Victorian Ghost Stories

In this one-time class, we will be exploring the history, stories, and haunted locations tied into the paranormal and the Victorian Era (1837-1901). The stories and accounts will be a mixture of contemporary (period) accounts and stories; as well as modern tellings of haunted locations. These stories will primarily be coming from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and the United States.

Among the classic Victorian novels we will be reviewing due to their ghostly points and characters are:
Charles Dickens – The Signal Man (1866)
Oscar Wildes – The Canterville Ghost (1887)
Henry James – The Turn of the Screw (1898)

We will also be delving into the questions of: ‘Why were the Victorians so good at ghost stories?’ ‘Are Victorian houses the most haunted types of buildings?’ and ‘Why are Victorian houses haunted?’
The class is taught in a lecture style with a Google slideshow. All period documents are printed on the screen for easy reading. No additional materials are needed by the students. All students are welcome to join in with the discussions that are held during the class, or they may just listen. Whichever is the most comfortable for them.