“The Night the Ghost Got In”

• Genre: Short story; humor; semi-autobiographical
• Originally Published: 1933
• Reading Level/Interest: Adult
• Structure/Length: Single short story; approximately 10 pages; approximately 20 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, a version of Thurber himself, narrates a supposed incident of a ghost entering his home one night, leading to comically escalating chaos. The conflict lies in the increasingly absurd and humorous reactions of his family and the local police to the supposed ghost.

James Thurber, Author

• Bio: Born 1894, died 1961; renowned American cartoonist, author, humorist, journalist, and playwright; known for his cartoons and short stories, which were published mainly in The New Yorker magazine; remembered for his contributions to American literature and culture through his unique blend of wit, satire, and whimsy
• Other Works: “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1939); “The Catbird Seat” (1942); My Life and Hard Times (1933); Fables for Our Time (1940)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Unknown and Meaningless
• War’s Effect on the Social Conscience
• Truth Is Subjective

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and literary contexts regarding the effects of world wars and the absurdist philosophical movement that developed as a result of the destruction, which incites Thurber’s writing style of his short story.