O. Henry Group

Question:

deejam
deejam
Student

What does "the nightly gas leak" in the short story "The Pendulum" by O. Henry refer to?

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Posted by deejam on Thursday December 4, 2008 at 6:55 PM and tagged with meaning, nightly gas leak, o. henry.

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  1. mrs-campbell Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    It probaby refers to just that-a gas leak that occurs each night, and, as O. Henry elegantly yet sarcastically puts it, "would steal forth to frolic in the highways".  This leak is later referred to when Katy asks John to "write to the gas comany about the meter".  It is one description in a very long series of details on what happens every single night around their flat, meant to emphasize the predictablity and monotonous nature of their life, and made more significant when that daily routine is disrupted when Katy leaves.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/best-o-henry-text/notes
    http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/2021/

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    Posted by mrs-campbell on Friday December 5, 2008 at 11:42 AM

  2. ramlakshmi
    ramlakshmi Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    The writer appears to be referring to the fact that many residents like John Perkins head for fun and frolic on the highways in the evening from Frogmore Flats.The gas leak may indicate the gasoline emission of their vehicles. It stands to reason that , in a typical demographic settlement,John Perkins is not the only resident to frequent the clubs at night.

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    Posted by ramlakshmi on Wednesday September 9, 2009 at 6:50 PM

  3. monika11may
    monika11may Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    It can be related with the sound of flute. Music is a pious term but here Perkins dislikes all the noises created by his neighbours at frogmore flats. thus a derogatory term....

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    Posted by monika11may on Sunday November 1, 2009 at 7:51 PM