Poetry · Chapter
Major A. A. Sprague explained
A brief, humorous verse expresses a father bear's dying wish that Major A.
What happens
A brief, humorous verse expresses a father bear's dying wish that Major A. A. Sprague, a Chicago wholesale grocer, were ill or had stayed away, highlighting a comedic resentment toward the grocer.
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 verse uses absurdity and a bear's deathbed curse to poke fun at a local businessman.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator presents the bear's dying words as a whimsical rhyme.
Key passages
“I wish Major Sprague Were in bed with the plague, Or else had remained Over There.”
The bear wishes the grocer were sick or had stayed away.
A comedic expression of frustration toward Major Sprague.
