Poetry · Chapter
XXXV explained
A brief epitaph for Dr.
What happens
A brief epitaph for Dr. Charles O'Donnell, noting his resting place and the lasting impact of his spirit, which is described as equally Satanic in life and death, with his noise causing terror and his smell causing panic.
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
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the speaker’s obsessive pursuit of the divine rose fragrance…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Mortality and Regret
The epitaph reflects on death and the enduring, negative legacy of the deceased.
Characters to notice
- Dr. Charles O'Donnell
The subject of the epitaph, buried beneath this stone, with his tongue at rest but his spirit still affecting the living.
Key passages
“Beneath this stone O’Donnell’s tongue’s at rest— Our noses by his spirit still addressed.”
Dr. O'Donnell is buried here, his speech silenced, but his essence continues to assail our sense of smell.
The epitaph contrasts the cessation of his verbal noise with the persistent, unpleasant odor of his spirit.
“Living or dead, he’s equally Satanic— His noise a terror and his smell a panic.”
Whether alive or deceased, he remains demonic; his loudness was frightening and his stench causes alarm.
The couplet emphasizes the consistently diabolical nature of O'Donnell, both in life and after death.
