The Night the Ghost Got In Chapter Notes | Gul Mohar Class 8: Book Solutions, Summaries & Worksheets PDF Download

About the Author

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.

Key Points of the Story

• The story takes place on the night of November 17, 1915.
• The narrator, just out of his bath, hears footsteps circling the dining room.
• He wakes his brother Herman, who gets scared and hides in his room.
• Their mother wakes up, assumes there are burglars, and throws a shoe through the neighbor Bodwell’s window to call for help.
• Bodwell, after confusion, finally calls the police.
• Soon, many policemen and reporters arrive, break the front door, and search the whole house noisily.
• They question the narrator, who is embarrassed because he is still in a towel.
• A policeman finds an old zither, adding to the comic confusion.
• In the attic, Grandfather mistakes the policemen for Civil War deserters and attacks them.
• He even fires a gun, injuring one officer slightly.
• The police retreat in panic, feeling embarrassed by the situation.
• By morning, everything is calm again.
• At breakfast, Grandfather asks why so many policemen were “tarryhootin’” around the house.
• No ghost is ever found—the whole chaos was caused by fear and misunderstanding.

Detailed Summary

“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.

Theme

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.

Message

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.

Vocabulary 

• Hullabaloo – A noisy disturbance or fuss.
• Advent – The arrival of something.
• Quick-cadenced – Fast, rhythmic movement or sound.
• Despondent – Very sad or hopeless.
• Intuitively – By instinct, without thinking.
• Commendably – Deserving praise; done well.
• Bevelled – Having a sloping edge or surface.
• Tromping – Walking heavily and noisily.
• Ransack – To search roughly and messily.
• Hysterical – Too emotional or excited.
• Blaspheming – Speaking disrespectfully about God.
• Eccentric – Strange or unusual in behavior.
• Deserter – A soldier who leaves duty without permission.
• Lily-livered – Cowardly.
• Lowdown – The true facts about something.