Poetry · Chapter
W. G. Nicholson explained
A brief limerick about W.
What happens
A brief limerick about W. G. Nicholson, a banker from Detroit, who humorously describes installing a machine gun, pill box, and tank in his bank to deter potential robbers, noting that the 'petermen' (criminals) no longer visit.
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 chapter uses a limerick to humorously depict a banker's extreme security measures.
- Work and Profession
Highlights the profession of banking and the lengths taken to protect financial institutions.
Characters to notice
- W. G. Nicholson
The banker who installed military defenses in his bank.
Key passages
“I’ve installed in my bank A machine gun, a pill box, a tank.”
I have set up a machine gun, a pill box, and a tank inside my bank.
Describes the exaggerated defensive measures taken by the banker.
“Do the dear petermen Call around now and then? No, they don’t to be perfectly frank.”
Do the criminals still visit occasionally? No, they do not, to be honest.
Indicates that the security measures have successfully deterred robbers.
