Humour and Fear : a Study of the humoristic Resourcesin Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost

This study examines in detail the alternance of humour and horror in the story The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde, and the manner in which the author was always able to obtain the desired result, changing his approach to the theme. It studies the story contribution to the parody of the horror genre, mentioning the cliches which are commonly used in this type of fiction and of which Wilde makes continuous mockery. It also reviews his satire of the American society, which is in constant conflict with the values of the traditional English society. Finally, the article includes a detailed account of the humouristic resources used by the writer to entertain his readers. El presente estudio analiza en detalle la alternancia de humor y horror en el relato de Oscar Wilde The Canterville Ghost, asi como la manera en la que el autor conseguia siempre el efecto deseado, cambiando su forma de tratar el tema. Estudia su contribucion a la parodia del genero terrorifico, con mencion de los elementos topicos que se suelen emplear en este tipo de narraciones y de los que Wilde hace una burla recurrente. Tambien revisa su satira de la sociedad norteamericana, en conflicto constante con los valores de la tradicional sociedad inglesa. Por ultimo, el articulo incluye una relacion detallada de los recursos comicos empleados por el escritor para conseguir entretener a sus lectores.