School Stories · Chapter
The Prize Poem explained
The chapter describes the annual Prize Poem competition at St.
What happens
The chapter describes the annual Prize Poem competition at St. Austin's, a bequest from a misanthropic man that forces every Sixth Form member to submit a poem. Reynolds, convalescing in the infirmary, writes an opening quatrain for Smith's entry. The same quatrain is independently discovered by Montgomery and Morrison, leading to three identical poem submissions. The Headmaster, Mr. Perceval, discovers the collusion and summons the three boys to explain.
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 Falling action.
- 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
The boys use deception and coincidence to submit the same poem, attempting to outwit the system.
- Authority and Rebellion
The students rebel against the compulsory poem competition by cheating, challenging the Headmaster's authority.
Characters to notice
- Reynolds of the Remove
Convalescing in the infirmary, he composes the opening quatrain for Smith's poem.
- Smith
A Sixth Form student who asks Reynolds to write his poem; submits the quatrain as his entry.
- G. Montgomery Chapple
Finds a copy of the quatrain in the field and adds a couplet to submit as his own poem.
- Mr. Secretary Morrison
Receives the same quatrain from his fag Evans and uses it for his poem entry.
- The Headmaster
Discovers the identical opening lines and interrogates Smith, Montgomery, and Morrison.
- Evans
Morrison's fag who finds the quatrain in the field and brings it to Morrison.
Key passages
“Some quarter of a century before the period with which this story deals, a certain rich and misanthropic man was seized with a bright idea for perpetuating his memory after death, and at the same time harassing a certain section of mankind.”
About twenty-five years before the story, a wealthy, antisocial man decided to create a legacy that would annoy future generations.
Introduces the origin of the Prize Poem competition.
“The chains were thrown off after a period of twenty-seven years in this fashion.”
After twenty-seven years, the oppressive tradition was broken by the events of this chapter.
Foreshadows the end of the compulsory poem rule.
“I suppose it'll be all right? So long! I must be off.”
Smith hopes the single-verse poem will be accepted, then leaves hastily.
Shows Smith's casual attitude toward the competition.
