Stories from The Past

Stories from The Past

Stories from The Past

Legends, fantasy stories, spooky stories; they are all part of culture. Every legend or unreal tale has an element that isn’t true, but it relates a little to reality. These stories are known because older people transmit them to younger generations, and in other cases, younger people tend to create myths or new stories based on their reality. These modern myths, or urban legends, become popular on the internet and social networks. Nevertheless, it’s absolutely important to know about the origin of each tale, and keep in mind that they are only a story, something that isn’t true at all. These amazing stories are part of our identity. It’s great to know about them and share them with other people.

Open Ended

What are the most famous legends in your city?

Open Ended

• What are you afraid of?

Open Ended

Are you superstitious?

Castles in Europe

Some cities are famous for one reason, haunted castles. People in each city are in charge of telling each story to foreigners and local citizens. Most of these castles are in Europe, there aren’t too many in Latin America.

Chateau de Brissac in France is probably one of the most haunted and ancient castles in the country. It was built in the 11th century. Honestly, it looks like a church. The spooky story behind this building is that the ghosts of its owners still live there. There are some pictures to prove this, but you never know. People can go there by train or car, it’s not expensive.

Proveglia is an island close to Venice, Italy. There is an old building, which was a hospital for people with mental illnesses. This place is “haunted” because, according to the legend, the doctor who was in charge of some patients, lost his mind and became crazy. People say his spirit still lives there. Geographically, visitors have to take a boat to go there, so it’s not possible to go by train. 

Wolfsegg Castle in Germany has an interesting legend. This castle was built in the 1500s, and the story is that the woman who lived there with her husband and sons died. However, some people say that they have seen her in the castle wearing a white dress. 

Bran Castle in Romania is definitely famous because it’s known as the place where Dracula lived. A prince and a queen also lived in the castle. Nowadays, this place has a museum, and hundreds of strange stories. It’s not cheap to go there, and you can only go there during specific months.

Write if the sentences are True(T) or False(F).

Multiple Choice

Most of the haunted castles are in Europe.

• True(T)

• False(F).

Multiple Choice

A mythical character lived in the German castle.

• True(T)

• False(F).

Multiple Choice

People can’t go by train to the building in Italy.

• True(T)

• False(F).

Multiple Choice

People can’t go by train to the building in Italy.

• True(T)

• False(F).

Multiple Choice

The spirit of a woman lives in the French castle.

• True(T)

• False(F).

Multiple Choice

The castle of Dracula is now a church

• True(T)

• False(F).

Match the pictures and the sentences.

Multiple Choice

• a. Some people believe in ghosts.

• b. Old castles are great tourist places.

• c. Some old buildings used today were originally churches.

• d. Museums are places full of history.

Multiple Choice

• a. Some people believe in ghosts.

• b. Old castles are great tourist places.

• c. Some old buildings used today were originally churches.

• d. Museums are places full of history.

Multiple Choice

• a. Some people believe in ghosts.

• b. Old castles are great tourist places.

• c. Some old buildings used today were originally churches.

• d. Museums are places full of history.

Multiple Choice

• a. Some people believe in ghosts.

• b. Old castles are great tourist places.

• c. Some old buildings used today were originally churches.

• d. Museums are places full of history.

Answer these questions 

Open Ended

What do you know about haunted castles?

Open Ended

• Do you think haunted castles really exist?

Open Ended

• What other stories about haunted places do you know?

The Canterville Ghost

Oscar Wilde was a British-Irish writer. He was famous because of his great talent to write fantasy stories, tales and novels. Moreover, he wrote some poems inspired by Shakespeare’s work. He also worked as a journalist for some newspapers in the 1890s. He was popular because he had a unique way of dressing and thinking. One of his most famous tales is “The Canterville Ghost”. This story is a tale that talks about a ghost who lives in a castle in Caterville, England. An American family – mother, father, a daughter and two twin boys– buys the castle, and they ignore the warnings that the ghost of Lord Canterville walks in the castle with chains on his feet. This lord killed his wife three hundred years ago, and his spirit couldn’t leave the castle. The ghost tries to scare the family, but the children of the house joke about him. Virginia, who is the youngest, helps Lord Canterville find peace for his soul. In the end, the ghost could find peace after his death, and the family lives in the castle for many years.

Multiple Choice

a. Another great inspired Oscar Wilde’s tales.

• lady

• chains

• clothes

• boys

• poet

Multiple Choice

Wilde was also famous because he used unusual

• lady

• chains

• clothes

• boys

• poet

Multiple Choice

The ghost had .............

• lady

• chains

• clothes

• boys

• poet

Multiple Choice

Two little............. weren’t afraid of the ghost.

• lady

• chains

• clothes

• boys

• poet