Poetry · Chapter
The Owl and the Bell explained
A bell in a church tower sings its song, annoying an owl living below.
What happens
A bell in a church tower sings its song, annoying an owl living below. The owl complains about the bell's noise, especially after his owlets hatch and are disturbed. When the bell falls silent for a month due to structural fears, the owl believes it dead and taunts it, even perching on its clapper. The bell suddenly sounds, blasting the owl out. The owl then claims he intentionally revived the bell to teach it a lesson, though his family doubts him.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Said the Owl, on a shadowy ledge below, Like a glimmering ball of forgotten snow, “Pest on that fellow sitting up there, Always calling the people to prayer! He shatters my nerves with his Bing, Bang, Bome! — Far too big in his house at home!””
The owl complains about the bell's loud noise disturbing him.
The owl's irritation with the bell's constant ringing is established.
“He fluttered about him, singing Too-whoo! He flapped the poor Bell, and said, “Is that you? You that never would matters mince, Banging poor owls and making them wince? A fig for you now, in your great hall-dome! Too-whit is better than Bing, Bang, Bome!””
The owl taunts the silent bell, celebrating its apparent demise.
The owl's arrogance and mockery of the bell.
“He sat the Jove of creation’s fowl.— Bang! went the Bell—through the rope-hole the owl, A fluffy avalanche, light as foam, Loosed by the boom of the Bing, Bang, Bome!”
The owl perches on the clapper, but the bell sounds and blasts him out.
The bell's sudden sound throws the owl out of the tower.
““Child,” said the Owl, “of the mark you are wide: I brought him to life by perching inside.” “Why did you, my dear?” said his startled wife; “He has always been the plague of your life!” “I have given him a lesson of good for evil: Perhaps the old ruffian will now be civil!””
The owl claims he revived the bell on purpose to teach it a lesson, though his wife is skeptical.
The owl's self-justification after being humiliated.