A Study On Dale Gilbert Jarvis’ Haunted Shores And Other Newfoundland Ghost Stories

This thesis studies on Haunted Shores: True Ghost Stories of Newfoundlandand Labrador by Newfoundland folklorist Dale Gilbert Jarvis. It firstly studies theoriginal English edition of the text, analyzing the ghost types and characters,motifs of the ghost stories, and comparing with Chinese ghost stories to find outthe differences and similarities. Secondly, the thesis explores the narrative skills ofthe book such as plot suspension, time and space distribution, and documentarywriting method. Thirdly, it discusses the possible causes that Newfoundland enjoysplentiful ghost stories. The discussion is done from three aspects: naturalenvironment, cultural environment, and the heritages of western literature.Furthermore, it analyzes the communication and acceptance of Newfoundlandghost stories, focusing on four elements: communicators, communication contents,communication methods and communication effects. It concludes that the ghoststories are popular literary resources in Newfoundland due to the rational andwell-regulated literary communication. Finally, the article suggests that Chineseghost stories may learn something from the success of Newfoundland ghost stories.We need a rational attitude toward ghost stories, and so nurture ghost stories into ameaningful, interesting and amazing literature type.