# The Ash-Tree explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by M. R. James.

## What happens

The chapter recounts the history of Castringham Hall in Suffolk, focusing on a great ash tree that stands near the house. In 1690, the area was rife with witch trials, and Sir Matthew Fell testified against a local woman, Mrs. Mothersole, who was executed for witchcraft. After her death, Sir Matthew dies mysteriously in his bed. Years later, his descendant Sir Richard Fell also dies in a similar manner. An investigation reveals that the ash tree harbors a nest of monstrous spiders and the skeleton of a woman, suggesting that Mrs. Mothersole's curse has been enacted through the tree.

## Themes in this chapter

### Supernatural and the Uncanny

The mysterious deaths of Sir Matthew and Sir Richard Fell, the monstrous spiders, and the skeleton in the ash tree evoke a supernatural curse.

### Folklore and Ancient Beliefs

The witch trials and the belief in witches' power to curse and cause harm through natural objects like the ash tree reflect deep-rooted folklore.

### Decay and Mortality

The dried skeleton of a woman, the seared remains of spiders, and the blackened bodies of the victims highlight themes of decay and death.

## Character check-ins

### Sir Matthew Fell

The original proprietor of Castringham Hall who testified against Mrs. Mothersole and died mysteriously after her execution.

### Sir Richard

A descendant of Sir Matthew Fell who also dies in his bed under similar circumstances, with strange marks on his windowsill.

### The Squire

Sir Richard Fell is referred to as the Squire; he is the central figure in the later part of the story.

### The Doctor

A medical professional who examines Sir Richard's body and notes the blackened state of his face and neck.

### Mr. Gregory

The Bishop of Kilmore, who investigates the ash tree and witnesses the events leading to its burning.

### Mr. Williams

Sir William Kentfield, a guest at the Hall who assists in the investigation of the tree.

## Key lines

> The lantern must have broken at the bottom, and the light in it caught upon dry leaves and rubbish that lay there, for in a few minutes a dense smoke began to come up, and then flame; and, to be short, the tree was in a blaze.

The lantern broke and ignited dry debris inside the tree, causing it to catch fire quickly.

_Describes the accidental burning of the ash tree that reveals its hidden horrors._

> They found below it a rounded hollow place in the earth, wherein were two or three bodies of these creatures that had plainly been smothered by the smoke; and, what is to me more curious, at the side of this den, against the wall, was crouching the anatomy or skeleton of a human being, with the skin dried upon the bones, having some remains of black hair, which was pronounced by those that examined it to be undoubtedly the body of a woman, and clearly dead for a period of fifty years.

In the hollow beneath the tree, they discovered the remains of several spiders and the skeleton of a woman, identified as having been dead for about fifty years.

_Reveals the grim secret of the ash tree: a woman's skeleton and the lair of the monstrous spiders._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se/chapters/the-ash-tree
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se/chapters