The Turn of the Screw

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Consider what you know about the position of a “governess” in households. Which types of families typically employed governesses? What were the main responsibilities of a governess? How did this role accentuate both women’s role in the public sphere as well as a woman’s ability to work?

Teaching Suggestion: This question orients students with a growing sociological phenomenon of the late 19th century: the role of the governess in middle- and upper-middle-class households. A governess was a young unmarried woman whom families would hire to teach their children both academics and social behaviors. The position of the governess held a unique social function in that it was one of the few stigma-free employment positions offered to women—most other forms of work resulted in a loss in social standing. However, as a form of employment, it was still rooted firmly within the private sphere of domesticity which ultimately connects with the novel’s theme The Social Control of Female Identity. The character of the governess was introduced in 19th-century literature, often as protagonists, and their roles carried certain common qualities—they were proper ladies, but outsiders—ambitious and capable, but alone in the world. James’s character of “the governess” exemplifies the archetype of the governess character, while also addressing her gender as both a possible deterrent of her sanity and a catalyst for her insanity.

• This article from the British Library provides an overview of the role of the governess in 19th-century European society.
• Gencheva (2015) explores the role of the governess in Gothic literature, using James’s story as a case study.

2. What were some of the features of Gothic literature? Which authors popularized this style of writing? What was this form of literature’s effect on subsequent waves of literature?

Teaching Suggestion: This question orients students with the literary context of James’s novella as an approach to Victorian Gothic literature. Originally popular in the late 18th to mid-19th century, Gothic stories were set in large homes or castles, often haunted, and combined supernatural elements with a dark, foreboding tone. James’s story, which was published in 1898, is considered a late-19th-century revival of this Gothic style, as he references famed pieces of Gothic literature from the prior century, such as Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho. Although James was initially dismissive of his own story, The Turn of the Screw was an extremely well-regarded and influential piece on future writers of the thriller genre; for example, the second resource below notes its effect on authors Shirley Jackson (please see also the second Recommended Next Read) and Stephen King.

• Britannica provides a succinct overview of the novel in Gothic literature.
• Melbourne Theatre Company’s “American Gothic: From James to Jackson” explores the impact of James’s story on the thriller genre. (Note: This article directly connects with the main Activity.)

Short Activity

Henry James is considered to be one of the most influential authors of the 19th century. Working in small groups, research and select one of James’s works to share in a brief presentation with the class. Be sure to discuss his background, the summary of his work, and the impact of your chosen piece on the literary style of his time. Finally, consider how James incorporates the themes of Ambiguity and The Limits of Knowledge, Sexuality and The End of Innocence, and The Social Control of Female Identity within his various works.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore the canon of an important author within the context of group work. Henry James’s work was hugely influential on English-language fiction as the Victorian era gave way to the Modern, and his prose investigated the dichotomies he understood so well—old and new, American and European. He is considered an important transitional figure to Modernist literature. Based on the level of the class, this Short Activity may be either a formal or informal presentation.

• Newworldencyclopedia.org discusses Henry James’s impact on American literature.
• This Daedalus 2021 journal article doubles as a teacher-facing resource for incorporating James’s works into the classroom.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Have you ever read a piece of literature in which the narrator turned out to be unreliable? What happened in the piece? How and why was the narrator unreliable? Upon reflection, were there any clues given throughout the story? Did you enjoy this type of writing style? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to consider the role of the narrator from their prior readings. Many readers take first-person narrators at their word unconditionally, assuming that they relate objective depictions of the events in the story and tell the truth about their own emotions. James’s novella questions the concept of the reliable narrator, as the protagonist of the governess contradicts herself, shares her opinion as fact, and usually makes assumptions regarding the other characters’ motives and sentences. In this vein, James invites the reader to question Ambiguity and The Limits of Knowledge. This Prompt directly segues to the Discussion/Analysis Prompt.

Differentiation Suggestion: For a more analytical Personal Connection Prompt, invite students to select two narrations: one in which the student believes the narrator to be “reliable” and one which is believed to be “unreliable.” Have the student compare and contrast these narration styles as well as the clues of reliability and unreliability in either an in-class presentation or a take-home written assignment.