# The Turn of the Screw — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.

- [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/prologue.md): A group of friends gathered at a country house are told a ghost story by Douglas, who reveals that the story comes from a manuscript written by his sister's former governess. He describes how the governess, a young woman
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/i.md): The governess arrives at Bly, meets Mrs. Grose and her young pupil Flora, and begins to settle into her new role. She explores the estate with Flora, feeling both wonder and slight unease, and learns that her other pupil
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/ii.md): The governess receives a letter from her employer enclosing an unopened letter from the headmaster of Miles's school, which reveals that Miles has been expelled and will not be allowed to return. Distressed, she confides
- [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/iii.md): The governess describes her initial enchantment with Miles, whom she finds impossibly beautiful and innocent, and her decision to ignore the letter about his expulsion. She forms a pact with Mrs. Grose to see the matter 
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/iv.md): The governess reflects on her first sighting of Peter Quint and her subsequent fear. She decides not to tell Mrs. Grose about the encounter, rationalizing it as an intrusion by a curious traveler. She becomes increasingl
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/v.md): The governess, visibly shaken, confides in Mrs. Grose about her second sighting of the mysterious man, whom she first saw on the tower. She describes him in detail, leading Mrs. Grose to identify him as Peter Quint, the 
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/vi.md): The governess and Mrs. Grose have a long, emotional discussion about the ghostly apparitions. Mrs. Grose reveals that Peter Quint was 'much too free' with everyone, especially with Miles, and that the master was unaware 
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/vii.md): The governess confides in Mrs. Grose about seeing Miss Jessel by the lake with Flora, revealing that Flora saw the apparition but kept it secret. Mrs. Grose confirms the infamous history between Miss Jessel and Peter Qui
- [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/viii.md): The governess and Mrs. Grose discuss the apparitions and the children's possible involvement. The governess recounts Flora's behavior by the lake, which she interprets as a deliberate attempt to hide her awareness of Mis
- [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/ix.md): The governess describes a period of relative calm and intense closeness with Miles and Flora, during which the children display extraordinary talents and affection. However, the peace is shattered one night when she enco
- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/x.md): The governess discovers Flora missing from her bed and confronts her, suspecting she has been communicating with the apparition of Miss Jessel. Later, she finds Flora again at the window, secretly observing the ghostly f
- [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xi.md): The governess recounts to Mrs. Grose her late-night confrontation with Miles after finding him outside. Miles explains he went out deliberately to be 'bad' and had arranged with Flora to alert her. The governess feels bo
- [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xii.md): The governess elaborates on her theory that the children are in secret communion with the ghosts of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, who are luring them toward destruction. She insists that Miles and Flora's unnatural goodne
- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xiii.md): The governess describes a month of tense, silent standoff with Miles and Flora, during which she feels the children are aware of her predicament and deliberately avoid forbidden topics. She experiences no further apparit
- [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xiv.md): On a Sunday morning walk to church, Miles confronts the governess about his return to school, revealing his desire for independence and 'more life.' Their tense conversation escalates as Miles hints at his awareness of t
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xv.md): The governess, overwhelmed by the pressure of Miles's probing questions and her own fears, considers fleeing Bly entirely. She imagines escaping without a scene, but as she sits at the foot of the staircase, she recalls 
- [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xvi.md): The governess confronts Mrs. Grose about the children's silence regarding her absence, learning they asked her to say nothing. She reveals her encounter with Miss Jessel, who suffers torments and wants Flora. The governe
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xvii.md): The governess confronts Miles in his bedroom at night, attempting to draw out the truth about his past and his expulsion from school. Their tense conversation reveals Miles's desire to leave Bly and his uncle's involveme
- [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xviii.md): The governess writes a letter about Miles but delays sending it. Miles plays the piano to distract her while Flora disappears. The governess realizes the children are colluding with the ghosts: Flora with Miss Jessel and
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xix.md): The governess leads Mrs. Grose to the lake in search of Flora, who has taken the boat to the far side. They find Flora smiling and picking fern, and the governess directly asks her where Miss Jessel is.
- [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xx.md): The governess confronts Flora by the lake, insisting she sees Miss Jessel, but Flora denies it and turns against her, leading to a crisis where Mrs. Grose takes Flora away. Later, the governess finds Miles waiting with h
- [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxi.md): Mrs. Grose reports that Flora is feverish and terrified of the governess, not of Miss Jessel. The governess decides Mrs. Grose must take Flora away to her uncle, while she stays alone with Miles, hoping he will confess. 
- [XXII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxii.md): The governess is left alone with Miles after Mrs. Grose and Flora depart. She struggles with her fears and the burden of confronting the supernatural elements alone. Miles behaves with unsettling composure, and they shar
- [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxiii.md): The governess confronts Miles alone, pressing him to confess what is on his mind. Miles deflects with charm and evasion, claiming he must see Luke, but the governess insists on a smaller admission: whether he took her le
- [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxiv.md): In the climactic final confrontation, the governess forces Miles to confess to stealing a letter she had written to his uncle, then presses him about his expulsion from school. Miles admits he 'said things' to a few frie

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters