The Turn of the Screw II
Henry James

1.Chp. VIII 41 Of what does the governess suspect Flora ? What is her evidence for this suspicion (Reread the last paragraph of p. 35 and its continuation on p. 36)?  How does Miles deal with her according to p. 43?  43-44 What faults does she find in Miles?  Why does she call him a “little natural man” ? [The “natural man” according to Paul in 1 Corintheans 2:14 was incapable of receiving the Christian spirit, in other words non-converted Romans, Greeks, and Jews.  Elsewhere in the bible the natural man is the man who only understands the way of the flesh, carnal pleasures.] To what carnal pleasures might she be referring?   In her eyes, what might have happened to the children when Quint and Miss Jessel were taking care of them?  If this is all in her mind (just a hypothesis), why would she say that it suits her that Miles and Flora are meeting with Quint and Miss Jessel?  What does she seem to want to “see”?  

2.  Chp. IX  45 How is the governess’s attitude towards the children changing, according to her?  Why?  Is it their fault?  How are they acting now?  According to her, why does Quint’s ghost leave the stairs?  How does the governess see herself now?  What does Quint represent for the governess? 

3.  Chps. X-XII a. One night, when the little girl looks down at the lawn through the window and sees Miles, where, according to the governess, is Miles looking? How does this relate to the governess’s speculations about Miles?  According to Miles why was he out on the lawn?  Does she believe him?  Is there enough evidence to support her? 

4.  Chapter XII-XIII How does the Governess interpret Miles’s further words, “Think, you know, what I might do!”  Why do you think she is so determined to prove that Miles is doing what she imagines?  Why do you think she does not tell his uncle about what is happening?   How are her relations to Miles and to his uncle different?   What different desires does she have in relation to Miles and the uncle?  Can she satisfy them both?
      59 In looking back on this story, what does the old Governess conclude about the relation between the children and herself?  Does she see herself as in a “fantastic” situation?  Do you as reader see her story as “fantastic”?  Why?

5.  Chp. XIV  What does Miles say her wants ?  68-70 What similarities are there between the actions of the governess and those of Miss Jessel (who dishonored, abandoned the children)?  How does the governess appear to feel about Miss Jessel?

6.  Chp. XVI  Why do you believe the governess lies to Mrs. Grose about why she left the three of them at the church and came back to the house?  Why do you think she wants to write the letter to the uncle about Miles’s expulsion and about her inability to continue working with a child who has been expelled?  What type of response does she seem to want from the uncle?  From what you know of the uncle, is she likely to get that response?