School Stories · Chapter
The Odd Trick explained
Harrison, a student at Merevale's House, habitually uses passive-aggressive tactics to settle scores.
What happens
Harrison, a student at Merevale's House, habitually uses passive-aggressive tactics to settle scores. After being caught and punished by prefect Tony Graham for a dormitory prank, Harrison retaliates by unfairly umpiring a cricket match, calling Graham's bowling 'no-ball' and denying clear wickets. Later, Harrison oversleeps and, in his rush to chapel, borrows Graham's mackintosh without permission. Graham reclaims it publicly, leaving Harrison exposed in his nightshirt, and he is seen by Merevale and the Headmaster.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this excerpt, the narrative climax occurs as the tension surrounding the impending Greek examination reache…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Trickery and Cunning
Harrison uses deceptive tactics—first a string-and-tin prank, then biased umpiring—to settle scores, but his cunning backfires when he is caught wearing Graham's mackintosh.
- Authority and Rebellion
Harrison rebels against prefect Graham's authority through covert pranks and unfair umpiring, yet ultimately faces consequences from the school authorities.
Characters to notice
- P. St. H. Harrison
Protagonist of the chapter; orchestrates a prank and later retaliates against Graham by biased umpiring, but ultimately suffers humiliation when his borrowed mackintosh is reclaimed.
- Tony Graham
Prefect in Merevale's House; punishes Harrison for ragging, is victim of Harrison's biased umpiring, and later reclaims his mackintosh, leaving Harrison exposed.
- Scott
School slogger; benefits from Harrison's biased umpiring, scoring heavily, and later discusses the incident with Graham.
- Mr. Merevale
House master; appears at the end with the Headmaster, witnessing Harrison's embarrassing state.
- The Headmaster
Seen with Merevale at the private entrance, observing Harrison in his nightshirt.
Key passages
“Harrison’s forte was diplomacy. When he forsook the arts of the diplomatist for those of the brigand, he naturally went wrong.”
Harrison was best at subtle scheming; when he tried direct confrontation, he failed.
Highlights Harrison's typical approach and foreshadows his downfall.
“Nemesis, as the poets tell us, though no sprinter, manages, like the celebrated Maisie, to get right there in time.”
Retribution may be slow but always arrives eventually.
Foreshadows Harrison's eventual comeuppance.
