Guerilla Warfare explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Rebellion Versus Authority

  Mike and Psmith defy Spiller's claim to the study and resist the senior day-room's attempts to expel them.

• Friendship and Loyalty

  Psmith and Mike work together as a team, and Jellicoe provides support despite not being directly involved.

Characters to notice

• Psmith

  Leads the defense of the study, devises strategy, and throws Robinson out the window.

• Mike Jackson

  Supports Psmith in defending the study and agrees to the plan for a nighttime confrontation.

• Jellicoe

  Provides information and moral support; agrees to share the dormitory with Mike and Psmith.

• Spiller

  Leads the gang trying to reclaim his study; confronts Mike and Psmith.

• Comrade Robinson

  Attempts to break down the door and is thrown out the window by Psmith.

• Mr. Outwood

  Grants permission for Mike, Psmith, and Jellicoe to share the three-bed dormitory.

Key passages

• “There are few pleasures, keener to the reflective mind than sitting under one's own rooftree.”

  Psmith enjoys the comfort of having his own study.

  Psmith's appreciation of the commandeered study.

• “We will now, with your permission, face the future for awhile. I suppose you realise that we are now to a certain extent up against it.”

  Psmith acknowledges they are in a difficult situation.

  Psmith's strategic assessment of their predicament.

• “I don't like rows, but I'm prepared to take on a reasonable number of bravoes in defence of the home.”

  Psmith is willing to fight to protect their study.

  Psmith's readiness for conflict.

• “A neat piece of work. The preliminaries may now be considered over, the first shot has been fired. The dogs of war are now loose.”

  Psmith declares the conflict has begun after Mike repels the initial attack.

  Psmith's commentary after the first skirmish.