The Turn of The ScrewThe Turn of The Screw

A project by:A project by:E’5—3E’5—3rdrd Class of Junior High Class of Junior High

Teacher: Ms KyriakidouTeacher: Ms KyriakidouApril 2009April 2009

01 Art of War.wma

Why is the novella titled The turn of Why is the novella titled The turn of the Screw? What do you think?the Screw? What do you think?

By titling his work By titling his work The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw, James suggests that the phrase , James suggests that the phrase “the turn of the screw” is a fitting representation of the tale. The phrase “the turn of the screw” is a fitting representation of the tale. The phrase works as a metaphor that compares a tale's effect on its recipients to a works as a metaphor that compares a tale's effect on its recipients to a screw boring into a hole. With each turn of the screw, the story's point is screw boring into a hole. With each turn of the screw, the story's point is driven home, and its recipients are pierced further and on a deeper level. driven home, and its recipients are pierced further and on a deeper level.

James turns the screw when Douglas does, with the introduction of a story James turns the screw when Douglas does, with the introduction of a story involving not one but two children falling prey to supernatural events. The involving not one but two children falling prey to supernatural events. The screw turns again when we understand that the children of the governess's screw turns again when we understand that the children of the governess's tale are not merely victims but participants in the realm of ghosts and may tale are not merely victims but participants in the realm of ghosts and may even be plotting deceits and evil deeds themselves. With the suggestion even be plotting deceits and evil deeds themselves. With the suggestion that the governess is insane and that she, not her imaginary ghost world, is that the governess is insane and that she, not her imaginary ghost world, is the villain, the plot thickens even more. the villain, the plot thickens even more.

Leda Alafogianni & Celia TheodosopoulouLeda Alafogianni & Celia Theodosopoulou

The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw

This year our English This year our English teacher assigned to us teacher assigned to us The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw by Henry James.by Henry James.

It was a masterpiece and It was a masterpiece and we all loved it! We we all loved it! We discussed it thoroughly discussed it thoroughly in the classroom and we in the classroom and we watched a movie called watched a movie called The InnocentsThe Innocents based on based on the novella.the novella.

Literature ProjectLiterature Project

Having read the novella and having watched the Having read the novella and having watched the movie we wrote several essays about the plotline and movie we wrote several essays about the plotline and characters of the story. Here is our work!!!characters of the story. Here is our work!!!

Enjoy!!!!Enjoy!!!! Celia TheodosopoulouCelia Theodosopoulou

The Turn of the Screw: The PlotThe Turn of the Screw: The Plot The story starts with friends The story starts with friends

sharing ghost stories around the sharing ghost stories around the fire on Christmas Eve. One of the fire on Christmas Eve. One of the guests tells about a governess at a guests tells about a governess at a country house plagued by country house plagued by supernatural visitors. But in the supernatural visitors. But in the hands of Henry James, this little hands of Henry James, this little tale of terror becomes so much tale of terror becomes so much more!!!!. more!!!!.

Only the young governess can see Only the young governess can see the ghosts; only she suspects that the ghosts; only she suspects that the previous governess and her the previous governess and her lover are controlling the two lover are controlling the two orphaned children for some evil orphaned children for some evil purpose. purpose.

The Turn of the Screw: The PlotThe Turn of the Screw: The Plot The household staff don't know what The household staff don't know what

she's talking about, the children are she's talking about, the children are evasive when questioned, and the evasive when questioned, and the master of the house (the children's master of the house (the children's uncle) is absent. uncle) is absent.

Why does the young girl claim not to Why does the young girl claim not to see the woman standing on the far see the woman standing on the far side of the lake? side of the lake?

Are the children being deceptive, or is Are the children being deceptive, or is the governess being paranoid?the governess being paranoid?

By leaving the questions By leaving the questions unanswered, The Turn of Screw unanswered, The Turn of Screw generates spine-tingling anxiety in its generates spine-tingling anxiety in its mesmerized readers.mesmerized readers.

Dimitris Chatoglou—Minos Dimitris Chatoglou—Minos PapakyriakopoulosPapakyriakopoulos

The gripping story ofThe gripping story of The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw has inspired many artists has inspired many artists

over the years. So, there are many television versions, plays, films and even songs over the years. So, there are many television versions, plays, films and even songs and paintings based on the Jamesian novella!!!!!and paintings based on the Jamesian novella!!!!!

““Geraldine Page, right, Geraldine Page, right, questions Nina Reader in questions Nina Reader in the presence of Catherine the presence of Catherine Nesbitt and Rex Thompson Nesbitt and Rex Thompson in The Turn of the Screw. in The Turn of the Screw. Gore Vidal’s television Gore Vidal’s television version the Henry James; version the Henry James; thriller which will be thriller which will be presented on Omnibus presented on Omnibus between 5 and 6:30 pm between 5 and 6:30 pm today over C.B.S.TV.”today over C.B.S.TV.”

Here’s a brief list of all the movies, or televised versions we could find Here’s a brief list of all the movies, or televised versions we could find after extensive research (and hard work…!)after extensive research (and hard work…!)

The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw (1959) an (1959) an early live television play early live television play directed by directed by JohnJohn FrankenheimerFrankenheimer and starring and starring IngridIngrid BergmanBergman

Perhaps the most highly Perhaps the most highly regarded adaptation is regarded adaptation is TheThe InnocentsInnocents (1961) directed by (1961) directed by JackJack ClaytonClayton and starring and starring DeborahDeborah KerrKerr

Dan Curtis's well-regarded TV Dan Curtis's well-regarded TV movie movie The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw (1974) with (1974) with LynnLynn RedgraveRedgrave

A 1989 adaptation for Shelley A 1989 adaptation for Shelley Duvall's Duvall's Nightmare ClassicsNightmare Classics starring Amy Irving starring Amy Irving

And the list goes on and on….And the list goes on and on….

The TV movie The TV movie The Haunting of Helen The Haunting of Helen Walker/The Turn of the ScrewWalker/The Turn of the Screw (1995) (1995) starring Valerie Bertinelli starring Valerie Bertinelli

A theatrical adaptation by Jeffrey A theatrical adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher in which one woman plays the Hatcher in which one woman plays the governess and a man fills the rest of the governess and a man fills the rest of the roles roles

Presence of MindPresence of Mind (1999), an acclaimed (1999), an acclaimed Spanish-made adaptation with Sophie Spanish-made adaptation with Sophie Ward and Harvey Keitel Ward and Harvey Keitel

A British TV adaptation A British TV adaptation The Turn of the The Turn of the ScrewScrew (1999) with Jodhi May and Colin (1999) with Jodhi May and Colin Firth Firth

A 2006 film, In a Dark Place is A 2006 film, In a Dark Place is ostensibly based upon the novel. ostensibly based upon the novel.

The 2001 film The Others includes The 2001 film The Others includes many of the same elements as many of the same elements as The Turn The Turn of the Screwof the Screw. .

And in case that did not surprise you, this little piece of information will And in case that did not surprise you, this little piece of information will certainly make you twitch!!!! DID YOU KNOW THAT:certainly make you twitch!!!! DID YOU KNOW THAT:

An episode of An episode of CSICSI, first , first broadcast May 6, 2004, broadcast May 6, 2004, was titled "Turn of the was titled "Turn of the Screws" and contained Screws" and contained several references to several references to James's work.James's work.

The third episode of the The third episode of the

second season of Lost second season of Lost refers to a film reel hidden refers to a film reel hidden on a shelf behind the book on a shelf behind the book titled "Turn of the titled "Turn of the Screw". Screw".

What is it that makes this novella so What is it that makes this novella so intriguing that it is never outdated—even intriguing that it is never outdated—even

now, a century later?now, a century later? We guess it’s the enthralling narrative voice We guess it’s the enthralling narrative voice of Henry James and his well-known taste for of Henry James and his well-known taste for

open-endingsopen-endings

Is the Governess Insane or not?Is the Governess Insane or not? The following is a sample of some The following is a sample of some

of the essays that we had to of the essays that we had to develop in writing as part of the develop in writing as part of the project.project.

Our teacher chose 5 as the best Our teacher chose 5 as the best and then we got to vote in order and then we got to vote in order to decide which is truly THE BEST to decide which is truly THE BEST from each category. Some of the from each category. Some of the students asked permission to co-students asked permission to co-operate or form groups which only operate or form groups which only made things…much, much better, made things…much, much better, as you see!!!!as you see!!!!

The winning essays appear in this The winning essays appear in this presentationpresentation

Answer the Questions Answer the Questions below in your Writing below in your Writing Notebook. Your answer Notebook. Your answer must be between 70-100 must be between 70-100 wordswords..

1. Is the governess the 1. Is the governess the heroine or the villain of heroine or the villain of The The Turn of the ScrewTurn of the Screw? ? 

2. How does the phrase “the 2. How does the phrase “the turn of the screw” apply to turn of the screw” apply to the governess's tale?the governess's tale?

3. If you were to write an 3. If you were to write an additional / alternative ending additional / alternative ending to this novella, what would it to this novella, what would it be?be?

Some of us claim that she is stark-mad Some of us claim that she is stark-mad while others say she is the victim of while others say she is the victim of

supernatural forces!!!!!!supernatural forces!!!!!!Essay 1Essay 1

In Henry James' novella In Henry James' novella The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw we are presented with an we are presented with an unreliable governess that tells a story about a haunted mansion. The unreliable governess that tells a story about a haunted mansion. The novella is so ambiguous that at the end the question still remains: do the novella is so ambiguous that at the end the question still remains: do the ghosts exist or is the governess going wildly insane? The film version, ghosts exist or is the governess going wildly insane? The film version, directed by Jack Clayton is much less ambiguous, but with evidence of directed by Jack Clayton is much less ambiguous, but with evidence of both sides. both sides. The InnocentsThe Innocents leans more toward the fact that the ghosts do leans more toward the fact that the ghosts do exist and the children are possessed, although they might not realize it. exist and the children are possessed, although they might not realize it. This is a scary approach because the children seem so helpless at the hands This is a scary approach because the children seem so helpless at the hands of these apparitions. The governess is no saint though, as she has her of these apparitions. The governess is no saint though, as she has her bizarre hallucinations. The combination of the ghosts truly existing with bizarre hallucinations. The combination of the ghosts truly existing with the fact that the governess is becoming terribly eccentric really raises the the fact that the governess is becoming terribly eccentric really raises the suspense factor. This film succeeds because it makes the viewer think suspense factor. This film succeeds because it makes the viewer think about what is going on and then come up with his or her own conclusionabout what is going on and then come up with his or her own conclusion..

Marouli EvangeliannaMarouli Evangelianna

Essay 2Essay 2 Not only Not only do I do I believe in the ghost interpretation but believe in the ghost interpretation but II also also think think that the that the

children are possessed. " children are possessed. " The governess The governess gradually believes that these gradually believes that these innocents may be possessed by the spirits of a former governess and her innocents may be possessed by the spirits of a former governess and her lover, over the objections of the friendly housekeeper." There are two lover, over the objections of the friendly housekeeper." There are two scenes that portray the possession theory best. One is when the governess scenes that portray the possession theory best. One is when the governess comes into Miles room at night and finds a dead bird under his pillow. The comes into Miles room at night and finds a dead bird under his pillow. The bird's neck had been broken. This child must have been possessed by bird's neck had been broken. This child must have been possessed by some evil to do this horrible deed. The second scene is thsome evil to do this horrible deed. The second scene is thee scene with Flora scene with Flora and the governess. and the governess.

It seems that when Flora is dancing she is doing it for someone - Miss It seems that when Flora is dancing she is doing it for someone - Miss Jessel. Flora only becomes worse as she starts going insane herself. Flora, Jessel. Flora only becomes worse as she starts going insane herself. Flora, the sweet and innocent, starts screaming uncontrollably and letting out the sweet and innocent, starts screaming uncontrollably and letting out language that a nine year old shouldn't know. It seems again that she is language that a nine year old shouldn't know. It seems again that she is possessed by some evil. possessed by some evil.

Lena ChristakouLena Christakou

WhyWhy name the novella “The Turn of the name the novella “The Turn of the Screw”? What can you imagine?Screw”? What can you imagine?

There were multiple responses to this There were multiple responses to this question.Unfortunately we ccan only post but question.Unfortunately we ccan only post but

a few!!!!a few!!!!Essay 3Essay 3

By titling his work By titling his work The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw, James suggests that the phrase , James suggests that the phrase “the turn of the screw” is a fitting representation of the tale. The phrase “the turn of the screw” is a fitting representation of the tale. The phrase works as a metaphor that compares a tale's effect on its recipients to a works as a metaphor that compares a tale's effect on its recipients to a screw boring into a hole. With each turn of the screw, the story's point is screw boring into a hole. With each turn of the screw, the story's point is driven home, and its recipients are pierced further and on a deeper level. driven home, and its recipients are pierced further and on a deeper level.

James turns the screw when Douglas does, with the introduction of a story James turns the screw when Douglas does, with the introduction of a story involving not one but two children falling prey to supernatural events. The involving not one but two children falling prey to supernatural events. The screw turns again when we understand that the children of the governess's screw turns again when we understand that the children of the governess's tale are not merely victims but participants in the realm of ghosts and may tale are not merely victims but participants in the realm of ghosts and may even be plotting deceits and evil deeds themselves. With the suggestion even be plotting deceits and evil deeds themselves. With the suggestion that the governess is insane and that she, not her imaginary ghost world, is that the governess is insane and that she, not her imaginary ghost world, is the villain, the plot thickens even more. the villain, the plot thickens even more.

Minos Papakyriakopoulos—Celia TheodosopoulouMinos Papakyriakopoulos—Celia Theodosopoulou—Leda Alafogianni—Leda Alafogianni

Essay 4Essay 4

My opinion is that the My opinion is that the name of the novel itself name of the novel itself brings to mind brings to mind various various images of tortureimages of torture!!Some people might think this is far-!!Some people might think this is far-fetched, however for me this image of a turning screw is very fetched, however for me this image of a turning screw is very painful!painful!

Imagine: oImagine: one more turn will make things tightene more turn will make things tighter and r and tenser. It tenser. It keeps turning until something stretches, keeps turning until something stretches, like a like a bodybody that is that is tortured, tortured, or one’s or one’s mindmind,stretching and turning,stretching and turning to the very to the very breaking point..breaking point.. So the title is perfect since, James’s story is So the title is perfect since, James’s story is painful and tantalizing for the characters involved bringing to painful and tantalizing for the characters involved bringing to mind a merciless screw always turning…….mind a merciless screw always turning…….

Manolis AntonakisManolis Antonakis

An Alternative Ending to the Story?An Alternative Ending to the Story?

Final ResolutionFinal ResolutionVIVI

After Miles death, the governess didn’t want to stay at Bly. She wanted to leave Bly as After Miles death, the governess didn’t want to stay at Bly. She wanted to leave Bly as fast as possible. It was very important for her to go away from the ghosts, she believed fast as possible. It was very important for her to go away from the ghosts, she believed that Miss Jessel and Peter Quint would want to take her in the place of Frola. So, she left that Miss Jessel and Peter Quint would want to take her in the place of Frola. So, she left the house and soon she found a new job in a house many miles away from Bly.the house and soon she found a new job in a house many miles away from Bly. The new house was called Sothkit. She found her new post delightful and the children The new house was called Sothkit. She found her new post delightful and the children as cute as Miles and Flora. She lived in this house for about three years. The first two as cute as Miles and Flora. She lived in this house for about three years. The first two years passed uneventfully, but the governess wanted to see Flora so much, so, she to told years passed uneventfully, but the governess wanted to see Flora so much, so, she to told her new employer that she wanted t visit somebody very close to her. But the new her new employer that she wanted t visit somebody very close to her. But the new employer didn’t want to leave the governess go away, because he had fallen in love with employer didn’t want to leave the governess go away, because he had fallen in love with her, so he wanted her close to him. When the employer refused to let her visit Flora, the her, so he wanted her close to him. When the employer refused to let her visit Flora, the governess fell in depression for three weeks.governess fell in depression for three weeks. During these three weeks the governess started behaving in a strange way. She was During these three weeks the governess started behaving in a strange way. She was always in darkness and she never wanted to talk to anybody. In the fourth week the always in darkness and she never wanted to talk to anybody. In the fourth week the governess began to see Miss Jessel and Peter Quint again and finally a month after governess began to see Miss Jessel and Peter Quint again and finally a month after beginning to see the ghosts again, she mysteriously died.beginning to see the ghosts again, she mysteriously died.

Kostis SeidisKostis Seidis

A rather different ending to the story…A rather different ending to the story…The Devil comes in all shapes!!!The Devil comes in all shapes!!!

VIVI

The governess was devastated after Miles’ death…so , she took an overdose The governess was devastated after Miles’ death…so , she took an overdose of sleeping pills and died in her bathtub (like Marilyn Monroe)…However, of sleeping pills and died in her bathtub (like Marilyn Monroe)…However, Miles was not really dead! He was faking it..and of course his devilish Miles was not really dead! He was faking it..and of course his devilish little sister, Flora, was part of the show too!!! It seems that these little little sister, Flora, was part of the show too!!! It seems that these little seemingly “angelic” children were evil! They got a kick out of killing seemingly “angelic” children were evil! They got a kick out of killing governesses or driving them to suicide!! Three governesses had already governesses or driving them to suicide!! Three governesses had already passed from Bly and they had all died tragically!!!!passed from Bly and they had all died tragically!!!!

Little Flora and Miles went upstairs wore their best clothes and then poured Little Flora and Miles went upstairs wore their best clothes and then poured themselves some champagne! They congratulated each other on yet themselves some champagne! They congratulated each other on yet another perfect crime and smiled. Then the doorbell rang…..It was their another perfect crime and smiled. Then the doorbell rang…..It was their newly appointed governess…she introduced herself and they smiled oh, so newly appointed governess…she introduced herself and they smiled oh, so innocently…..innocently…..

Chryssoula ToliaChryssoula Tolia