# V: The Incident of the Unknown Tree explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Arthur Machen.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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Lewis sees that a familiar pine tree has been replaced by a larger, different tree.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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/v-the-incident-of-the-unknown-tree
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_6_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters