su m m ing - u p activities WORKING ON THE TEXT 1 How many times does the governess see the evil Peter Quint and Miss Jessel? Circle the correct number and then put the sightings into the correct chronological order. 1 5 3 7 2 8 Miss Jessel sitting at the desk in the schoolroom. Peter Quint on the staircase in the middle of the night. Miss Jessel by the lake with Flora and Mrs Grose. Peter Quint on the roof as she went for her evening walk. Peter Quint through the window when she was alone with Miles. Miss Jessel sitting at the bottom of the stairs. Miss Jessel on the other side of the lake while Flora and she were by the lake on a hot day. Peter Quint through the dining room window when she went back to get her gloves to go to church. 2 Henry James is ambiguous and tells us nothing for sure, even at the end of the tale. Do you think the children are innocent or have they really been corrupted by the evil servants? Which of the following statements are true and which are false? Tick the appropriate box. T F a. The children never talk about anything or anyone from their past. b. They are angelic and sweet and affectionate towards the governess. c. They do strange things at night. d. They frighten the governess. e. They are almost too beautiful to be real. f. They do not understand what the governess is talking about when she tries to talk about Quint and Miss Jessel. g. Miles is too clever for such a young boy. h. Flora rejects the governess when she is faced with the truth of Miss Jessel. i. The children genuinely know nothing about evil and are frightened of the governess s strange behaviour. 102