narrative essay about stranger in my house

Forgotten password

Please enter the email address that you use to login to TeenInk.com, and we'll email you instructions to reset your password.

• Poetry All Poetry Free Verse Song Lyrics Sonnet Haiku Limerick Ballad
• Fiction All Fiction Action-Adventure Fan Fiction Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Romance Sci-fi/Fantasy Scripts & Plays Thriller/Mystery All Novels Action-Adventure Fan Fiction Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Romance Sci-fi/Fantasy Thriller/Mystery Other
• Nonfiction All Nonfiction Bullying Books Academic Author Interviews Celebrity interviews College Articles College Essays Educator of the Year Heroes Interviews Memoir Personal Experience Sports Travel & Culture All Opinions Bullying Current Events / Politics Discrimination Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking Entertainment / Celebrities Environment Love / Relationships Movies / Music / TV Pop Culture / Trends School / College Social Issues / Civics Spirituality / Religion Sports / Hobbies All Hot Topics Bullying Community Service Environment Health Letters to the Editor Pride & Prejudice What Matters
• Reviews All Reviews Hot New Books Book Reviews Music Reviews Movie Reviews TV Show Reviews Video Game Reviews Summer Program Reviews College Reviews
• Art/Photo Art Photo Videos
• Summer Guide Program Links Program Reviews
• College Guide College Links College Reviews College Essays College Articles

Summer Guide

College guide.

• Song Lyrics

All Fiction

• Action-Adventure
• Fan Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Realistic Fiction
• Sci-fi/Fantasy
• Scripts & Plays
• Thriller/Mystery

All Nonfiction

• Author Interviews
• Celebrity interviews
• College Articles
• College Essays
• Educator of the Year
• Personal Experience
• Travel & Culture

All Opinions

• Current Events / Politics
• Discrimination
• Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
• Entertainment / Celebrities
• Environment
• Love / Relationships
• Movies / Music / TV
• Pop Culture / Trends
• School / College
• Social Issues / Civics
• Spirituality / Religion
• Sports / Hobbies

All Hot Topics

• Community Service
• Letters to the Editor
• Pride & Prejudice
• What Matters

All Reviews

• Hot New Books
• Book Reviews
• Music Reviews
• Movie Reviews
• TV Show Reviews
• Video Game Reviews

Summer Program Reviews

• College Reviews
• Writers Workshop
• Regular Forums
• Program Links
• Program Reviews
• College Links
• Stranger in My House

Stranger in My House MAG

There was a stranger in my house. I could tell. Outside my partially closed bedroom, the towel closet's bifold door was cackling. It jiggled mercilessly, filling the air with its frightening presence. The faint beep of the wristwatch on my desk indicated that the moon was now at its peak – stars dancing all around it in the purple night. My mom and dad's snores proved that they were not awake; the faint glow from the nightlight in my little sister's room, which shone underneath the crack of my bedroom door, proved the same thing for her. There was a stranger in my house, and I was panicking. The jiggling stopped for a moment. Anticipation licked at the back of my mind. Heart pumping, adrenalin beginning its journey through my veins, only one thought monopolized my mind: he was coming … he was going to open my door and …. It was the unknown that frightened me. Who was it outside my door? What was his intention? Dread grasped me with its iron fists, forcing unrealistic yet unavoidable scenarios to play in front of my eyes like a movie. Thump. Something, most likely a towel, dropped to the carpet floor. CRASH! I yelped and pulled the blanket over my head. Squeaking echoed through the air. The guinea pig cage had been knocked over. Right outside my door. By a stranger. Someone intruding in my house. Never had I felt this much fear. “Please, please, please, please,” I silently pleaded, though for what was entirely unknown. Either I was begging not to be found, or I was begging for the strength to fend off this stranger. The loud, draining creak from the old, rusted hinges of my bedroom door sent shivers down my spine. Crinkling from a foot hitting the math homework scattered across the floor soon followed. A pregnant pause. A dip in my bed. A fury paw against my leg – wait, a paw? Throwing the blanket from my face, I glared at the fuzzy black and white bowling ball perched at the end of my bed. “Ed, you stupid cat!”

Similar Articles

Favorite Quote: "I don't do fashion, I am fashion." -Coco Chanel

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 2 comments.

Favorite Quote: Cause darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream. -Taylor Swift

• Subscribe to Teen Ink magazine
• Submit to Teen Ink
• Find A College
• Find a Summer Program

Share this on

Send to a friend.

Thank you for sharing this page with a friend!

Tell my friends

Choose what to email.

Which of your works would you like to tell your friends about? (These links will automatically appear in your email.)

Send your email

Delete my account, we hate to see you go please note as per our terms and conditions, you agreed that all materials submitted become the property of teen ink. going forward, your work will remain on teenink.com submitted “by anonymous.”, delete this, change anonymous status, send us site feedback.

If you have a suggestion about this website or are experiencing a problem with it, or if you need to report abuse on the site, please let us know. We try to make TeenInk.com the best site it can be, and we take your feedback very seriously. Please note that while we value your input, we cannot respond to every message. Also, if you have a comment about a particular piece of work on this website, please go to the page where that work is displayed and post a comment on it. Thank you!

Pardon Our Dust

Teen Ink is currently undergoing repairs to our image server. In addition to being unable to display images, we cannot currently accept image submissions. All other parts of the website are functioning normally. Please check back to submit your art and photography and to enjoy work from teen artists around the world!

The Ultimate Narrative Essay Guide for Beginners

A narrative essay tells a story in chronological order, with an introduction that introduces the characters and sets the scene. Then a series of events leads to a climax or turning point, and finally a resolution or reflection on the experience.

Speaking of which, are you in sixes and sevens about narrative essays? Don’t worry this ultimate expert guide will wipe out all your doubts. So let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Everything You Need to Know About Narrative Essay

What is a narrative essay.

When you go through a narrative essay definition, you would know that a narrative essay purpose is to tell a story. It’s all about sharing an experience or event and is different from other types of essays because it’s more focused on how the event made you feel or what you learned from it, rather than just presenting facts or an argument. Let’s explore more details on this interesting write-up and get to know how to write a narrative essay.

Elements of a Narrative Essay

Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of a narrative essay:

A narrative essay has a beginning, middle, and end. It builds up tension and excitement and then wraps things up in a neat package.

Real people, including the writer, often feature in personal narratives. Details of the characters and their thoughts, feelings, and actions can help readers to relate to the tale.

It’s really important to know when and where something happened so we can get a good idea of the context. Going into detail about what it looks like helps the reader to really feel like they’re part of the story.

Conflict or Challenge 

A story in a narrative essay usually involves some kind of conflict or challenge that moves the plot along. It could be something inside the character, like a personal battle, or something from outside, like an issue they have to face in the world.

Theme or Message

A narrative essay isn’t just about recounting an event – it’s about showing the impact it had on you and what you took away from it. It’s an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings about the experience, and how it changed your outlook.

Emotional Impact

The author is trying to make the story they’re telling relatable, engaging, and memorable by using language and storytelling to evoke feelings in whoever’s reading it.

Narrative essays let writers have a blast telling stories about their own lives. It’s an opportunity to share insights and impart wisdom, or just have some fun with the reader. Descriptive language, sensory details, dialogue, and a great narrative voice are all essentials for making the story come alive.

The Purpose of a Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is more than just a story – it’s a way to share a meaningful, engaging, and relatable experience with the reader. Includes:

Sharing Personal Experience

Narrative essays are a great way for writers to share their personal experiences, feelings, thoughts, and reflections. It’s an opportunity to connect with readers and make them feel something.

Entertainment and Engagement

The essay attempts to keep the reader interested by using descriptive language, storytelling elements, and a powerful voice. It attempts to pull them in and make them feel involved by creating suspense, mystery, or an emotional connection.

Conveying a Message or Insight

Narrative essays are more than just a story – they aim to teach you something. They usually have a moral lesson, a new understanding, or a realization about life that the author gained from the experience.

Building Empathy and Understanding

By telling their stories, people can give others insight into different perspectives, feelings, and situations. Sharing these tales can create compassion in the reader and help broaden their knowledge of different life experiences.

Inspiration and Motivation

Stories about personal struggles, successes, and transformations can be really encouraging to people who are going through similar situations. It can provide them with hope and guidance, and let them know that they’re not alone.

Reflecting on Life’s Significance

These essays usually make you think about the importance of certain moments in life or the impact of certain experiences. They make you look deep within yourself and ponder on the things you learned or how you changed because of those events.

Demonstrating Writing Skills

Coming up with a gripping narrative essay takes serious writing chops, like vivid descriptions, powerful language, timing, and organization. It’s an opportunity for writers to show off their story-telling abilities.

Preserving Personal History

Sometimes narrative essays are used to record experiences and special moments that have an emotional resonance. They can be used to preserve individual memories or for future generations to look back on.

Cultural and Societal Exploration

Personal stories can look at cultural or social aspects, giving us an insight into customs, opinions, or social interactions seen through someone’s own experience.

Format of a Narrative Essay

Narrative essays are quite flexible in terms of format, which allows the writer to tell a story in a creative and compelling way. Here’s a quick breakdown of the narrative essay format, along with some examples:

Introduction

Set the scene and introduce the story.

Engage the reader and establish the tone of the narrative.

Hook: Start with a captivating opening line to grab the reader’s attention. For instance:

Example:  “The scorching sun beat down on us as we trekked through the desert, our water supply dwindling.”

Background Information: Provide necessary context or background without giving away the entire story.

Example:  “It was the summer of 2015 when I embarked on a life-changing journey to…”

Thesis Statement or Narrative Purpose

Present the main idea or the central message of the essay.

Offer a glimpse of what the reader can expect from the narrative.

Thesis Statement: This isn’t as rigid as in other essays but can be a sentence summarizing the essence of the story.

Example:  “Little did I know, that seemingly ordinary hike would teach me invaluable lessons about resilience and friendship.”

Body Paragraphs

Present the sequence of events in chronological order.

Develop characters, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Story Progression: Describe events in the order they occurred, focusing on details that evoke emotions and create vivid imagery.

Example: Detail the trek through the desert, the challenges faced, interactions with fellow hikers, and the pivotal moments.

Character Development: Introduce characters and their roles in the story. Show their emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Example: Describe how each character reacted to the dwindling water supply and supported each other through adversity.

Dialogue and Interactions: Use dialogue to bring the story to life and reveal character personalities.

Example: “Sarah handed me her last bottle of water, saying, ‘We’re in this together.'”

Reach the peak of the story, the moment of highest tension or significance.

Turning Point: Highlight the most crucial moment or realization in the narrative.

Example:  “As the sun dipped below the horizon and hope seemed lost, a distant sound caught our attention—the rescue team’s helicopters.”

Provide closure to the story.

Reflect on the significance of the experience and its impact.

Reflection: Summarize the key lessons learned or insights gained from the experience.

Example: “That hike taught me the true meaning of resilience and the invaluable support of friendship in challenging times.”

Closing Thought: End with a memorable line that reinforces the narrative’s message or leaves a lasting impression.

Example: “As we boarded the helicopters, I knew this adventure would forever be etched in my heart.”

Example Summary:

Imagine a narrative about surviving a challenging hike through the desert, emphasizing the bonds formed and lessons learned. The narrative essay structure might look like starting with an engaging scene, narrating the hardships faced, showcasing the characters’ resilience, and culminating in a powerful realization about friendship and endurance.

Different Types of Narrative Essays

There are a bunch of different types of narrative essays – each one focuses on different elements of storytelling and has its own purpose. Here’s a breakdown of the narrative essay types and what they mean.

Personal Narrative

Description: Tells a personal story or experience from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Reflects on personal growth, lessons learned, or significant moments.

Example of Narrative Essay Types:

Topic: “The Day I Conquered My Fear of Public Speaking”

Focus: Details the experience, emotions, and eventual triumph over a fear of public speaking during a pivotal event.

Descriptive Narrative

Description: Emphasizes vivid details and sensory imagery.

Purpose: Creates a sensory experience, painting a vivid picture for the reader.

Topic: “A Walk Through the Enchanted Forest”

Focus: Paints a detailed picture of the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings experienced during a walk through a mystical forest.

Autobiographical Narrative

Description: Chronicles significant events or moments from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Provides insights into the writer’s life, experiences, and growth.

Topic: “Lessons from My Childhood: How My Grandmother Shaped Who I Am”

Focus: Explores pivotal moments and lessons learned from interactions with a significant family member.

Experiential Narrative

Description: Relays experiences beyond the writer’s personal life.

Purpose: Shares experiences, travels, or events from a broader perspective.

Topic: “Volunteering in a Remote Village: A Journey of Empathy”

Focus: Chronicles the writer’s volunteering experience, highlighting interactions with a community and personal growth.

Literary Narrative

Description: Incorporates literary elements like symbolism, allegory, or thematic explorations.

Purpose: Uses storytelling for deeper explorations of themes or concepts.

Topic: “The Symbolism of the Red Door: A Journey Through Change”

Focus: Uses a red door as a symbol, exploring its significance in the narrator’s life and the theme of transition.

Historical Narrative

Description: Recounts historical events or periods through a personal lens.

Purpose: Presents history through personal experiences or perspectives.

Topic: “A Grandfather’s Tales: Living Through the Great Depression”

Focus: Shares personal stories from a family member who lived through a historical era, offering insights into that period.

Digital or Multimedia Narrative

Description: Incorporates multimedia elements like images, videos, or audio to tell a story.

Purpose: Explores storytelling through various digital platforms or formats.

Topic: “A Travel Diary: Exploring Europe Through Vlogs”

Focus: Combines video clips, photos, and personal narration to document a travel experience.

How to Choose a Topic for Your Narrative Essay?

Selecting a compelling topic for your narrative essay is crucial as it sets the stage for your storytelling. Choosing a boring topic is one of the narrative essay mistakes to avoid . Here’s a detailed guide on how to choose the right topic:

Reflect on Personal Experiences

• Significant Moments:

Moments that had a profound impact on your life or shaped your perspective.

Example: A moment of triumph, overcoming a fear, a life-changing decision, or an unforgettable experience.

• Emotional Resonance:

Events that evoke strong emotions or feelings.

Example: Joy, fear, sadness, excitement, or moments of realization.

• Lessons Learned:

Experiences that taught you valuable lessons or brought about personal growth.

Example: Challenges that led to personal development, shifts in mindset, or newfound insights.

Explore Unique Perspectives

• Uncommon Experiences:

Unique or unconventional experiences that might captivate the reader’s interest.

Example: Unusual travels, interactions with different cultures, or uncommon hobbies.

• Different Points of View:

Stories from others’ perspectives that impacted you deeply.

Example: A family member’s story, a friend’s experience, or a historical event from a personal lens.

Focus on Specific Themes or Concepts

• Themes or Concepts of Interest:

Themes or ideas you want to explore through storytelling.

Example: Friendship, resilience, identity, cultural diversity, or personal transformation.

• Symbolism or Metaphor:

Using symbols or metaphors as the core of your narrative.

Example: Exploring the symbolism of an object or a place in relation to a broader theme.

Consider Your Audience and Purpose

• Relevance to Your Audience:

Topics that resonate with your audience’s interests or experiences.

Example: Choose a relatable theme or experience that your readers might connect with emotionally.

• Impact or Message:

What message or insight do you want to convey through your story?

Example: Choose a topic that aligns with the message or lesson you aim to impart to your readers.

Brainstorm and Evaluate Ideas

• Free Writing or Mind Mapping:

Process: Write down all potential ideas without filtering. Mind maps or free-writing exercises can help generate diverse ideas.

• Evaluate Feasibility:

The depth of the story, the availability of vivid details, and your personal connection to the topic.

Imagine you’re considering topics for a narrative essay. You reflect on your experiences and decide to explore the topic of “Overcoming Stage Fright: How a School Play Changed My Perspective.” This topic resonates because it involves a significant challenge you faced and the personal growth it brought about.

Narrative Essay Topics

50 easy narrative essay topics.

• Learning to Ride a Bike
• My First Day of School
• A Surprise Birthday Party
• The Day I Got Lost
• Visiting a Haunted House
• An Encounter with a Wild Animal
• My Favorite Childhood Toy
• The Best Vacation I Ever Had
• An Unforgettable Family Gathering
• Conquering a Fear of Heights
• A Special Gift I Received
• Moving to a New City
• The Most Memorable Meal
• Getting Caught in a Rainstorm
• An Act of Kindness I Witnessed
• The First Time I Cooked a Meal
• My Experience with a New Hobby
• The Day I Met My Best Friend
• A Hike in the Mountains
• Learning a New Language
• An Embarrassing Moment
• Dealing with a Bully
• My First Job Interview
• A Sporting Event I Attended
• The Scariest Dream I Had
• Helping a Stranger
• The Joy of Achieving a Goal
• A Road Trip Adventure
• Overcoming a Personal Challenge
• The Significance of a Family Tradition
• An Unusual Pet I Owned
• A Misunderstanding with a Friend
• Exploring an Abandoned Building
• My Favorite Book and Why
• The Impact of a Role Model
• A Cultural Celebration I Participated In
• A Valuable Lesson from a Teacher
• A Trip to the Zoo
• An Unplanned Adventure
• Volunteering Experience
• A Moment of Forgiveness
• A Decision I Regretted
• A Special Talent I Have
• The Importance of Family Traditions
• The Thrill of Performing on Stage
• A Moment of Sudden Inspiration
• The Meaning of Home
• Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
• A Childhood Memory at the Park
• Witnessing a Beautiful Sunset

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

• Discovering a New Passion
• Overcoming Academic Challenges
• Navigating Cultural Differences
• Embracing Independence: Moving Away from Home
• Exploring Career Aspirations
• Coping with Stress in College
• The Impact of a Mentor in My Life
• Balancing Work and Studies
• Facing a Fear of Public Speaking
• Exploring a Semester Abroad
• The Evolution of My Study Habits
• Volunteering Experience That Changed My Perspective
• The Role of Technology in Education
• Finding Balance: Social Life vs. Academics
• Learning a New Skill Outside the Classroom
• Reflecting on Freshman Year Challenges
• The Joys and Struggles of Group Projects
• My Experience with Internship or Work Placement
• Challenges of Time Management in College
• Redefining Success Beyond Grades
• The Influence of Literature on My Thinking
• The Impact of Social Media on College Life
• Overcoming Procrastination
• Lessons from a Leadership Role
• Exploring Diversity on Campus
• Exploring Passion for Environmental Conservation
• An Eye-Opening Course That Changed My Perspective
• Living with Roommates: Challenges and Lessons
• The Significance of Extracurricular Activities
• The Influence of a Professor on My Academic Journey
• Discussing Mental Health in College
• The Evolution of My Career Goals
• Confronting Personal Biases Through Education
• The Experience of Attending a Conference or Symposium
• Challenges Faced by Non-Native English Speakers in College
• The Impact of Traveling During Breaks
• Exploring Identity: Cultural or Personal
• The Impact of Music or Art on My Life
• Addressing Diversity in the Classroom
• Exploring Entrepreneurial Ambitions
• My Experience with Research Projects
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in College
• The Importance of Networking in College
• Finding Resilience During Tough Times
• The Impact of Global Issues on Local Perspectives
• The Influence of Family Expectations on Education
• Lessons from a Part-Time Job
• Exploring the College Sports Culture
• The Role of Technology in Modern Education
• The Journey of Self-Discovery Through Education

Narrative Essay Comparison

Narrative essay vs. descriptive essay.

Here’s our first narrative essay comparison! While both narrative and descriptive essays focus on vividly portraying a subject or an event, they differ in their primary objectives and approaches. Now, let’s delve into the nuances of comparison on narrative essays.

Narrative Essay:

Storytelling: Focuses on narrating a personal experience or event.

Chronological Order: Follows a structured timeline of events to tell a story.

Message or Lesson: Often includes a central message, moral, or lesson learned from the experience.

Engagement: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling storyline and character development.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, using “I” and expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a plot with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Focuses on describing characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Conflict or Challenge: Usually involves a central conflict or challenge that drives the narrative forward.

Dialogue: Incorporates conversations to bring characters and their interactions to life.

Reflection: Concludes with reflection or insight gained from the experience.

Descriptive Essay:

Vivid Description: Aims to vividly depict a person, place, object, or event.

Imagery and Details: Focuses on sensory details to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.

Emotion through Description: Uses descriptive language to evoke emotions and engage the reader’s senses.

Painting a Picture: Creates a sensory-rich description allowing the reader to visualize the subject.

Imagery and Sensory Details: Focuses on providing rich sensory descriptions, using vivid language and adjectives.

Point of Focus: Concentrates on describing a specific subject or scene in detail.

Spatial Organization: Often employs spatial organization to describe from one area or aspect to another.

Objective Observations: Typically avoids the use of personal opinions or emotions; instead, the focus remains on providing a detailed and objective description.

Comparison:

Focus: Narrative essays emphasize storytelling, while descriptive essays focus on vividly describing a subject or scene.

Perspective: Narrative essays are often written from a first-person perspective, while descriptive essays may use a more objective viewpoint.

Purpose: Narrative essays aim to convey a message or lesson through a story, while descriptive essays aim to paint a detailed picture for the reader without necessarily conveying a specific message.

Narrative Essay vs. Argumentative Essay

The narrative essay and the argumentative essay serve distinct purposes and employ different approaches:

Engagement and Emotion: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling story.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience or lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, sharing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a storyline with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Message or Lesson: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Argumentative Essay:

Persuasion and Argumentation: Aims to persuade the reader to adopt the writer’s viewpoint on a specific topic.

Logical Reasoning: Presents evidence, facts, and reasoning to support a particular argument or stance.

Debate and Counterarguments: Acknowledge opposing views and counter them with evidence and reasoning.

Thesis Statement: Includes a clear thesis statement that outlines the writer’s position on the topic.

Thesis and Evidence: Starts with a strong thesis statement and supports it with factual evidence, statistics, expert opinions, or logical reasoning.

Counterarguments: Addresses opposing viewpoints and provides rebuttals with evidence.

Logical Structure: Follows a logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting arguments and evidence, and a conclusion reaffirming the thesis.

Formal Language: Uses formal language and avoids personal anecdotes or emotional appeals.

Objective: Argumentative essays focus on presenting a logical argument supported by evidence, while narrative essays prioritize storytelling and personal reflection.

Purpose: Argumentative essays aim to persuade and convince the reader of a particular viewpoint, while narrative essays aim to engage, entertain, and share personal experiences.

Structure: Narrative essays follow a storytelling structure with character development and plot, while argumentative essays follow a more formal, structured approach with logical arguments and evidence.

In essence, while both essays involve writing and presenting information, the narrative essay focuses on sharing a personal experience, whereas the argumentative essay aims to persuade the audience by presenting a well-supported argument.

Narrative Essay vs. Personal Essay

While there can be an overlap between narrative and personal essays, they have distinctive characteristics:

Storytelling: Emphasizes recounting a specific experience or event in a structured narrative form.

Engagement through Story: Aims to engage the reader through a compelling story with characters, plot, and a central theme or message.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience and the lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s viewpoint, expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Focuses on developing a storyline with a clear beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Includes descriptions of characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Central Message: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Personal Essay:

Exploration of Ideas or Themes: Explores personal ideas, opinions, or reflections on a particular topic or subject.

Expression of Thoughts and Opinions: Expresses the writer’s thoughts, feelings, and perspectives on a specific subject matter.

Reflection and Introspection: Often involves self-reflection and introspection on personal experiences, beliefs, or values.

Varied Structure and Content: Can encompass various forms, including memoirs, personal anecdotes, or reflections on life experiences.

Flexibility in Structure: Allows for diverse structures and forms based on the writer’s intent, which could be narrative-like or more reflective.

Theme-Centric Writing: Focuses on exploring a central theme or idea, with personal anecdotes or experiences supporting and illustrating the theme.

Expressive Language: Utilizes descriptive and expressive language to convey personal perspectives, emotions, and opinions.

Focus: Narrative essays primarily focus on storytelling through a structured narrative, while personal essays encompass a broader range of personal expression, which can include storytelling but isn’t limited to it.

Structure: Narrative essays have a more structured plot development with characters and a clear sequence of events, while personal essays might adopt various structures, focusing more on personal reflection, ideas, or themes.

Intent: While both involve personal experiences, narrative essays emphasize telling a story with a message or lesson learned, while personal essays aim to explore personal thoughts, feelings, or opinions on a broader range of topics or themes.

A narrative essay is more than just telling a story. It’s also meant to engage the reader, get them thinking, and leave a lasting impact. Whether it’s to amuse, motivate, teach, or reflect, these essays are a great way to communicate with your audience. This interesting narrative essay guide was all about letting you understand the narrative essay, its importance, and how can you write one.

Order Original Papers & Essays

Your First Custom Paper Sample is on Us!

Timely Deliveries

No Plagiarism & AI

100% Refund

Try Our Free Paper Writing Service

Related blogs.

Connections with Writers and support

Privacy and Confidentiality Guarantee

Average Quality Score

Essay on Meeting A Stranger

Students are often asked to write an essay on Meeting A Stranger in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Meeting A Stranger

Introduction.

Meeting a stranger can be an exciting event. It can be a chance to learn about new people, their lives, and their cultures. It’s like opening a new book, full of unknown stories.

The Excitement of Newness

Meeting a stranger brings a sense of newness. You don’t know anything about them. This makes the conversation thrilling. You get to know about their life, their likes, dislikes, and their views on different things.

Learning From Strangers

Every person has a different story to tell. When you meet a stranger, you get a chance to learn from their experiences. Their stories can teach you important life lessons.

Building Connections

Meeting a stranger can lead to new friendships. Sometimes, a casual meeting can turn into a strong bond. It’s a way to expand your social circle.

In conclusion, meeting a stranger can be a wonderful experience. It’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and make new friends. So, the next time you meet a stranger, be open and friendly.

250 Words Essay on Meeting A Stranger

Meeting a stranger can be an exciting event. It can lead to new friendships, learning new things, and even open doors to new opportunities.

First Impressions

The first time you meet a stranger, you might feel a bit scared or unsure. This is normal. It’s important to remember that the stranger might feel the same way. A friendly smile and a kind greeting can help put both of you at ease.

Communication

When you meet a stranger, it’s important to talk and listen. You can ask about their hobbies, likes, and dislikes. You should also share about yourself. This helps to build a connection. It’s important to be respectful and polite while talking.

Learning from Strangers

Meeting a stranger can be a great way to learn new things. They might come from a different place or have different experiences. By talking to them, you can learn about their culture, traditions, and way of life. This can help you understand the world better.

While it can be fun to meet new people, it’s also important to be safe. You should always meet strangers in public places. If you ever feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to leave or ask for help.

In conclusion, meeting a stranger can be a rewarding experience. It can help you make new friends, learn new things, and understand the world better. But remember, always be safe and respect the other person’s feelings and privacy.

500 Words Essay on Meeting A Stranger

Meeting a stranger can be a thrilling and exciting event. It can also be a bit scary. We meet strangers every day. They could be new classmates, people at the park, or even people we meet online. Each meeting is a chance to learn something new, make a friend, or gain a new experience.

The first few moments of meeting a stranger are very important. This is when we make our first thoughts about the person. Are they friendly? Do they seem mean? These thoughts are called first impressions. They can be wrong sometimes, but they can also guide us in how we approach the person. It’s important to be open-minded and not judge too quickly.

Talking to a stranger can be hard. What should you say? What if you say something wrong? The key is to be kind and polite. Ask about their interests, their day, or anything else that seems safe. Listen to their answers and respond in a friendly way. This is how you start a good conversation.

Body Language

Body language is another important part of meeting a stranger. This means how you stand, where you look, and what you do with your hands. Good body language can show the other person that you are friendly and interested in what they have to say. Bad body language can make them think you are bored or rude. It’s important to be aware of your body language when meeting a stranger.

Safety is very important when meeting a stranger. Always meet in a public place where there are other people around. Never give out personal information like your home address or phone number. If you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe, it’s okay to leave. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Learning and Growing

Meeting a stranger can be a chance to learn and grow. You can learn about different cultures, hobbies, or ways of life. You can also grow as a person by improving your social skills and becoming more confident. Remember, every person you meet knows something you don’t. So, each meeting is a chance to learn something new.

In conclusion, meeting a stranger can be a wonderful experience. It can be scary at first, but with the right approach, it can lead to new friendships, learning experiences, and personal growth. Remember to be open-minded, polite, aware of your body language, and always prioritize your safety. So next time you meet a stranger, remember these tips and make the most out of the experience.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Meeting A Husband
• Essay on Meeting A Friend After A Long Time
• Essay on Meeting A Famous Person

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Your Story Club

Read, Write & Publish Short Stories

When I met a stranger in my Life

Published by syedabuthahir in category Social and Moral with tag Memories | stranger | train | travel

Life is always full of surprises. We never know what is next, it’s much better by that way. I got placed in one of the major IT company in India. I used to travel a lot in fact I love to travel. I like to visit places unfortunately I was bounded by family all the time means wherever I go somewhere, someone closely associated to my family will directly or indirectly keep a watch for my wellbeing. I promised myself to jump out of this boundary. I managed somehow and moved to Chennai. There were lot of ups and downs but I was very sportive and adopted any kind of life style.

When there was an option to work in North India my HR refused to transfer me to Noida. She simply stated that I don’t know Hindi and it will be horrible to survive in there without any assistance. But fortune was by myside, team don’t have any alternative and they accepted. My intuition says that it is going to be a quest. Within three days myself and another five from my team were travelling in Tamil Nadu Express. At last a long-awaited journey started. I never know that it is going to change my lifestyle.

This was the first time I am travelling in an AC coach. Within an hour, I felt bored when people around me inside that compartment were busy with their mobile phones and books. Except me all my colleagues speak Hindi well and they start to chit chat all I can give them is a dry smile whether I understand or not. When I walked within the compartment people start to stare as if I am a thief and I don’t want to have a glance back like that so I came back to my seat. The compartment was so chill without any fresh air so I want to get out of that place.

When I reached the door, here comes our stranger. I saw a middle-aged woman standing next to the door. She was little bit bulgier so she doesn’t need her hands to hold herself against the door. We both made an eye contact and soon she judged that I was there to have a smoke try to move away from there. But I signaled her to stay there so I can reach and occupy the next door. When I opened the door it creeped of course she was annoyed. I smiled and start to view the Deccan plateaus. She passed a chewing gum to me I forget the basic protocol of travel (Never ever get take any eatables from your neighbor). I grabbed one and she introduced herself as Shashi.

We both chit chatted for another ten minutes, mostly whereabouts the travel and she gave a dry run about herself. She was an entrepreneur and an explorer then she moved on to her seat. By the time my colleagues start to search me to get my hard disk. I moved on and introduced her to my mates. She starts to speak about her explorations especially about the visit to Ladakh. I am the only one to make nuisance there asking about how she planned and about the amenities. She shared most of her experiences both good and bad.

Before boarding on to this train she visited to lot of temples in Tamil Nadu. She mentions about the care and support she received from the locals and talks a lot about the architecture of the olden temples in Tamil Nadu. After all this I start to realize that I visited to most of these places but never mind about its worth. “Distance lends enchantment to the view” I read it in my school but I realized the fact once reached. She gave lot of tips for my wellbeing.

By the time, I am typing this boring page she might be wandering somewhere in the north-east of India.

–END–

Author’s Area

• Where is dashboard?
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Write short story
• Change name
• Change password
• Add profile image

Story Contests

• Love Letter Contest
• Creative Writing
• Story from Picture
• Love Story Contest
• Featured Stories
• Editor’s Choice
• Selected Stories
• Kids’ Bedtime
• Hindi Story
• Hindi Poetry
• Hindi Article
• Write in Hindi

How to Write a Perfect Narrative Essay (Step-by-Step)

By Status.net Editorial Team on October 17, 2023 — 10 minutes to read

• Understanding a Narrative Essay Part 1
• Typical Narrative Essay Structure Part 2
• Narrative Essay Template Part 3
• Step 1. How to Choose Your Narrative Essay Topic Part 4
• Step 2. Planning the Structure Part 5
• Step 3. Crafting an Intriguing Introduction Part 6
• Step 4. Weaving the Narrative Body Part 7
• Step 5. Creating a Conclusion Part 8
• Step 6. Polishing the Essay Part 9
• Step 7. Feedback and Revision Part 10

Part 1 Understanding a Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is a form of writing where you share a personal experience or tell a story to make a point or convey a lesson. Unlike other types of essays, a narrative essay aims to engage your audience by sharing your perspective and taking them on an emotional journey.

• To begin, choose a meaningful topic . Pick a story or experience that had a significant impact on your life, taught you something valuable, or made you see the world differently. You want your readers to learn from your experiences, so choose something that will resonate with others.
• Next, create an outline . Although narrative essays allow for creative storytelling, it’s still helpful to have a roadmap to guide your writing. List the main events, the characters involved, and the settings where the events took place. This will help you ensure that your essay is well-structured and easy to follow.
• When writing your narrative essay, focus on showing, not telling . This means that you should use descriptive language and vivid details to paint a picture in your reader’s mind. For example, instead of stating that it was a rainy day, describe the sound of rain hitting your window, the feeling of cold wetness around you, and the sight of puddles forming around your feet. These sensory details will make your essay more engaging and immersive.
• Another key aspect is developing your characters . Give your readers an insight into the thoughts and emotions of the people in your story. This helps them connect with the story, empathize with the characters, and understand their actions. For instance, if your essay is about a challenging hike you took with a friend, spend some time describing your friend’s personality and how the experience impacted their attitude or feelings.
• Keep the pace interesting . Vary your sentence lengths and structures, and don’t be afraid to use some stylistic devices like dialogue, flashbacks, and metaphors. This adds more depth and dimension to your story, keeping your readers engaged from beginning to end.

Part 2 Typical Narrative Essay Structure

A narrative essay typically follows a three-part structure: introduction, body, and conclusion.

• Introduction: Start with a hook to grab attention and introduce your story. Provide some background to set the stage for the main events.
• Body: Develop your story in detail. Describe scenes, characters, and emotions. Use dialogue when necessary to provide conversational elements.
• Conclusion: Sum up your story, revealing the lesson learned or the moral of the story. Leave your audience with a lasting impression.

Part 3 Narrative Essay Template

• 1. Introduction : Set the scene and introduce the main characters and setting of your story. Use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture for your reader and capture their attention.
• Body 2. Rising Action : Develop the plot by introducing a conflict or challenge that the main character must face. This could be a personal struggle, a difficult decision, or an external obstacle. 3. Climax : This is the turning point of the story, where the conflict reaches its peak and the main character must make a critical decision or take action. 4. Falling Action : Show the consequences of the main character’s decision or action, and how it affects the rest of the story. 5. Resolution : Bring the story to a satisfying conclusion by resolving the conflict and showing how the main character has grown or changed as a result of their experiences.
• 6. Reflection/Conclusion : Reflect on the events of the story and what they mean to you as the writer. This could be a lesson learned, a personal realization, or a message you want to convey to your reader.

Part 4 Step 1. How to Choose Your Narrative Essay Topic

Brainstorming ideas.

Start by jotting down any ideas that pop into your mind. Think about experiences you’ve had, stories you’ve heard, or even books and movies that have resonated with you. Write these ideas down and don’t worry too much about organization yet. It’s all about getting your thoughts on paper.

Once you have a list, review your ideas and identify common themes or connections between them. This process should help you discover potential topics for your narrative essay.

Narrowing Down the Choices

After brainstorming, you’ll likely end up with a few strong contenders for your essay topic. To decide which topic is best, consider the following:

• Relevance : Is the topic meaningful for your audience? Will they be able to connect with it on a personal level? Consider the purpose of your assignment and your audience when choosing your topic.
• Detail : Do you have enough specific details to craft a vivid story? The more detail you can recall about the event, the easier it’ll be to write a compelling narrative.
• Emotional impact : A strong narrative essay should evoke emotions in your readers. Choose a topic that has the potential to elicit some emotional response from your target audience.

After evaluating your potential topics based on these criteria, you can select the one that best fits the purpose of your narrative essay.

Part 5 Step 2. Planning the Structure

Creating an outline.

Before you start writing your narrative essay, it’s a great idea to plan out your story. Grab a piece of paper and sketch out a rough outline of the key points you want to cover. Begin with the introduction, where you’ll set the scene and introduce your characters. Then, list the major events of your story in chronological order, followed by the climax and resolution. Organizing your ideas in an outline will ensure your essay flows smoothly and makes sense to your readers.

Detailing Characters, Settings, and Events

Taking time to flesh out the characters, settings, and events in your story will make it more engaging and relatable. Think about your main character’s background, traits, and motivations. Describe their appearance, emotions, and behavior in detail. This personal touch will help your readers connect with them on a deeper level.

Also, give some thought to the setting – where does the story take place? Be sure to include sensory details that paint a vivid picture of the environment. Finally, focus on the series of events that make up your narrative. Are there any twists and turns, or surprising moments? Address these in your essay, using vivid language and engaging storytelling techniques to captivate your readers.

Writing the Narrative Essay

Part 6 step 3. crafting an intriguing introduction.

To start your narrative essay, you’ll want to hook your reader with an interesting and engaging opening. Begin with a captivating sentence or question that piques curiosity and captures attention. For example, “Did you ever think a simple bus ride could change your life forever?” This kind of opening sets the stage for a compelling, relatable story. Next, introduce your main characters and provide a bit of context to help your readers understand the setting and background of the story.

Part 7 Step 4. Weaving the Narrative Body

The body of your essay is where your story unfolds. Here’s where you’ll present a series of events, using descriptive language and vivid details.

Remember to maintain a strong focus on the central theme or main point of your narrative.

Organize your essay chronologically, guiding your reader through the timeline of events.

As you recount your experience, use a variety of sensory details, such as sounds, smells, and tastes, to immerse your reader in the moment. For instance, “The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room as my friends and I excitedly chattered about our upcoming adventure.”

Take advantage of dialogue to bring your characters to life and to reveal aspects of their personalities. Incorporate both internal and external conflicts, as conflict plays a crucial role in engaging your reader and enhancing the narrative’s momentum. Show the evolution of your characters and how they grow throughout the story.

Part 8 Step 5. Creating a Conclusion

Finally, to write a satisfying conclusion, reflect on the narrative’s impact and how the experience has affected you or your characters. Tie the narrative’s events together and highlight the lessons learned, providing closure for the reader.

Avoid abruptly ending your story, because that can leave the reader feeling unsatisfied. Instead, strive to create a sense of resolution and demonstrate how the events have changed the characters’ perspectives or how the story’s theme has developed.

For example, “Looking back, I realize that the bus ride not only changed my perspective on friendship, but also taught me valuable life lessons that I carry with me to this day.”

Part 9 Step 6. Polishing the Essay

Fine-tuning your language.

When writing a narrative essay, it’s key to choose words that convey the emotions and experiences you’re describing. Opt for specific, vivid language that creates a clear mental image for your reader. For instance, instead of saying “The weather was hot,” try “The sun scorched the pavement, causing the air to shimmer like a mirage.” This gives your essay a more engaging and immersive feeling.

Editing for Clarity and Concision

As you revise your essay, keep an eye out for redundancies and unnecessary words that might dilute the impact of your story. Getting to the point and using straightforward language can help your essay flow better. For example, instead of using “She was walking in a very slow manner,” you can say, “She strolled leisurely.” Eliminate filler words and phrases, keeping only the most pertinent information that moves your story forward.

Proofreading for Typos

Finally, proofread your essay carefully to catch any typos, grammatical errors, or punctuation mistakes. It’s always a good idea to have someone else read it as well, as they might catch errors you didn’t notice. Mistakes can be distracting and may undermine the credibility of your writing, so be thorough with your editing process.

Part 10 Step 7. Feedback and Revision

Gathering feedback.

After you’ve written the first draft of your narrative essay, it’s time to gather feedback from friends, family, or colleagues. Share your essay with a few trusted people who can provide insights and suggestions for improvement. Listen to their thoughts and be open to constructive criticism. You might be surprised by the different perspectives they offer, which can strengthen your essay.

Iterating on the Draft

Once you have collected feedback, it’s time to revise and refine your essay. Address any issues or concerns raised by your readers and incorporate their suggestions. Consider reorganizing your story’s structure, clarifying your descriptions, or adding more details based on the feedback you received.

As you make changes, continue to fine-tune your essay to ensure a smooth flow and a strong narrative. Don’t be afraid to cut out unnecessary elements or rework parts of your story until it’s polished and compelling.

Revision is a crucial part of the writing process, and taking the time to reflect on feedback and make improvements will help you create a more engaging and impactful narrative essay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i create an engaging introduction.

Craft an attention-grabbing hook with a thought-provoking question, an interesting fact, or a vivid description. Set the stage for your story by introducing the time, place, and context for the events. Creating tension or raising curiosity will make your readers eager to learn more.

What strategies help develop strong characters?

To develop strong characters, consider the following:

• Give your characters distinct traits, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Provide a backstory to explain their actions and motivations.
• Use dialogue to present their personality, emotions, and relationships.
• Show how they change or evolve throughout your story.

How can I make my story flow smoothly with transitions?

Smooth transitions between scenes or events can create a more coherent and easy-to-follow story. Consider the following tips to improve your transitions:

• Use words and phrases like “meanwhile,” “later that day,” or “afterward” to signify changes in time.
• Link scenes with a common theme or element.
• Revisit the main characters or setting to maintain continuity.
• Introduce a twist or an unexpected event that leads to the next scene.

What are some tips for choosing a great narrative essay topic?

To choose an engaging narrative essay topic, follow these tips:

• Pick a personal experience or story that holds significance for you.
• Consider a challenge or a turning point you’ve faced in your life.
• Opt for a topic that will allow you to share emotions and lessons learned.
• Think about what your audience would find relatable, intriguing, or inspiring.

How do I wrap up my narrative essay with a strong conclusion?

A compelling conclusion restates the main events and highlights any lessons learned or growth in your character. Try to end on a thought-provoking note or leave readers with some food for thought. Finally, make sure your conclusion wraps up your story neatly and reinforces its overall message.

• How to Write a Perfect Project Plan? [The Easy Guide]
• How to Write a Thoughtful Apology Letter (Inspiring Examples)
• 5 Main Change Management Models: ADKAR vs Kubler Ross vs McKinsey 7S vs Lewin's vs Kotter’s 8 Step
• How to Write a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
• How to Write an Effective Performance Review (Essential Steps)
• How to Write Scope of Work - 7 Necessary Steps and 6 Best Practices

Reader finds ‘Stranger in my House’ relatable

Dear Annie: Years ago, Ann Landers published an essay about a woman who sees a stranger in the mirror. Can you reprint it? It’s very apropos to what some of my friends and I are going through. — Northern California Girl

Dear Northern California: Here is an edited version of Rose Mula’s piece, copyrighted in 1999. If you would like to read more of Rose’s work, it is available at www.seniorwomen.com.

“The Stranger in My House” by Rose Madeline Mula

A very weird thing has happened. A strange old lady has moved into my house. I have no idea who she is, where she came from, or how she got in. I certainly did not invite her. All I know is that one day, she wasn’t there, and the next day, she was.

She is a clever old lady, and manages to keep out of sight for the most part, but whenever I pass a mirror, I catch a glimpse of her. And whenever I look in the mirror to check my appearance, there she is, hogging the whole thing, completely obliterating my gorgeous face and body. This is very rude. I have tried screaming at her, but she just screams back.

If she insists on hanging around, the least she could do is offer to pay part of the rent, but no. Every once in a while, I find a dollar bill stuck in a coat pocket or some loose change under a sofa cushion, but it is not nearly enough.

I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I think she is stealing money from me. I go to the ATM and withdraw $100, and a few days later, it’s all gone. I certainly don’t spend money that fast, so I can only conclude the old lady is pilfering from me.

You’d think she would spend some of that money to buy wrinkle cream. Lord knows she needs it. And money isn’t the only thing I think she is stealing. Food seems to disappear at an alarming rate — especially the good stuff like ice cream, cookies and candy. I can’t seem to keep that stuff in the house anymore. She must have a real sweet tooth, but she’d better watch it, because she is really packing on the pounds. I suspect she realizes this, and to make herself feel better, she is tampering with my scale to make me think I am putting on weight, too.

For an old lady, she is quite childish. She likes to play nasty games, like going into my closets when I’m not home and altering my clothes so they don’t fit. And she messes with my files and papers so I can’t find anything. This is particularly annoying since I am extremely neat and organized. She also fiddles with my VCR so it does not record what I have carefully and correctly programmed.

She has found other imaginative ways to annoy me. She gets into my mail, newspapers and magazines before I do, and blurs the print so I can’t read it. And she has done something really sinister to the volume controls on my TV, radio and telephone. Now, all I hear are mumbles and whispers.

She has done other things — like make my stairs steeper, my vacuum cleaner heavier and all my knobs and faucets harder to turn. She even made my bed higher so that getting into and out of it is a real challenge. Lately, she has been fooling with my groceries before I put them away, applying glue to the lids, making it almost impossible for me to open the jars. Is this any way to repay my hospitality?

She has taken the fun out of shopping for clothes. When I try something on, she stands in front of the dressing room mirror and monopolizes it. She looks totally ridiculous in some of those outfits, plus, she keeps me from seeing how great they look on me.

Just when I thought she couldn’t get any meaner, she proved me wrong. She came along when I went to get my picture taken for my driver’s license, and just as the camera shutter clicked, she jumped in front of me! No one is going to believe that the picture of that old lady is me.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to [email protected], or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. To find out more about Annie’s Mailbox and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

A stranger in my house

To the woman who stole my woman

Written to make sense to the one who read with sense

Other works by Druza...

In the season of sickness the days of fever and coldness hunger ruling and farms growing bo… The woman who was abandoned by her… adopted by the love of the woods

The House Burglar — a short story for English reading & speaking

Tony hears a noise in his home in the middle of the night. He goes downstairs to take a look and comes face to face with a burglar.

This is a short story about burglary — thieves that break into people’s homes to steal — and what to do during a situation like this.

This lesson plan comes complete with the short story, lots of questions, a role play, a debate and a writing exercise.

Ready to download and use today.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What is a house burglar?

How do they get into people’s homes?

Do you have house burglars in your country?

The House Burglar

Tony opened the kitchen door and came face to face with a burglar in his house.

He jumped back, letting out a sound.

“Cor, you scared the life out of me.”

The thief also jumped back. He was seventeen.

“Get back,” he said. “I’ve got a knife.”

The knife was in his hand. Tony glanced at it, quickly raised his eyes back to the boy’s face.

“I can see that. I’m not gonna try any heroics.”

The boy’s face creased. His eyes blinked back at Tony.

“Where’s the money?”

Tony shook his head.

“What money?”

“The money. Your money. Where do you keep it?”

Tony stared back at the boy. In his mind, he tried to assess what he should do in a situation like this.

Look away? Give him everything he wanted?

And what about Dorrie upstairs?

She could wake up and she would absolutely come downstairs to find out what all the noise was about. He didn’t want her anywhere near this.

“I don’t have any money here. Apart from what’s in my pocket. And that’s about ten quid. You’re welcome to have that.”

“Don’t mess me around, old man.”

The boy raised the knife. Tony ignored his shaking hand.

“I need the money. And all your other stuff. Watches, jewellery.”

Tony kept quiet for a second. No use in alarming this kid. He was nervous as all hell, and the wrong word could send that knife swinging through the air.

“Look, I’m just an ordinary person. I’ve got a watch — you can have that. It’s worth about ten quid. I haven’t got any jewellery. What would I do with jewellery?”

A bead of sweat poured down the side of the kid’s face.

“You must have something. Computers, phones. Give me something.”

“I’ve got a laptop. I don’t know what you’ll get for that. Not much, I don’t think. It’s upstairs —”

Tony regretted saying it as soon as the words came out of his mouth. He needed to keep this kid downstairs.

“I’ve got a phone. But British Telecom gave it to me. I don’t even know how to use it properly.” He smiled back at the boy in an attempt to appease him.

The boy’s eyes darted from left to right. He quickly scanned the kitchen, hoping to see a bag of swag on a shelf or a display of Rolex watches. He had not done his homework, he had judged incorrectly. The older guy in the pub had told him wrong.

All them houses on Bloomfield, they’re all rich people, them.

They might have some money, but they didn’t keep safes in their living rooms embedded in the wall behind a picture.

“Upstairs,” said the boy. “Go upstairs.”

“Upstairs? No.” The words blurted out of Tony’s mouth before he had time to think.

“I said upstairs, old man,” the boy barked back.

“There’s nothing up there,” said Tony. “There’s nothing here at all. Like I told you, I got a little bit of money in my pocket of my trousers — no more than fifteen quid. And you can have that. And my watch? I only use it for telling the time. It’s worthless.”

“Go in there,” said the boy, jerking his head to the living room. He stepped forward, the knife held at eye-level.

Tony stepped back.

The boy came forward and Tony reversed back to the living room door. He opened it and stepped in.

“Turn the light on,” snapped the kid.

Tony clicked the switch.

The boy came forward and shoved Tony into the middle of the room.

“Sit down,” he said and shoved him onto the sofa.

Tony now had a better view of this kid.

He was skinny. And he stank of beer. He didn’t seem drunk though. Maybe just a couple of pints for courage.

The boy pulled at things on the shelves. Books, small framed pictures, Dorrie’s beloved ornaments.

He was muttering to himself.

“You must have something, you gotta keep something here…”

Tony stayed dead still on the sofa. He prayed that his wife did not hear a sound.

“Where’s the stuff?” The boy reeled on Tony again. The frustration and fear visible in his eyes.

Tony kept his voice quiet and calm.

“I told you. I don’t have anything valuable here. I don’t keep any money here. Any money I have is in the bank.”

The boy marched to the back of the room and round again.

“You’re joking. This is wrong. This is all wrong.”

Tony watched, keeping absolutely still. No sudden movements, that is what he had always been told.

The boy marched up and down, panting loudly as if he were hyperventilating.

“You got to have something,” he said. “Give me something. I have to have something.”

He waved the knife around. Tony kept his eye on the knife. He didn’t stare directly at it, but just made sure he could see it in his peripheral vision.

“I can give you money,” he said. He had to get this kid out of the house. “But we have to go to the bank. We can go in my car.”

“Don’t mess me around, old man,” screamed the boy.

“I’m not. I can see you’re desperate. I’ll give you money. We can drive down to the ATM at the bottom of the road.”

The boy stared back at him. His teeth bared and his eyes wide and wild.

“Give me a grand. Give me a thousand.”

“All right,” said Tony. “Anything you want. Just stay calm.”

The boy lowered the knife a little. Just enough to ease the stress in Tony’s chest.

Then he remembered where the car keys were. Upstairs in his trouser pocket. This kid would not let him go up there on his own. And he didn’t want Dorrie seeing him at all.

He had to find a way to go to the bank without taking the car. He needed to find a way to convince the boy to walk down the road.

The last thing Tony wanted was Dorrie seeing this young man waving a knife around.

The living room door opened a little.

“Tony? Who are you talking to in there?”

Reading Comprehension Questions

Which room was Tony going into?

Who did he meet there?

How old was the house burglar?

What does he have in his hand?

Why is the young man in Tony’s house?

What is Tony’s main concern while facing the young man?

Does Tony keep any money or valuables in the house?

Name three things the young man wants Tony to give him.

What object does Tony have upstairs?

Who advised the young man to go to Tony’s house?

The young man wants to go upstairs, but Tony doesn’t want to. Why not?

Which room do they go to next?

Describe the young man’s body shape.

What does the young man smell of?

Why does Tony think he smells of this?

What does the young man pull down from the shelves?

What suggestion does Tony make to the young man?

How much money does the young man ask for?

Where are the car keys?

What happens at the end of the story?

Essential Vocabulary

There may be a lot of new or unfamiliar vocabulary to you in the story. This is the perfect time to get to know these new and strange words and phrases.

Write down all the new words and phrases in your vocabulary notebook. Look up the meaning of the new vocabulary in a dictionary or online and write down the meaning next to the word or phrase.

It should look something like this:

Face to face – a situation where two people are facing each other. Often can be confrontational.

Burglar – a thief that robs people’s homes.

Then write a sentence of your own that uses the new word or phrase correctly.

I got out of my car and came face to face with a policeman.

I spoke to my neighbour, who told me a burglar had stolen some things from their home.

If you do this correctly, it will help you learn many new words and phrases. This will build your English vocabulary and writing down all the words and phrases, making sentences of your own, will all help you to remember all of this new vocabulary

Discussion Questions

In your own words, tell the story of Tony and the house burglar. (If you are in a class, you could make this a group exercise.)

How old do you think Tony is?

Who is Dorrie do you think?

What is Tony trying to prevent from happening? Is he successful?

Tony says he is not going to try any heroics. Is he heroic? Explain your reasons.

What would you do in Tony’s situation?

Describe the house burglar’s feelings and emotions. What do you think is going through his mind?

Why is the young man trying to rob Tony’s house? What does he need, do you think?

At the end, someone comes into the living room. Who is it?

How would you describe Tony’s feeling at the end of the story?

What do you think happens next? Talk about this in class.

If your house were robbed, as in the story, what would you do? Describe your feelings and emotions and how you would react.

How can we stop house burglary?

In these days of high technology, is house burglary — or any kind of theft — becoming impossible?

This is a role play activity.

There are two characters in this role play.

Tony — the man in the story

Dan — the house burglar in the story

The Situation

Tony interrupted Dan as he was trying to rob his home.

Eventually, the police arrived and arrested Dan.

Tony has been asked by the police to talk to Dan and see if they can help him in some way. It is his first offence, and everyone — the police and Tony — thinks the best method would be to talk some sense into Dan.

Your role play is the conversation that takes place between Tony and Dan.

Tony is very sympathetic and wants Dan to realise the mistake he has made, while also trying to help him think of his future.

Dan feels somewhat ashamed of what he has done, but maybe resistant to Tony’s words of advice.

Divide into pairs and work on your role play.

When you are ready, show the class!

This is a debate exercise.

Divide the class into two groups of equal number. Choose one person to act as chairperson. The chairperson must ensure there is order during the debate and give every person a chance to speak.

There has been a spate of robberies in the local neighbourhood, and the residents have had enough. They want something to be done, but they are divided in their opinions.

One group wants the police to take action. They want the local council to provide more street cameras too.

They think this is the responsibility of the local authorities and they should deal with it.

The other group wants to take action themselves. They have heard of some countries setting up Neighbourhood Watch schemes where the neighbours police their community themselves.

They could keep an eye out for any strangers walking around, plus they could take it in turns to walk the local area in the evening to make sure everything is in good order.

You want the police and the local authorities to take action. You think this is the best way.

You believe the police are trained to do this and cameras are the right technology to use.

You think asking neighbours to do Neighbourhood Watch could be dangerous — what if they met some thieves, and they had weapons?

You think the neighbours should look after their own area.

You don’t want police walking around. Or having a police car sitting at the top of the road. It would feel like you are being observed by the police too.

And as for the cameras… there would be no privacy at all!

It would be much better for the local people to look after their community.

Take some time in your teams to prepare things to say.

Then when you are ready, begin the debate!

This is a creative writing exercise.

Read the story again and see where it ends.

Now continue the story where it left off. Write the second part of the story.

How it ends is up to you!

It could end tragically. Or there could be a good and positive ending to the story.

Try to write about 500 words if you can.

When you have finished, read your story out loud to the class. Or show it to your teacher for feedback.

You can download the full lesson plan by clicking the link below!

You can also join my mailing list by clicking the link below. I will send you new guides, articles and lesson plans when I publish them.

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

Gold – a Short Story for English Reading Comprehension

The Trick – a short story for English reading comprehension

The Egg – a short story for English reading comprehension

Leave a reply cancel reply.

The Stranger 

Introduction of the stranger.

The Stranger was written by Albert Camus , one of the most popular stories published in 1942. It was published in French as L’ Etranger. Later it was published in England and the United States as The Outsider and The Stranger respectively. The story runs around Meursault in a first-person narrative that announces the death of his mother and highlights his relationships with different people. The book sheds light on the predicament of existentialism and absurdism that Camus has presented in most of his literary pieces.

Summary of The Stranger

The story of the novel presents a young Algerian who gets information through telegram about the sad demise of his mother. He seeks permission from his boss for two days’ leave to visit the funeral. After the boss approves curmudgeonly, he sets on to journey in a bus where for most of the time he sleeps. . When he reaches Morengo where his mother used to live in an old home, he speaks to the director and sees the body of his mother. However, he does not accept the offer of the caretaker to watch her face by opening the coffin which was sealed because he didn’t want to be a bother. After spending his entire night there, he still does not show his emotions when smoking, drinking a cup of coffee, and dozing a bit at the old home. The director, then, informs him the next morning to meet the friend of his mother, Thomas Perez whom the members of the old age home jokingly referred as her fiance,  wants to attend her burial rites to which Meursault agrees.

Finally, the coffin is sent to the small village where the old lady is to be handed over to her grave. However, Perez becomes unconscious due to hot weather, all this while Meursault gets upset over the hot weather but shows no remorse about his mother’s death. After the burial rites, he realizes why his boss was so disappointed in approving him to leave since it would grant him 4 days as his mother’s funeral was on Friday. Thinking this Meursault enjoys going for a swim in a public beach where he meets his former co-worker Marie Cardona and amuses her beauty . He, then, suggests going to a comedy movie and a dinner later. This astonishes Marie that it’s the same guy that has participated in his own mother’s funeral a day ago but quickly forgets and accepts the date. . When Marie leaves him at night, he again finds himself free to kill his time. The next day he meets his friend Emmanuel and spends his time at work. Then he goes to dinner with his neighbor, Raymond Sintes, who is involved in a vendetta with his girlfriend since she has been receiving gifts from other gentlemen which arises suspicions in him that she has been cheating on him and asks Meursault to write her a letter to return, so when she comes after receiving the apology letter he wants to humiliate, spit on her face and kick her out of the house. Meursault agrees to write the letter because ‘he didn’t mind it’.

When the next day Marie visits him, he again becomes almost heartless as he does not express his love for her despite her inquiries. Meanwhile, they hear shouts from Raymond’s apartment and see the police entering. When, however, Meursault testifies on his behalf, the police leave him. The next day when Marie visits him, she inquires his intention of marrying her and at the same time his employer asks him if he’d like to go work in a different branch in Paris,  to both he states that ‘he doesn’t have strong feelings but wouldn’t mind doing it if it pleases the other party’. Then one day they go to the beach with Raymond but comes across Arabs who stab Raymond. When they come to the beach again after dressing of the wounds of Raymond, Raymond hands over his pistol to Meursault to shot the Arab if he attacks. Afterward, Meursault shoots the Arab who instantly dies, while the police arrest Meursault. All this while Meursault neither denies the act of murder nor shows any regret.

When it comes to his confession, the government provides him a lawyer but the lawyer becomes disgusted due to his coldness and frigidity on account of his lack of emotions on the death of his mother. While talking to The magistrate and was asked why he shot the Arab four times after he was dead and if he believed in God. He complained that the Sun was too hot that day and he didn’t believe in the existence of God. The magistrate, then, ironically takes his atheism as the reason for his criminality and titles him as “Monsieur Antichrist.” He becomes so much alone when even Marie stops visiting him because the authorities don’t allow her anymore since they are not married. Slowly, he becomes habitual of the absence of women, cigarettes, and loneliness. As soon as he is put on trial, he becomes indifferent to it. Soon he is sentenced to be put on gallows on the evidence he is a heartless killer, for he has not wept or showed emotions even on the death of his mother.

He soon finds himself in this quandary and tries to adjust to this new situation. Although he thinks of escaping from the prison, yet without finding no successful way out. While waiting for his execution, he tries to appeal as well hoping in some way he could get out of prison. During this time prison chaplain forces him to abandon atheism and swear allegiance to Christianity even though he refuses to see the chaplain in the first place. The chaplain forcibly enters the cell and tells him that even if his appeal succeeds, he wouldn’t overcome his feelings of guilt and fix the broken relationship with God. These condescending words of the chaplain enrage Meursault and lead him to attack.  After the chaplain has left the cell he finds himself to be empty of any kind of hope to escape the execution through the appeal and ponders about his dead mother who might have felt the same way when everyone was approaching her death bed and tried to comfort herself in the friendship of Mr. Thomas Perez. Meursault finally sheds any glimmer of hope, so he unwraps his mind to the “gentle indifference of the world.” His only hope is that there will be a crowd of angry spectators at his execution who will greet him “with cries of hate.”

Major Themes in The Stranger

• Irrationality: The novel demonstrates the theme of irrationality through the character of Meursault who sees that there is no point in wailing over the death of his mother, making a fuss, or abandoning usual activities of life as she was to die in any case. As soon as this idea takes hold of him, he becomes a heartless murderer and is sentenced to death for killing an Arab. However, he is satisfied and happy with his condition of not accepting irrationality which is in itself is ridiculous as he goes against the accepted beliefs of the time and gets a death sentence from the court.
• Meaningless: Meursault comes to know the meaninglessness of life when he finds his mother dead and himself alone to perform her funeral rites. However, instead of mourning and expressing grief, he chooses to stay indifferent, for it would not matter after all if he mourns deeply or not. Even in the case of Marie, he rathers chooses to enjoy the company than to marry her. When she asks about love, he stays indifferent and shows no emotion. In fact, his punishment, too, demonstrates his views about the meaninglessness of life over which even the religious authorities take a strict view of his atheism and support his death sentence. His acquaintances also demonstrate his proclivity toward absurdity that is also a state of meaninglessness.
• Significance of Physical World: For Meursault, the physical world is too much with us without having our ability to find meanings in everything. He faces embarrassment mentally when he does not understand the meanings of anything that comes into contact with him. The departure of his mother, the love of Marie, and even shooting someone makes him acutely aware of man’s inability to understand this physicality of the world.
• Miscommunication: The Stranger, through the character of Meursault, demonstrates that despite best efforts to communicate effectively, human beings fail in it. This leads to miscommunication. His supposed or real indifference to the world causes various misinterpretations of other characters such as the magistrate understands him as a cold murderer, while the chaplain thinks that he is an atheist.
• Absurdity of Life: The theme of absurdity of life emerges when Meursault comes to know about the illogical life of his own. He does not see any meaning in incidents happening around him such as the death of his mother, Marie’s love or marriage proposal, or even outing and staying in the room. When he is imprisoned for killing the Arab, he thinks that it is also an absurd incident in his life. Therefore, life seems absurd to him.
• Indifference to Human Passions: Meursault, the hero of The Stranger, shows indifference to human emotions during the death of his mother and later in his love life, his dealing with the Arabs, his friendship with Raymond, and his own trial in the court. This becomes a new thematic strand of the irrational story in that it shows that indifference to human emotions could lead somebody to gallows or save his life.
• Difficulty in Relationships: The theme of difficulty in forming relationships becomes clear when Meursault does not show his emotions and love for Marie. He fails to respond or express to her about his love. The same goes for Raymond. This difficulty has also robbed him of his relationships including his empathy as he does not feel anything when shooting a person at point-blank range.
• Passivity: Meursault demonstrates passivity when his mother dies and he feels helpless. He thinks that it is to happen in any case. His demonstration of emotion would not impact it. However, he does not show any emotional attachment toward Marie with whom he spends a lot of time in enjoyment.
• Alienation: The theme of alienation is clear from the alienation of Meursault not only during his mother’s death but also during his friendship with Raymond and love with Marie. He even shows this alienation from the social fabric when in prison.

Major Characters in The Stranger

• Meursault: The main character of the story, The Stranger, Meursault demonstrates Camus’ main philosophy of existentialism. The author also makes him a mouthpiece to express his ideologies. The novel starts with his arrival at the death of his mother, his participation in her last rites, his love with Marie, his friendship with Raymond, his intended murder of an Arab, and his interview with the magistrate when he is framed in the murder to be imprisoned. He shows the meaninglessness and absurdity of this life that he is condemned to live until he reaches the gallows where he finds a glimmer of hope that he would be released. However, his indifferent state demonstrated during this entire process takes his life.
• Marie Cardona: Marie Cordona is another major character who is significant on account of her relation and association with Meursault, the protagonist . Although she expresses her love and goes with him to a certain limit, she stops visiting him to prison when it transpires to her that she has no relation with him. In fact, it is the prolonged indifference and cold-heartedness of Meursault that makes her abandon him.
• Raymond Sintes: Raymond’s significance lies in his friendship with Meursault as he considers him a good friend who can be trusted. That is why he lies to the police when it comes to saving his neck from the long arms of the law. However, inclusion into the personal affair of his friend becomes Meursault’s involvement in the assassination of the Arab after which Raymond does not appear much in the storyline as Meursault waits for his death sentence in the prison.
• Maman: Maman is Meursault’s mother. He mentions her in the very first sentence of his narrative when he says that the mother is dead. Although she does not physically appear in the novel, her funeral rites set the indifferent tone of the novel that like its protagonist moves along the story until Meursault faces a death sentence on the crime of killing an Arab.
• The Chaplain: This theological character appears when Meursault is imprisoned on the murder charges. He tries to make Meursault realize that he needs to be in association with God but Meursault shows complete indifference to his teachings and passionate calling.
• Thomas Perez: He is a minor character; when as a son, Meursault, does not show any passion for his dead mother, he shows his sympathy and empathy toward her and goes with her coffin to participate in her funeral rites. He is significant because of this relationship with Maman.
• Céleste: Celeste’s appears when Meursault has dinner at his restaurant and both show interest in races. He also shows a similar interest in his trial.
• Meursault’s Lawyer: This anonymous figure appears when Meursault is to defend his case in court. However, he finds himself in a quandary when he comes to know the total indifference of his client. He tries to offer him guidance on how to sympathize and show empathy toward others and take interest in his case, but fails. However, he stays positive and vanishes when it becomes clear that Meursault is going to gallows.
• Caretaker: The significance of the caretaker of the old home lies in his importance of contacting the heirs of the old people. He contacts Meursault and informs him about the death of his mother and also arranges funeral rites.

Writing Style of The Stranger

Albert Camus wrote The Stranger in concise and specific details. Although the sentences are short and crispy without excessive adjectives , it seems that he has adapted the language to suit the personality of his character, Meursault. As most of the sentences are short and to-the-fact style , they do not spell out meanings more than the writer has intended. The diction , too, is mostly formal, the reason that it seems that the storyline conveys the intended meanings of the author to his readers. There is minimal use of literary devices other than those given below in the analysis.

Analysis of Literary Devices in The Stranger  

• Absurdity: The absurdity in the novel lies in that Meursault imagines himself alien, alienated, and detached from the society where life seems to him meaningless.
• Action: The main action of the novel involves Meursault’s story, his mother’s death, his love with Marie, his friendship with Raymond, and his trial for murdering an Arab. The rising action occurs when he shoots the Arab and the falling action occurs when he resigned to his fate that he is going to be hanged for his crime.
• Antagonist : The Stranger shows the main character Meursault as an antagonist as he keeps himself detached from the occurrences happening with him. When he commits a murder he shows coldness that costs him his life.
• Allusion : There are various examples of allusions given in the novel. i. She laughed again and said, “Yes,” if I’d take her to the comedy everybody was talking about, the one with Fernandel in it. (Chapter-II) ii. It was to open a branch at Paris, so as to be able to deal with the big companies on the spot, without postal delays, and he wanted to know if I’d like a post there. (Chapter-V) iii. “Well, Mr. Antichrist, that’s all for the present!” After which I was made over to my jailers. (Part-II, Chapter-II) The first two allusions are related to Paris and Parisian life, while the latter is a biblical allusion .
• Conflict : The are two types of conflicts in the novel . The first one is the external conflict that is going on between Meursault and the society around him as well as the ethical framework prevalent at that time. The second is the mental conflict that is going on in his mind about his own situation and his reaction to it.
• Characters: The Stranger presents both static as well as dynamic characters. The young man, Meursault, is a dynamic character as he faces a huge challenge and goes through his self-awareness and world-view transformation. However, the rest of the characters do not see any change in their behavior and self, as they are static characters like Marie, the magistrate, Perez, or Raymond.
• Climax : The climax reaches when Meursault shoots a man without any reason and is imprisoned and punished for the murder he committed.
• Existentialism : Existentialism is clear from the way Meursault feels as if he is isolated in the entire world having nobody to take care of him and feels happy in this situation.
• Foreshadowing : The novel shows the following examples of foreshadowing : i. MOTHER died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure. The telegram from the Home says: YOUR MOTHER PASSED AWAY. (Part-I, Chapter-I) ii. I was conscious only of the cymbals of the sun clashing on my skull, and, less distinctly, of the keen blade of light flashing up from the knife, scarring my eyelashes, and gouging into my eyeballs. (Book-I, Chapter-IV) iii. For the first time, perhaps, I seriously considered the possibility of my marrying her.. (Part-I, Chapter-V) These quotes from The Stranger foreshadow the coming events.
• Hyperbole : Hyperbole or exaggeration occurs in the novel at various places. For example, i. My lawyer assured me the case would take only two or three days. “From what I hear,” he added, “the court will dispatch your case as quickly as possible, as it isn’t the most important one on the Cause List. There’s a case of parricide immediately after, which will take them some time. (Part-II, Chapter-III) The above example is hyperbole , and also it shows how his indifference is leading to new allegations such as parricide which is a hyperbolic situation here.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, i. It was a bright, spotlessly clean room, with whitewashed walls and a big skylight. The furniture consisted of some chairs and trestles. (Part-I, Chapter-I) ii. The glare off the white walls was making my eyes smart , and I asked him if he couldn’t turn off one of the lamps. “Nothing doing,” he said. (Part-I, Chapter-I) iii. The sky had changed again; a reddish glow was spreading up beyond the housetops. As dusk set in, the street grew more crowded. People were returning from their walks, and I noticed the dapper little man with the fat wife amongst the passers-by. (Part-I, Chapter-III). The first example shows the images of color, the second again of color, and the third of color as well as movements.
• Irony : The novel shows an example of irony . For example, i. He got up, saying it was high time for him to be in bed, and added that life was going to be a bit of a problem for him, under the new conditions. For the first time since I’d known him he held out his hand to me—rather shyly, I thought—and I could feel the scales on his skin. Just as he was going out of the door, he turned and, smiling a little, said:” (Part-I, Chapter-III) The irony here lies in that Meursault sees the meaninglessness of the beating of the dog by Salamano, though he himself feels this about his own life.
• Metaphor : The Stranger shows the use of various metaphors . For example, i. I felt the first waves of heat lapping my back, and my dark suit made things worse. (Part-I, Chapter-I) ii. He gave me a long look with his watery blue eyes. (Part-II, Chapter-I) These two examples show the author comparing waves with a man and look at something. Besides this, the Algerian sun is the metaphor awareness of reality.
• Mood : The novel shows tragic mood in the beginning but it turns out absurd and ironic by the end.
• Motif : Most important motifs of the novel constant watching, death and decay.
• Narrator : The novel is narrated by a third person point of view of an omniscient narrator who is also an unreliable.
• Protagonist : Meursault is the protagonist of the novel. The novel starts with the death of his mother and moves forward toward his crime of murdering an Arab and his punishment to be condemned to death.
• Rhetorical Questions : The novel shows a good use of rhetorical questions at several places. For example, i. ‘When he said that, I broke in. “Ah, you don’t come from here? (Part-I, Chapter-1) ii. ‘When are you going to marry her?’ they’d ask . He’d turn it with a laugh. It was a standing joke, in fact. (Part-I, Chapter-I) iii. So one day I say to her, ‘Look here, why not get a job for a few hours a day? (Part-I, Chapter-III) These examples show the use of rhetorical questions posed mostly by Meursault not to elicit answers but to stress upon the underlined idea.
• Setting : The setting of the novel is Algiers after WWII.
• Simile : The novel shows good use of various similes. For example, i. Then the dog began to moan in old Salamano’s room, and through the sleep-bound house the little plaintive sound rose slowly, like a flower growing out of the silence and the darkness . (Part-I, Chapter-III) ii. One could see the outline of her firm little breasts, and her sun-tanned face was like a velvety brown flower. (Part-I, Chapter-IV) iii. He was turning like a teetotum, looking in all directions, and sometimes peering into the darkness of the hall with his little bloodshot eyes. (Part-I, Chapter-IV) iv. It was like a furnace outside, with the sunlight splintering into flakes of fire on the sand and sea. (Part-I, Chapter-VI) These are similes as the use of the word “like” shows the comparison between different things.

Related posts:

• The Stranger Characters
• The Stranger Themes
• The Stranger Quotes
• Stranger Danger
• Albert Camus

Post navigation