Unit 4: The Canterville Ghost, by Oscal Wilde

The Canterville Ghost (chapter 1-3)

"The Canterville Ghost" is a popular short story by Oscar Wilde, widely adapted for the screen and stage. It was the first of Wilde's stories to be published, appearing serially in the magazine The Court and Society Review in 1887. See a video

Unit 4: Gay Fawkes' Day

Guy Fawkes is the most famous among the conspirators who took part in 1605's "Gunpowder Plot," a failed attempt to blow up King James I of England and the Houses of Parliament. Fawkes and his partners were Roman Catholics who decided desperate measures were required to replace the king, a Protestant.


For 400 years, bonfires have burned on November 5th to mark the failed Gunpowder Plot. Preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations include making a dummy of Guy Fawkes, which is called "the Guy". Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities.

On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the sky.

Although the night is celebrated in York (Fawkes' hometown) some there do not burn his effigy, most notably those from his old school.

Unit 4: Strange Stories!!

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is an historic monument in London and a popular tourist site today. It was founded in 1078 by William the Conqueror. It now consists of several different buildings. In the oast, it was used as a fortress, a palace and a prison. The Crown Jewels are kept in the Tower and are on display to the public there.

If you want to have a virtual idea of what The Tower of London is, you can do The Tower of London kids tour.

People say that in The Tower of London there are some ghosts, such as:

Anne Boleyn (1504-1536). She was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Boylen. Anne became a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII' s first wife). She became very popular at court, and she attracted King Henry VIII. They married and she became pregnant and gave birth to a girl. She was accused of adultery  and she was executed on 19th May 1536 at The Tower of London. Her ghost has been seen several times over the centuries.

Thomas Becket (1118-1170). She was made Archbishop of Canterbury by Henry II. Henry was angry with Becket and four knights set out to murder Becket. He was murder inside Canterbury Cathedral. Becket was a Londoner and had been Constable in the Tower of London before becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. His ghost was seen in 1241 demolishing extension walls.

Lady Jane Grey (1537-1554). She was the successor of Edward VII (she was his cousin). However, she was only queen for nine days because Edward's half sister, Mary, gathered an army and marched to London. Lady Jane was imprisioned and executed at the Tower.

Walter Raleigh (1552-1618). He was a writer, poet, courtier and explorer. In 1603, he was arrested and tried for treason for his supposed involvement in the Main Plot. He was left in the Tower of London until 1616, when he went to an expedition to Orinoco in search of El Dorado. When he returned to England, his death sentence was reinstated. He was beheaded in 1618 at Whitehall. Nowadays the tourists can see his cell in the Tower of London, as it was when he was imprisiones there.