghost. She
said she couldn't tell , she made her see what life is, what Death means, and why love is stronger than both.
He let her to keep her secret.
OSCAR WILDE SHORT STORIES (questions)
LORD ARTHUR SAVILE'S CRIME
Chapter 1
• Why was Lady Gladys Windermere's last reception before Easter so successful?
Because all the beautiful society was there and there were more people at Bentinck than usual : six cabinet
ministers were there , princesses, elegant ladies talking wih radicials,
• What did Lady Windermere say she planned to do the following year? Why?
She planned to sped a year in a balloon because she had been told by the palm reader that she would be in
great danger both on land and at sea.
• Why did most of the guests agree that palm−reading should only be practised in private?
Because he was very indiscreet, many people seemed afraid to approach the funny little palm reader this was
expecially true after he told Lady Fermor in front of every one that she didn't like music but she loved
musicians.
• What happened when Mr Podgers first looked at Lord Arthur's hand?
When Mr. Podgers sau Lord Arthur's had , he went curiously pale and said nothing, his body shook as if he
had been given an electric shock. Sweat begat to appeaar on his forehead, and his fat fingers became cold and
clammy.
• Whose funeral did Lady Windermere mention?
A dinstant relative.
6. What did Mr Podgers give to Lord Arthur? Why?
He gave him a card with his adress on it to send the cheque. Lord Arthur had to pay to know all the truth.
Chapter 2
1. Why was the beggar frightened of Lord Arthur?
A beggar who approached him to ask for money to ask for money became frightened when he recognised
misery greater than his own in Lord Arthur's eyes.
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2. How did Lord Arthur react when he read the sign on the wall?
He froze and blushed.
Chapter 3
1. Why did Lord Arthur decide to postpone his marriage to Sybil Merton?
Because he felt that to marry her, with the destiny of murder hanging over his head , would be a betrayal and
his wifere would never have to blush for him.
2. Why didn't Lord Arthur think it was a sin to murder someone?
He took it as a duty to murder someon before he could marry her and there was no alternative life meant to
him action, not thought.
3. How did Lord Arthur decide to murder his victim and why?
He made a list of relatives on a sheet of paper, after ca reful consideration, he decided in favour of Lady
Clementina Beauchamp. She was a dear old lady , she was hi second cousin on his mother side, there was no
possibility of gaining any vulgar monetary advantag b her deathm. He had been always very fond of her.
4. Why didn't Lord Arthur want Lady Clementina to take the capsule at once?
Because he told her to wait until she had an attack then she would be amazed at the result.
Chapter 4
1. Why was Lord Arthur unhappy when he was in Venice?
Because he was worried , he was expecting to see a notice of Lady Clementin'as death , but every day he was
disappointed and he began to be afraid that she had had an accident.
2. What was ironic about Lady Clementina's will?
A few days before she died , shea had made her will and she had left Lord Arthur her little house in Curzon
street, as well as all her furniture, personal effects and pictures. Lord Arthur was touched.
3. What did Lord Arthur realise when Sybil found the capsule inside the box?
He discovered that Lady Clementina had died a natural death.
Chapter 5
1. How did Lord Arthur choose to murder his second victim? Why was this a suitable method to use on the
Dean of Chichester?
He reviewed his list of friends and relatives again. After careful consideration, he decided to blow up his
uncle, the Dean of Chinchester who loved clocks. His uncle's hobby offered him an excellent oportunity to
carry out his plan : an explosive machine.
2. How did Lord Arthur find what he wanted, and how much did it cost?
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He thought of his friend Count Rouvaloff, a young Russian of revolutionary tendencies who told him where to
find the explosive clock. He went there and it didn't cost him anything.
3. After Lord Arthur heard that the Dean is still alive, the author writes, "Since life had no pleasure for him,
death had no terror". Explain what this means.
He was in despair and always worried he wasn't happy and event thought of suicide of a way of killing
someone he wasn't afraid to die.
4. Why did Lord Arthur go twice to Mr Podgers' house after he pushed him into the river? What happened on
both occasions?
Because he thought that he had failed again. The two occasions he couldn't ring the bell, he ws afraid of it.
Chapter 6
1. What did Lady Windermere tell Sybil about Mr Podgers?
She told her he was an impostor.
2. Did Lord Arthur regret murdering Mr Podgers? Explain your answer.
No, he was sure of it, he said firmly that he had brought him happiness.
THE MODEL MILLIONAIRE
1. Why couldn't Hughie Erskine marry Laura Merton?
Because her father would not hear of any plans for marriage unless Hughie had 10,000 2. What did Alan like
about Hughie?
Because he was beutifult and also liked him for his bright personality, and his generous, impulsive nature.
3. What was the approximate height of Alan's picture of the beggar?
It was a wonderfur life size picture of a beggar man.
4. Why did Hughie have to walk home after spending the day with Laura?
Because he could not help blushing at what he had done and he had to the Palette Club at night .
5. Why did Hughie feel embarrassed after talking to Alan in the Palette Club?
Because he was told that that beggar was a millionaire.
6. What is the difference between a millionaire model and a model millionaire?
A millonarie model , is a model who is a millionaire and a model millionarie is a good millionare and every
millionaire should be like him.
THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
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Chapter 1
1. Why did Hiram B. Otis receive negative reactions after he decided to buy Canterville Chase?
Because the house was haunted.
2. Where was Canterville Chase and how did people get there?
it was in England , the nearest train station to Canterville Chase was in Ascot, seven miles away from the
house. Then they took a carriage.
3. What event happened on the spot where Mrs Otis noticed the bloodstain?
It was the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville. She was murdered by her husband, Sir Simon the
Canterville, in 1575.
4. Why do you think the Otis family promised Mrs Umney a higher salary?
Because she was really scared and she said that she would pray for everyone in the house.
Chapter 2
1. Why did Mr Otis close and lock the library before going to bed?
Because the bloodstain reappeared every morning on the floor of the library to see if it was the ghost.
2. What was the noise which awakened Mr Otis?
A clanking noise that came from the Ghost's chains.
3. Was Mr Otis scared at seeing the Ghost? Explain your answer.
NO , he didn't make a move he only have the Ghos a Lubricartor to put some oil on his chains to lessen the
noise that had awoke him.
4. What was the connection between Tammany Rising Sun Lubricator and Mr Otis' sleep?
If the Ghost put the Lubricator he wouldn't do any noise anymore and then Mr. Otis could sleep.
5. Why did the Ghost throw the bottle violently against the floor?
Because he was indignated , he hadn't scared anyone.
6. Why did the Ghost want to take revenge?
Because he had terrorised during his brilliant career and now he had been insultated.
Chapter 3
1. Who wasn't amused by the changing of the bloodstain colour? How did she react?
Virginia was alwas upset and almost cried the morning that it was emerald green.
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2. What did the Ghost see near Washington's room? Describe it.
He saw a hoorrible, motionless ghost in front of him, red light shone from its eyes and it had a demonic smile
frozen on tits face, and trere was fire inside its mouth.
3. Why did the Ghost look for the second ghost again at dawn?
Because he thout two ghosts would be better than one.
CHapter 4
1. What did the twins do to the Ghost when he appeared as the Headless Earl?
They prepared the door with a bucket of water that fell on him.
2. What did Mr Otis write to Lord Canterville?
He informed him of the disappearance of the ghost.
Chapter 5
1. Why didn't Virginia run to her room when she saw the Ghost in the Tapestry Chamber?
Because she felt sorry for him.
2. How had the Ghost made the bloodstain reappear?
He had stolen Virginia's paintings because he couldn't find real blood.
3. What did the Ghost want Virginia to help him to do?
He wanted her to ast the Angel of the Death to be forgiven, he hadt to cry for his sins, pray for his soul.
4. Whose voices did Virginia hear when she was helping the Ghost? What did they want to stop her doing?
She heard the voices of the carvings , they were evil voices and told her to stop and go back.
Chapter 6
1. How long was Virginia missing before she was found?
She was missing from afternoon tea time until midnight.
2. Did the Ghost apologise for his actions before he died? What did he say?
Yes, he had been very wicked but hewas very sorry about everything that he had done.
3. What did the blossoming of the almond tree mean?
Meant that God had forgiven the ghost
Chapter 7
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1. Why didn't Lord Canterville accept the jewels?
Because he thought that the ghost may come again to torment him and to thank Virginia.
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