Short Fiction · Chapter
V: The Incident of the Unknown Tree explained
Dr.
What happens
Dr. Lewis and Mr. Remnant discuss a series of bizarre animal attacks and human deaths occurring in the countryside, with Remnant suggesting a connection between the two sets of phenomena. As they talk, Lewis witnesses an impossible sight: a tree in the garden has changed shape and appears to be glowing with strange lights and colors, defying natural explanation.
Themes in this chapter
The Urban Mystery
The unexplained phenomena in the countryside echo the mysterious events typical of urban mystery tales.
Supernatural and the Divine
The impossible tree with glowing lights suggests a supernatural intrusion into the natural world.
Madness and Psychological Horror
Lewis's confrontation with an impossible sight threatens his sanity, akin to a mathematical paradox.
Characters to notice
- Dr. Lewis
Hosts Remnant and witnesses the impossible tree transformation.
- Mr. Remnant
Theorizes a connection between animal attacks and the recent mysterious deaths.
- Trevor M.
Mentioned as having been treated by Dr. Lewis after a bee attack.
- Miss Mary Reynolds
Mentioned as Mary Trevor, a child stung to death by bees.
Key passages
“I am strongly inclined to believe that there is a great deal of sense in it”
Remnant insists that the animal attacks and the human deaths are connected.
Remnant defends his theory linking two sets of strange events.
“the tall pine tree was no longer there. In its place there rose above the ilexes what might have been a greater ilex”
Lewis sees that a familiar pine tree has been replaced by a larger, different tree.
The impossible transformation of the tree shocks Lewis.
“I remember thinking to myself: ‘Look here, I am not delirious; my temperature is perfectly normal. I am not drunk; I only had a pint of Graves with my dinner, over three hours ago. I have not eaten any poisonous fungus; I have not taken Anhelonium Lewinii experimentally. So, now then! What is happening?’”
Lewis rationally rules out delirium, intoxication, or drugs before accepting the impossible sight.
Lewis's internal monologue shows his struggle to reconcile reality with the supernatural.