Table of contents |
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About the Author |
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Key Points of the Story |
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Detailed Summary |
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Theme |
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Message |
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Vocabulary |
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James Thurber (1894–1961) was an American writer, cartoonist, and humorist. He is best known for his witty short stories and cartoons published in The New Yorker. His works often combine humor with everyday confusion and family life. Famous pieces include My Life and Hard Times and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
“The Night the Ghost Got In” by James Thurber is a humorous story from his autobiographical book My Life and Hard Times. It narrates a chaotic and comical incident that happened one night in 1915.
The story begins when the narrator, just out of his bath, hears strange footsteps going around the dining room table at about quarter past one o'clock in the morning. At first, he thinks it might be his father or brother Roy returning home, then suspects a burglar, and finally even considers it might be a ghost. Curious and a little afraid, he wakes his brother Herman, who is timid and nervous. They both hear the steps, which suddenly rush up the stairs. Terrified, Herman runs back to his room, and the narrator shuts the door tightly.
The noise wakes their mother, who assumes there are burglars in the house. Since the telephone is downstairs, she quickly throws a shoe through a neighbor’s window to get attention. Mr. Bodwell, their neighbor, misunderstands at first but then calls the police.
Soon, policemen and reporters arrive in large numbers, breaking down the front door to get inside. They search the entire house noisily, opening drawers, scattering furniture, and even questioning the narrator, who is embarrassed to be standing in only a towel.
The funniest part occurs when they go up to the attic and disturb Grandfather. Living in his Civil War memories, he mistakes the policemen for deserters from General Meade’s army. Angrily, he attacks them, even slapping one officer and firing a gun. The frightened police retreat in panic.
By morning, everything has calmed down. Grandfather joins breakfast as usual, acting fresh and cheerful, though he still demands to know why so many policemen were “tarryhootin” around the house. The night ends with confusion, but no ghost is ever found.
The main theme of the story is fear, imagination, and confusion in everyday life. A simple sound of footsteps grows into a night of chaos because of misunderstandings and overreactions. The story also highlights family quirks, humor, and eccentric behavior, showing how ordinary events can turn into comical adventures.
The message of the story is that fear and imagination can exaggerate simple events into big problems. It also shows that misunderstandings can create unnecessary panic. James Thurber teaches us to look at life’s confusion with humor and light-heartedness, instead of always taking things seriously. Laughter is often the best way to deal with stressful or strange situations.
13 docs|2 tests
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1. What is the main theme of "The Night the Ghost Got In"? | ![]() |
2. Who are the key characters in "The Night the Ghost Got In," and what roles do they play? | ![]() |
3. How does the author use humor to convey the message in the story? | ![]() |
4. What moral lesson can be derived from "The Night the Ghost Got In"? | ![]() |
5. In what ways does "The Night the Ghost Got In" reflect the author's style or literary techniques? | ![]() |