The main themes of the story “A Shocking Accident
A Shocking Accident
When he was a child, Jerome was told that his father died on a bizarre accident involving a pig that fell from a balcony. He refuses to accept this fact and keeps creating another scenario as replacement to his father's strange death. As a grown up, he's quite perplexed that people get a…
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene OM CH, better known by his pen name Graham Greene, was an English novelist regarded by many as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, …
What is the plot of a shocking accident?
Greene's "A Shocking Accident" is about a young boy, Jerome, whose father is killed by a falling pig. Other characters in the story can't help but laugh when they hear about it, and Jerome tries to make the story less surprising so that people do not find it as funny.
What is “a shocking accident” by Graham Greene about?
What is "A Shocking Accident" by Graham Greene about? Greene's "A Shocking Accident" is about a young boy, Jerome, whose father is killed by a falling pig. Other characters in the story can't help but laugh when they hear about it, and Jerome tries to make the story less surprising so that people do not find it as funny.
What is the shocking accident in the story of Jerome?
Answer: The shocking accident refers to when the pig fell from the balcony and killed Jerome’s father. Most people are interested and amused. Q.2 How old is Jerome when his father dies?
When was the book A Shocking Accident published?
About the story: A Shocking Accident was published in 1967 in the collection of stories May We Borrow Your Husband?. It was later made into a film which won an Oscar for Best Short Film in 1983. In the story, Jerome, the main character, attends a ‘preparatory’ or ‘prep’ school.
What is the setting of A Shocking Accident?
The physical setting of the story presents several places: Jerome's “rather expensive preparatory school”, his aunt's house and the “poorer quarters” of Naples, where Jerome's father died. Here is a passage in which Naples is depicted from Jerome's perspective: Naples, of course.
What point of view is A Shocking Accident told from?
The short story “A Shocking Accident” by Graham Greene is a third-person narrative rendered by an anonymous narrator who follows Jerome through the years, from his childhood to the moment when he is preparing to get married.
How does the pig serve as a symbol in A Shocking Accident?
Terms in this set (5) How does the pig serve as a symbol in "A Shocking Accident"? The flying pig that kills Jerome's father symbolizes the absurdity of life. Many events in life cannot be predicted or prepared for,and death is one of them.
What are the two versions of his father's death that Jerome narrates why does he do so?
Expert-verified answer Jerome narrates two different versions on account of his fathers death. This story is narrated in a third person perspective. Jerome knew that his father died in an unexpected and funny way. When he would directly narrate that his father died because a pig fell on top of him out of a sky.
What was Sally's reaction on hearing the reason for Jerome's father's death?
It is through Sally's reaction to his father's death that Jerome is finally able to accept how his father died. There is also possibly a realisation within Jerome that not everybody is going to laugh at the story of his father's death.
Where was Jerome's father when he died?
The housemaster tells him that his father, a travel writer, has died in Naples, Italy, as the result of a pig falling on him from a balcony.
What is the theme of the story a shocking accident?
The main themes of the story “A Shocking Accident” by Graham Greene are the absurdity or triviality of death (illustrated by Jerome’s father death) and coming of age (illustrated by Jerome’s transformation from a child to a man).
What does the pig symbolize in a shocking accident?
How does the pig serve as a symbol in “A Shocking Accident “? The flying pig that kills Jerome’s father symbolizes the absurdity of life. Many events in life cannot be predicted or prepared for,and death is one of them. Reread the scene in which the housemaster breaks the news of the death of Jerome’s father to the boy.
How does Jerome develop a theme of the story?
Jerome rallies his teammates to support the victims of a fire, developing the theme that people can overcome adversity by working together. By following through on his commitments, Jerome demonstrates that actions speak louder than words.
What is an example of shocking accident?
Essay Example on The Shocking Accident. Jerome’s father did not care about his son so he sent him to an expensive private boarding school called Eton. In doing this, he would not have to communicate in any way with Jerome. His father would occasionally send Jerome a picture-postcard but postcards were little notes that said inconsequential things.
What does Jerome's aunt say at the funeral?
In addition, at the funeral, Jerome’s Aunt could only say that her brother was a great traveler and that he always carried around a water filter.
What did Wordsworth tell Jerome about the pig?
Wordsworth was surprised by Jerome’s response to the news. Mr. Wordsworth than tells Jerome that a pig has fallen on him and “an inexplicable convulsion took place in the nerves of Mr. Wordsworth’s face” (179). Death is not a laughing matter, yet the housemaster is trying to hold back his laughter.
What is the story of a shocking accident?
Greene's "A Shocking Accident" is about a young boy, Jerome, whose father is killed by a falling pig. Other characters in the story can't help but laugh when they hear about it, and Jerome tries to make the story less surprising so that people do not find it as funny. Download PDF. Print. Page Citation.
What is the tragic accident?
Share Link. "A Tragic Accident" is a humorous story about a tragic incident. It is told from the point of view of a boy named Jerome who grows into adulthood and gets married by the time the story ends. Jerome is only nine years old when he is called into his housemaster's room at "a rather expensive preparatory school.".
What is the chief danger of laughter in such a story?
So Jerome, as he grows older, tries to tell the story in such a way that the ridiculous aspect of a sensitive writer being killed by a falling pig will not come as a surprise. Here is a sample of his version of the shocking accident.
Who is the first person to react to the proper sadness and mourning?
Sally is the first person who reacts with the proper sadness and mourning Jerome has always felt the story requires, and so he falls immediately in love with her. The story is in a sense a coming of age story for Jerome. He is a completely different character when the story folds than when it began.
Why is Jerome angry?
Jerome spends most of his life angry because the first reaction to this story--which should be, in his opinion, one of remorse and sadness since it is the story of his father's death--is laughter. Most peoplre react to the story as if it were some humorous joke, yet it is a tragic event in Jerome's life.
What is the theme of shocking accident?
In A Shocking Accident by Graham Greene we have the theme of frustration, perception, social opinion, fear, acceptance, love and coming of age. Taken from his Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Greene may be exploring the theme of frustration. Jerome is fully aware that others have and will laugh at how his father died. There is a sense that Jerome is frustrated and as such he decides upon slightly changing the story of his father’s death. This may be important as Jerome may not only be frustrated at how others have reacted when told about his father’s death but he may also be afraid to tell the real story of how his father died due to fear of feeling embarrassed. It is as though Jerome feels overly concerned about social opinion when it comes to the subject of his father’s death. This may be important as Jerome’s hesitancy when it comes to the truth about his father’s death suggests that Jerome himself is not comfortable or accepting of how his father died. Jerome when he first heard of his father’s death had romantic notions about how his father might have died (shot in the heart).
What is Sally's reaction to Jerome's father's death?
The insensitivities of others is not mirrored by Sally’s reaction to Jerome’s father’s death. This may be important as apart from his Aunt and his father Jerome has not had anybody else in his life who has been supportive of him. It is as though Sally is not judging Jerome by the fact that his father died an unusual death.
What does Jerome see in Sally's eyes?
Jerome sees babies in Sally’s eyes. It is through Sally’s reaction to his father’s death that Jerome is finally able to accept how his father died. There is also possibly a realisation within Jerome that not everybody is going to laugh at the story of his father’s death. That not everybody will be so cold.
Who wrote the book A Shocking Accident?
A Shocking Accident by Graham Greene. About the story: A Shocking Accident was published in 1967 in the collection of stories May We Borrow Your Husband?. It was later made into a film which won an Oscar for Best Short Film in 1983.
When was A Shocking Accident published?
About the story: A Shocking Accident was published in 1967 in the collection of stories May We Borrow Your Husband?. It was later made into a film which won an Oscar for Best Short Film in 1983.
How do cultures react to death?
Different cultures react to death in different ways. It is not rational that death from a falling pig should cause amusement. Nevertheless, in the story, most people who are not related to the person involved, find something comical in the event. Convention tells us that we should receive news of death with sympathy and seriousness but the housemaster, Jerome’s schoolmates, and strangers find it difficult to react in a conventional way. Because the cause of death is so unusual and unexpected, it makes people react in unusual and unexpected ways.
What to think about before reading a story?
Before you read the story, you may want to think about some of its main themes. The questions will help you think about the story as you’re reading it for the first time. There is more discussion of the main themes in the literary analysis section.
Why do we feel sympathy for Jerome?
Answer: We feel sympathy for Jerome because he is left an orphan at nine, and then has to deal with the unkind remarks of his teenage friends. Despite everything, he is loyal to his father’s memory and desperately wants his future wife to love his memory too.
What is the story of the child who loses his parents?
Introduction. The story is about a child who has a difficult life where he loses his parents at a very young age. Confused and devastated he goes through the barbs of ridicule and insults at school and becomes afraid of social opinion.
Why does Jerome die in the book?
The teacher breaks the news and tells him that he dies because a pig fell on him. Jerome does not just feel sad but also humiliated to hear the nature of his father’s death. Unfortunately, his sadness is increased due to the taunts at the hands of his peers. The students find about the death and mock and abuse Jerome.
Why is Jerome a shy kid?
Jerome is a shy kid since the death of his mother. He has a father who travels for work and an aunt who does not feel comfortable around. He develops a theory about his father being a spy in order to add heroism to his life and garner social prestige.
