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The vergers of St Peter's, like the popes of Rome, were there for life. He had often thought of the pleasant reference the vicar would make in his sermon at evensong the first Sunday after his death to the long and faithful service, and the exemplary character of their late verger, Albert Edward Foreman. He sighed deeply.
Somerset Maugham's short story "The Verger" begins in a fashionable London church called St. Peter's, just after a christening has taken place. The new vicar, recently arrived from a poorer parish ...
- Setting
- Point of View and Tone
- Themes
- Characters and Conflicts
- Dramatic Structure and Moods
- Examples of Literary Techniques
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The Vergeris set in an unnamed part of London. The story develops over four locations: a fictitious church (St. Peter’s, Neville Square) in “a very good neighbourhood”, a long city street, the verger’s home, and a bank. Over half of the story takes place in the church. In addition to providing the background to the remaining stages of the story, th...
The story is a narrative told in the third person by a limited omniscient observer. He/she can tell us the thoughts and feelings of the verger (Albert Foreman), but none of the other characters. At first, the language (tone) of the story is formal and objective. The narrator reports the events at St. Peters in a matter-of-fact way, allowing readers...
appearance: The new vicar is concerned about how his “classy congregation” might perceive the church having an illiterate verger. He takes no account of the fact that Albert has performed his dutie...hypocrisy: The vicar is from the “East End”, the historically poor area of London. One would expect him, of all people, to recognize what Albert has achieved in life and support him to continue as...indifference: Albert may have faced a different (if much poorer) future if the two churchwardens, who appear to be uncomfortable with the vicar’s decision, had stood up for him. Given their titles...opportunity: Albert’s achievements, both as a verger and a businessman, demonstrate that being illiterate and/or having a low level of education are not necessarily barriers to success. All it take...The Protagonist: Albert Foreman. We can see from events in the church that he is: 1) dedicated and meticulous – he busied himself quietly, replacing the painted wooden cover on the marble font, tak...The Antagonist: Illiteracy (a state of being).The Vicar: The vicar is: 1) new to the church and, coming from the East End, ambitious to prove himself in this prestigious ministry; 2) controlling – this new man who wanted to have his finger in...Minor Characters: The churchwardens, Albert’s wife, the bank manager.Exposition: The events inside St. Peters where the vicar passes on the news that Albert must learn to read and write within three months or leave. Mood:Disenchanted and ConcernedRising Action: Albert comes up with the idea of opening a tobacconist shop and goes on to develop a successful chain of them. Mood:Hopeful at first, then PleasedClimax: The bank manager learns that Albert cannot read or write. The manager was so surprised that he jumped up from his chair. “That’s the most extraordinary thing I ever heard.” Mood:InspiredFalling Action: The bank manager questions what Albert would be if you had been able to read and write. Mood:IntriguedThe Vergeris widely known as a wonderful example of situational irony. Albert, having failed to meet the new vicar’s literacy requirement for a job he loved and been written off as possessing “lamentable ignorance”, becomes independently rich over the next ten years… so much so that he could now match many of St. Peter’s well-off parishioners! Maug...
Learn about the themes, characters, conflicts, and literary techniques of The Verger, a classic story by W. Somerset Maugham. Find out how Albert Foreman, a proud and dignified verger, overcomes his illiteracy and becomes a successful entrepreneur.
Jan 28, 2021 · A short story about a simple man who becomes a successful businessman despite being illiterate. Read the summary, elaboration, questions and answers of The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham.
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The Verger is a story about a man who becomes a successful businessman after losing his job as a church verger. He refuses to learn how to read and write, despite the advice of his bank manager and the new vicar.
