Prose : THE NIGHT THE GHOST GOT IN
Author : James Grover Thurber
Theme : Chaos in the house
Characters : The narrator’s family, Mrs. Bodwell, Joe, Reporter, Herman
Outline : Narrator - strange sound - thought - burglar or ghost - Mother - seek help -Bodwell - called police- Grandfather misunderstood - General Meade’s men - shot - grand father - walked - for water
It was about a quarter past one o’ clock in the morning. The narrator was in the bathroom. He heard a strange sound. He was scared. He thought it was a burglar or a ghost. So, he went to his brother, Herman’s room. They came out and looked downstairs. Nothing was there. They heard the footsteps circling the dining-room table like a man running and it started up the stairs towards them. So they rushed to their rooms and slammed the doors. The narrator’s mother was aroused by the sound. They thought that there was a burglar in the house. So she threw her shoe at their neighbour, Mr.Bodwell’s window to seek help. Mr. Bodwell called the police. When the police broke into the door, the narrator’s grandfather mistook them as General Meade’s men who were retreating. So he grabbed the gun from them and shot at the police. The police left the house empty handed finally. Next morning, grandfather told that he came to the dining room for water, the previous night. These are the incidents that caused the confusion in the house.
ESSAY
- Introduction
- A strange sound
- Call for the police
- Entry of the police
- Mystery behind the chaos
- Conclusion
Introduction
James Grover Tburber was an American cartoonist, best known for his cartoons and short stories. This lesson clearly tells that too much of imagination will, mislead the situation. Though the theme is trivial, the story provokes all elements of a horror drama.
A strange sound
It was about a quarter past one o’ clock in the morning. The narrator was in the bathroom. He heard a strange sound. He was scared. He thought it was a burglar or a ghost. So, he went to his brother Herman’s room. They came out and looked downstairs. Nothing was there. They heard the footsteps circling the dining-room table like a man running and it started up the stairs towards them. So they rushed to their rooms and slammed the doors.
Call for the police
Their mother was aroused by the sound. They thought that there was a burglar in the house. So she threw her shoe at their neighbour Mr.Bodwell’s window to seek help. Mr. Bodwell called the police.
Entry of the police
When the police broke open the door, the narrator’s grandfather mistook them as General Meade’s men who were retreating. So he grabbed the gun from them and shot at the police. The police left the house empty handed finally.
Mystery behind the chaos
The next morning grandfather told that he had walked in the kitchen to have some water the previous night.
Conclusion
It finally becomes clear that the narrator mistook his grandfather walking in the dark for a burglar and then a ghost. Their imagination rewarded them a sleepless night of chaotic activities.
Moral: What you see can be a lie; what you hear can be a lie;
what you investigate is real/true