Poetry · Chapter
F. A. Crandall explained
A playful, whimsical poem about F.
What happens
A playful, whimsical poem about F. A. Crandall, a banker from Chicago, who is humorously challenged to catch fish from a tree, with a trout laughing at the absurdity.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the speaker confronts the painful realization that his child’s lov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Humor and Satire
The poem uses absurd imagery and a laughing trout to create a lighthearted, comedic tone.
Characters to notice
- F. A. Crandall
The banker from Chicago who is the subject of the humorous poem about fishing in a tree.
Key passages
“Haw! Haw! laughed the trout, and Hee! Hee! But he's laughing too soon, seems to me, And I'll bet him two flies That if Crandall just tries, He'll catch every fish in that tree.”
The trout mocks the idea, but the speaker wagers that Crandall's effort will succeed in catching all the fish from the tree.
Captures the playful challenge and confidence in Crandall's improbable skill.
