Graham Greene

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Student Question

How does Jerome's father die in "A Shocking Accident" by Graham Greene?

Quick answer:

In "A Shocking Accident" by Graham Greene, Jerome's father dies in a bizarre accident when a pig, raised on a balcony in a foreign country, becomes too heavy and crashes through the floor, landing on him. This unusual and tragic incident is often perceived as amusing by others, though they restrain their laughter out of respect for Jerome's loss.

Expert Answers

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He was stationed in a foreign country where people customarily raised pigs on their balconies. Evidently the pig got to fat and crashed through the flooring and fell on the boy's father. Everybody who hears about the accident finds it amusing but can't laugh because it was also a tragic loss for the boy.

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