ENGLISH 20 Literature and Composition : About Night the Ghost Got in

 

Briefly summarize the story, describing the setting(s) and the major characters.

 

Analyze the ways in which setting is essential to the plot of the story. For example, in an adventure story the plot events might hinge on severe weather conditions, high altitude, or heavy snowfall.

 

Analyze the ways in which the main characters are crucial to the arc of the story. For example, a reckless climber might take a risk that becomes an inciting event that drives the entire story’s action.

 

In your conclusion, summarize how the author’s choices in creating and developing characters and establishing setting impact the sequence of events in the story.

Though plot or the main action of the story is being deemed to be the integral aspect of any fictional writing, it is undeniable that the setting and character, despite being peripheral aspects, play an important role in driving the story further. Each story has its own mood, and that mood is being best explained by how the setting is being portrayed by the author. Similarly, it is the presence of the characters around which the story revolves, and thus plot and character are mutually exclusive. Considering the importance of setting and character in driving a fictional story, James Thurber’s “The Night the Ghost Got in” will be evaluated. Apparently a ghost story that initially sends chill down the spine of the reader owing to the elements of subtle suspicion and horror, the more the story proceeds the readers becomes more aware of the comic elements of the story, and in creating as well as shifting the mood of narration, character and setting had an important role to play.

“The Night the Ghost Got in” is a pseudo-horror short story that though starts with a sense of horror, ultimately ends in an almost comic note. It is a fun-filled tale of adventure, describing the apprehension of a ghost having invaded the house, ultimately ends with the grandfather shooting a police, who had come for investigating the problem. The setting, right from the beginning, had played a crucial role in setting the tone that keeps the reader engaged (Morreim, 2015). The setting of the story is a huge house where each member is sleeping in a different room, and it is a quarter past 1 O’clock, when the main protagonist, Joe, heard the footsteps of someone inside the house. A ghostly, eerie, spooky presence haunts Joe as much as the reader, as Thurber narrates the scary and suspicious atmosphere of the room. The faint light of the bedroom or the plates of the kitchen, sudden creaking of a board, all contributes to develop a sense of horror.  The setting is exposed step by step, and it is only along with Joe, is the reader able to see what lies beyond. As Joe calls his brother or his mother comes up, the reader gets introduced to the characters. This sense of uncertainty, as to who will the protagonist next meets, or what will be divulged next, further creates horror (Talijaard et al., 2015).

The fine line demarcating horror from comedy gets blurred, as each new character is being introduced. Joe, being the protagonist, is present throughout the story, and it is his interaction with his mother or brother drives the plot further. Joe’s mother is a comical character, and her presence relieves the audience of the dramatic tension she flings her shoe to Bodwell, their neighbour’s room, so that he can call the police (Thurber, 1961). Again, the entry of the cops helps to bring back the serious note of the story, and evokes curiosity as to what would be discovered. While the brother Herman had little role to play, the old grandfather mistakenly confusing the police to be deserters from Meade’s army, and shooting him, was at once unexpected and comical (Sheldon, 2014).

To conclude, while the setting of the story helped in creating a petrifying atmosphere, leaving the reader apprehend what is possibly going to happen next, the characters with their comical actions, keep on surprising the readers with fun and hilarious incidents. However, both the plot and the character help in keeping the reader engaged till the end. The setting offers the context against which the action is being introduced in a dark night in the house of the protagonist, while the characters simply with their gay presence cheer up and lighten up the mood of the readers. Hence, setting and character both played an important role in driving the story and making it an engrossing one.

References

Morreim, H. (2015). Conflict resolution in the clinical setting: a story beyond bioethics mediation. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 43(4), 843-856.

Sheldon, L. (2014). Character development and storytelling for games. Nelson Education.

Taljaard, M., Davids, A., & Hoosain, E. (2015). A multi-faceted innovative intervention to improve adherence to TB treatment at primary health care level in an urban setting: developing a photo story novella.

Thurber, J. (1961). The Night the Ghost Got in. My Life and Hard Times.