"The Whistle" by M.R. James: A Detailed Work Analysis

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL
HERMILIO VALDIZÁN
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN
PROGRAMA DE SEGUNDA ESPECIALIDAD PROFESIONAL
MENCION: IDIOMA EXTRANJERO-INGLÉS
WORK
“The Whistle”
I. EXTERNAL ASPECT
1.1. AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:
Montague Rhodes James was born in 1862 in Wingham, Kent. The youngest
son of an Evangelical Cleric, he was educated at Eton and then King's
College Cambridge where he became one of the foremost scholars within his
chosen fields. At Cambridge his academic career progressed rapidly as he
became Fellow, Dean, Tutor and eventually Provost. James constructed
many of his earlier stories in order to entertain friends at Christmas
gatherings.
1895 saw magazine publication of James's first ghost stories; Lost Hearts and
Canon Alberic's Scrap-book. In 1904 Ghost Stories of the Antiquary appeared
- illustrated by James McBryde then of the Slade School of Art, close friend to
Montague. Tragically, McBryde would not to see publication, dying suddenly
after an operation. A further four collections of short stories were published over the next thirty years, the
last of which Collected Ghost Stories has never been out of print since. James introduced the anthology
Ghosts and Marvels in 1924 and edited Madam Crowl's Ghost in 1928. This collection consists of tales
by Le Fanu, a gifted author whom James had admired for many years. In 1918 James had became
Provost of Eton, he never married and it was here he died peacefully in his lodge in 1936.
Montague Rhodes James was born in 1862 in Goodnestone Parsonage, Kent, where his father was the
curate, and died in 1936. He developed a taste for old books from a precocious age and was fonder of
reading dusty volumes in the library than playing with the other children. He studied at Eton and then at
King's College, Cambridge, where he became assistant in Classical archaeology at the Fitzwilliam
museum. He was elected a Fellow of King's after writing his dissertation The Apocalypse of St. Peter,
and after that, he lectured in divinity, eventually becoming dean of the college in 1889. He was a
distinguished medievalist and wrote a large amount of reviews, translations, monographs, articles and
works on bibliography, palaeography, antiquarian issues, and often edited volumes for specialized
bibliographical and historical societies. He was a brilliant linguist and biblical scholar, and he was
exceptionally gifted, which, along with his unusually keen memory and hard work, enabled him to write
many pioneering studies. His translation of the Apocryphal New Testament in 1924 was one of these
studies. He was made provost of King's College in 1905 and was later the vice-chancellor of the
university from 1913 to 1915. His research often took him abroad, and he visited Cyprus, Denmark,
Bavaria, Austria and Sweden, where he set his story "Count Magnus", whom he based on the 17th
century count Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie.
Although he was a great scholar in his day, he is now most remembered for his ghost stories.
Fascinated by the supernatural, he was an admirer of the Irish mystery-writer John Sheridan LeFanu,
whose ghost stories he edited. James's stories were usually first published in magazines such as the
Cambridge Review, but some were written for special occasions. Wailing Well is one such story,
composed for the gathering of the Eton College boy scouts in 1927. His life was spent in studying the
past. Among other things, he catalogued the many manuscript collections in Cambridge, a task that took
forty years to complete. He never married and never had any children. The university, Eton and his books
were his life..
WORKS:
LITERARY WORKS/
SUMMARY
YEAR OF PUBLICATION
Thirteen ghost stories The thirteen ghost stories we find thirteen stories in which the
(1973)
phantasmagoric occupies the center of attention.
Ghost stories (1988)
James's ghosts are perfectly contemporary to the bourgeois reader of his
time, and to induce this sense of everyday life he uses a fine British humor
as well as colloquial expressions in the dialogues.
Supernatural stories (1991) When reviewing some ancient and mysterious manuscript it may happen
that, part of its content, a reflection of the terror and despair of its author,
begins to recreate.
Lost hearts (1997)
A book of stories where horror, drama and humor merge and give an
exquisite concoction of good and entertaining narrative.
The treasure of Abbot Mr. Somerton, an antique collector translating an old book, discovers that
Thomas
(2000) former abbot Thomas of Steinfield Abbey allegedly hid a treasure in the
religious grounds.
The hex of the runes Tells the story of Edward Dunning, a researcher at the British Museum who
(2000)
makes an unfavorable review of the last forbidden book by a known
occultist, called Karswell.
Count Magus (2000)
The narrator tells us that he has found the diary of an English traveler
named Mister Wraxall disappeared in strange circumstances. In the text,
the unfortunate character tells a trip he made to Sweden during which he
learned the story of Count Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, a seventeenthcentury nobleman who really existed and was accused of having
supernatural powers by his enemies.
Ghost stories of an This genre and that brings together eight fundamental stories to explain the
antiquarian
(2002) way of understanding fear in the literature that this author created perhaps
without wanting but whose influence was fundamental in later decades.
An unconscious ghost It contains the following stories: "Whitminster's residence," Mr. Poynter's
(2005)
diary, "An episode in the history of a cathedral," History of a disappearance
and an appearance, and "Two doctors. For this volume we have added two
stories that did not appear in their original compilations: «There was a man
who lived next to a cemetery and« Rats.
1.2. TITLE OF THE WORK: The Whistle
1.3. GENRE: Narrative
II. INTERNAL ASPECT
2.1. STRUCTURE
This story has 28 pages that are not separated for sub-chapters.
The introduction extends throughout from the beginning of the story even
than the professor Parkins’ gets to Burnstow.
START
"My friends have done that this course make golf fond ( you would bet that
you know it ), and I want the Eastern coast, concretely to Burnstow, to pass
a week or ten days perfecionado my game - you said - I hope to go away
tomorrow ".
The knot give of than the professor arrive Burnstow, the moment in that you
know the Colonel, when you come across the whistle, when you realize that
a figure follows it but this does not advance, when you whistle with him and
KNOT
the gust of wind, when the colonel explains legends to him ... arrives
"Even that this wind had risen up suddenly, he did not decrease all of a
UNLACE
sudden: You kept on blowing, moaning, coming against the building; From
time to time you stopped hearing so pitiful wailing, as Parkins’ with his usual
objectivity, said than very well can fill of fears to the too imaginative people,
and still the ones that were lacking for I complete of imagination, you
considered a quarter-hour after, they would have felt further at ease without
him ".
The outcome begins when the professor Parkins’ becomes aware of
somebody else you are in his room until you finish the story.
"And there is nothing more than adding, in reality; But, as they can imagine,
the opinions of the professor on determined issues are not right now
everything sign it that they used to be. His nerves, also they are shattered:
Still you tremble when seeing a surplice hanging from the door, and the
vision of a scarecrow at the field, some evenings to endings of winter, it has
cost over a night to him of insomnia ".
2.2. ADAPTATIONS:
THE WHISTLE ADAPTATIONS
TELEVISION
2.3. CHARACTERS:
PRINCIPAL
 Parkins’: The professor came from Ontografía.
 Colonel Wilson: A military ancien.
SECONDARY
 The professor Rogers
 The strange creature
 The maid of the hotel
.
2.4. SUMMARY:
Professor Parkins’ visits an ocean-side inn during his semester break to focus on a bit of
research and a bit of golfing. Before going, one of his colleagues asks him to check out a particular area
near where he is staying to determine if it is suited for an archaelogical dig. Parkins’ agrees and heads
off to his break. We are told by the narrator that Parkins’ is someone who scoffs at the idea of the
supernatural and refuses to buy into such superstition. He goes to the inn and begins his vacation. He
makes friends with another resident at the inn, a colonel and the two play golf. While out at near dusk,
Parkins’ visits the site and explores. He finds a strange whistle and he walks back to the inn. On his way
back, he turns around to see a man (he believes) to be moving about in his direction but at an
inconceivable pace. He returns to the room and blows the whistle which has a strange sound to it. It
also have writing on it which he believes is Latin. Following second time he blows the whistle is a fierce
wind that rattles the inn. Afterward when he settles into bed, he closes his eyes but every time, he has a
vision of some man running towards him on the beach. It continues to frighten him until morning. The
next day, he reconvenes with the Colonel and the two have another go at golf. On their way home, a
young boy runs into them filled with fear. The boy explains he saw some figure climbing out of the inn's
upper window. When they get to the inn, the window is identified as Parkins’ so he goes up to his room
to investigate. It's clear that someone has messed with his bed but nothing else is clear. Eventually, he
settles down fro bed and dozes off. At some later hour, he awakes and watches the bed sheets on the
other bed (there were 2 beds in his room rise up in the form of a body and move towards him. The two
struggle and at some point, Parkins’ sees the being close up. As the two are pitched near the window,
the Colonel busts into the room and saves Parkins’ from falling to his death. In the aftermath, it's clear
that Parkins’ now believes in the supernatural.
This story tells of a man named Professor Parkins’, had gone to town to play golf Burston and
investigate the old church. He stayed in a hotel called the globe. When he arrived he was shown his
room and saw a window, outside, saw the sea and the beach. Then in the afternoon, Professor Parkins
went to play golf with his friend named Colonel Wilson, he had been an officer of the army of India, and
Parkins’ was archaeologist. After talking, Parkins’ went to the abandoned church and among the rocks
saw a hole inside the hole found something metal, but did not know it was because it was night. Then he
went to the inn but before he began to relax, and suddenly saw a shadow behind him, the shadow was
on the beach and he did not know if he was a man or a woman, then ran to the inn and saw the Colonel
and when he looked back the shadow had disappeared. Then the Colonel and Parkins had dinner. Then
Parkins’ went to his bedroom and pulled the metal and was a whistle.
He is clean and hear the whistle and also horrible noises of wind, Parkins’ decided to lie down
because he was afraid.
But woke up because he had dreamed the same shadow as before. In the morning the Colonel
and Parkins’ had breakfast and went to play golf. When they were playing Parkins’ told what happened
last night and the colonel told him that if he needed to call him.
In the evening Professor Parkins’ was in his room and saw that the window had no curtains,
sheets then put in the window, then the other side of the room the professor Parkins’ saw that the sheets
had risen, and began to approach him, Professor Parkins’ opened the windows and said I need help, but
the ghost had caught the professor Parkins, and suddenly the Colonel appeared and helped him, but the
ghost had vanished when the Colonel had arrived.
The next day at the beach Colonel told the professor Parkins’ the ghost that can cause harm but
if you scared.
2.5. CENTRAL THEME: The fear of the fnatasmas and the superstitions
III. INTERPRETATIVE ASPECT
3.1. MESSAGE: The person that in the beginning you were not wanting that you accompany you
to no place, at the end you can save your life.
3.2. CRITICAL ASSESMENT: The time could be at the end of the s. XIX or early XX, even if he
does not quote it, we can assume it. The action takes place for a little less than a week.
The title seems totally adequate and makes sense with the rest of the work.
The fragment we liked the most has been the moment in which it is narrated as Mr. Parkins’ is attacked.
3.3. OPINION: The title seems totally adequate to us and has sense with the rest of the work.
What else we have liked the fragment it has been the moment one tells in like Mr. Parkins’ you are
attacked.
But then you understood that it was the worst thing that you could have come up with him, why the
character of the empty bed with a soft and sudden movement, you sat up and you assumed a defensive
attitude, with the arms extended between the two beds, in front of the door.
IV. LINGUIST ASPECT
4.1. VOCABULARY
Ghost. Unreal, imaginary or fantastic and usually incorporeal figure that someone thinks they
see.
Undivided. That is not divided into parts.
Fussy. [Person] Easily offended by insignificant things that he gives more value or importance
than they deserve.
Furtive. What is done secretly or in a sneaky way.
Receptacle. Cavity in which a substance is contained or may contain.
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13.
QUESTIONS
Parkins’ stayed at the Globe Inn in Burnstow.
How many rooms were there in the inn?
In the inn there were two rooms.
How many beds were there in Parkins' room?
In Parkins ’room there were two beds.
What was unusual about the window?
The room had no curtains on the windows.
Where had colonel Wilson lived for many years?
he lived for many years in India, because he had been the army officer.
What is an archeologist?
Archeologist study the history of the human being trhough the remains such as bones, tissues,
ceramics, tools, landscape ad construction characteristics. It's functions include the excavation,
identification, registration and conservation of historical remains. His work also involves laboratory
analysis, research, wealth management and planning advice.
Why did Parkins’ not walk back to the inn with the colonel?
Because he began to walk along the beach, moving the stones in his path, where he found a hole
and within it there was an old object, he was there until very late.
What did Parkins’ find in the hole?
An old the whistle was found.
Why did professor Parkins’ suddenly feel afraid?
Because he saw a black figure on the beach, He didn’t know if he was male or female, he trought
was following him.
What was written on the whistle?
In the whistle there was a script in latin that said: “Quist est iste qui venit”
Which translated is: who is this coming?
What happened when the professor blew the whistle?
There was a sad sound, the candle went out and a strong wind blew into the room.
What did Parkins’ see in his dream?
He saw that something black run from the beach.
In the morning, the servant come to clean Parkins’ room. What was stroge about the beds?
This one was very messy.
What did the boy see in the window of Parkins’ room?
The boy saw something horrible, a ghost and it scared him.
What did the Colonel tell Parkins to do with the whistle?
Told him to throw it into the sea
´A noise came from the empty bed´
What did Parkins’ see on the bed?
Saw a ghost or demon
What did the face under the sheet look like?
It looked very scary
Who came in ti the room?
Professor Parkins’ came in to see the strange being.
Why is the Professor afraid of curtains that move in the wind?
The teacher fears the curtains because from there the ghost appeared.
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13.
QUESTIONS
Parkins’ stayed at the Globe Inn in Burnstow.
a) How many rooms were there in the inn?
In the inn there were two rooms.
b) How many beds were there in Parkins' room?
In Parkins ’room there were two beds.
c) What was unusual about the window?
The room had no curtains on the windows.
Where had colonel Wilson lived for many years?
he lived for many years in India, because he had been the army officer.
What is an archeologist?
Archeologist study the history of the human being trhough the remains such as bones, tissues,
ceramics, tools, landscape ad construction characteristics. It's functions include the excavation,
identification, registration and conservation of historical remains. His work also involves laboratory
analysis, research, wealth management and planning advice.
Why did Parkins’ not walk back to the inn with the colonel?
Because he began to walk along the beach, moving the stones in his path, where he found a hole
and within it there was an old object, he was there until very late.
What did Parkins’ find in the hole?
An old the whistle was found.
Why did professor Parkins’ suddenly feel afraid?
Because he saw a black figure on the beach, He didn’t know if he was male or female, he trought
was following him.
What was written on the whistle?
In the whistle there was a script in latin that said: “Quist est iste qui venit”
Which translated is: who is this coming?
What happened when the professor blew the whistle?
There was a sad sound, the candle went out and a strong wind blew into the room.
What did Parkins’ see in his dream?
He saw that something black run from the beach.
In the morning, the servant come to clean Parkins’ room. What was stroge about the beds?
This one was very messy.
What did the boy see in the window of Parkins’ room?
The boy saw something horrible, a ghost and it scared him.
What did the Colonel tell Parkins to do with the whistle?
Told him to throw it into the sea
´A noise came from the empty bed´
a) What did Parkins’ see on the bed?
Saw a ghost or demon
b) What did the face under the sheet look like?
It looked very scary
c) Who came in ti the room?
Professor Parkins’ came in to see the strange being.
Why is the Professor afraid of curtains that move in the wind?
The teacher fears the curtains because from there the ghost appeared.