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In "The Canterville Ghost," what is the encounter between the two "ghosts" like?

 The encounter between the two ghosts takes place in Chapter Three of "The Canterville Ghost." In this scene, it is late at night and all members of the Otis family are asleep in bed. The ghost is planning to frighten Washington Otis but, as he makes his way towards the boy's room, he is confronted by a terrible sight:



Right in front of him was standing a horrible spectre, motionless as a carven image, and monstrous as a madman's dream!



After using heavy description to portray this other ghost, Wilde quickly switches his tactic by employing humour to describe the Canterville ghost's reaction:



Never having seen a ghost before, he naturally was terribly frightened, and, after a second hasty glance at the awful phantom, he fled back to his room.



This use of humour is effective in lightening the mood of the story. That the Canterville ghost has never seen a ghost before is also an example of irony, used here for comic effect. Wilde further adds to the humour when the Canterville ghost returns to confront this other ghost. Realising that this ghost is nothing more than a dummy, the Canterville ghost vows to take his revenge. He is foiled again, however, when the cockerel does not crow for a second time, making his oath completely worthless.

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