The Screaming Staircase

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about peoples’ views of ghosts in the 1800s, particularly in Victorian England? How might these viewpoints have been changing during the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the scientific discipline?

Teaching Suggestion: Although the novel takes place in the present, it draws on inspiration from Victorian era ghost stories, spirit photography, and the general fascination with the supernatural of the era. Students’ answers to this question can help you gauge both their interest level and knowledge of the subject. A discussion might follow which could help students make connections across their ideas and be aware of references to the era while reading. This question also serves to bring a sense of realism to the novel’s often-fantastical elements.

• “How Spirit Photography Made Heaven Literal” is a brief article exploring the purposes of Victorian era spirit photography as a source of comfort during a time of growing doubt in the possibility of the afterlife.
• “Meet Mr. Mumler” is a Smithsonian Magazine article on the inventor of spirit photography and includes several photographs of his work.

2. What other evidence is there that people living in the 1800s maintained a strong interest in ghosts and the supernatural? Can you think of any famous stories or common cliches from this time period?

Teaching Suggestion: The dystopian nature of the novel creates a mixture of the old and new, and this question helps bridge the gap between the present and the past by illuminating the ways in which ghost stories of this era continue to inspire literature and visual media today. Students may not be aware of the fact that something they have seen or enjoyed is inspired by this era until the question is brought to a discussion.

• “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe is a brief short story that has stood the test of time and achieved immortal fame in the world of ghost stories; it also comes from the Victorian era.
• “The Only Ghost I Ever Saw” by Emily Dickinson is a Victorian era poem with a touch of whimsy and humor, similar to that of The Screaming Staircase.

Make a Pinhole Camera

Within the novel, one of the main characters (George) is a passionate researcher who uses various practical means to learn more about spirits and haunted locations. Examining such evidence often involves analyzing photographs and similar media. In this activity, you will create a simple camera obscura (pinhole camera) to create your own Victorian-inspired photographs.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity puts a fun twist on research, adds a level of practicality and tangibility to the novel’s elements, and provides an opportunity to bridge with another subject such as science or art.

• “How to Make Your Own Camera Obscura” provides detailed instructions on creating a pinhole camera from basic materials. It includes an embedded link that goes into further detail on the history of photography in the 19th century.
• “Five-Minute Introduction to Pinhole Photography” showcases different results produced by pinhole cameras, what makes this type of photography unique, and how to get the most out of it.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

Some people highly value their reputation, prioritizing protecting it above all else. Others may demonstrate little concern toward their reputation. How do you feel about your reputation? Do you care how others see you as a person? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: In the first novel of the series, Lockwood puts a strong focus on building a name for himself as a ghost hunter and for his company and family. Children may personally relate to Lockwood’s endeavors upon considering their own reputation and what it means to them. Consider reminding students if necessary that reputation does not necessarily mean being “popular.” This prompt also connects to the wider theme of Making a Name for Self and for Family.

• “Adolescents, Parents, and the Power of Reputation” is a Psychology Today article that examines the nature of reputation, its influence on people, and the positive and negative aspects of placing importance on reputation.

Differentiation Suggestion: A differentiation strategy for students who struggle with language processing or who are learning English would be to have a pre-discussion surrounding the meaning of reputation in a social context. Doing so could include examining the above article as a class.