Ordeal by Cheque is a short story by Wuther Crue, published in 1932, that narrates its plot entirely through a series of checks. This unique narrative device allows readers to decode the story, making it an engaging and unconventional reading experience. The story revolves around Lawrence Exeter and his wife, exploring themes of family, conflict, and financial transactions. It is widely used in educational settings to teach critical thinking and creative storytelling. The PDF version is easily accessible online, offering a fascinating glimpse into non-traditional literature.
Main Plot and Characters
The story centers on Lawrence Exeter, a wealthy man, and his wife, who are expecting a child in 1903. The plot unfolds through a series of checks, revealing their financial transactions and personal struggles. Lawrence’s business trips and the couple’s anticipation of parenthood drive the narrative. A central conflict arises with Tony Spagoni, who discovers discrepancies in Lawrence’s checks, leading to tension and a dramatic climax.
2.1. Lawrence Exeter and His Wife
Lawrence Exeter, a wealthy man, and his wife are central to the story, set in 1903. The narrative begins with Lawrence preparing for the birth of their child, purchasing baby items from Yander Baby Shoppe. His wife’s absence due to distance highlights his frequent business trips. A check to Hollywood Hospital suggests her eventual presence, indicating their reunion and her health. Their relationship is portrayed through financial transactions, revealing their lifestyle and family dynamics; The checks symbolize their anticipation and challenges, offering insight into their personal lives and societal expectations.
2.2. Supporting Characters
The supporting characters in Ordeal by Cheque play pivotal roles in advancing the plot and revealing the story’s depth. Tony Spagoni and Peter Ventizzi are key figures who interact with Lawrence Exeter, creating tension and conflict. Tony, wielding a gun, demands payment from Lawrence, highlighting their adversarial relationship. Frances, a powerful political figure, is tied to Lawrence’s ambitions, possibly as a wife or ally. Dr. David M. Me Cay appears in transactions, suggesting professional involvement. These characters, revealed through checks, add layers to the narrative, showcasing their motivations and interactions with Lawrence. Their roles are crucial in unfolding the story’s conflicts and themes, enriching the unique storytelling approach of the novel. The checks provide glimpses into their personalities and connections to Lawrence, enhancing the plot’s complexity and engagement.
Unique Narrative Style
Ordeal by Cheque uses checks as its narrative device, presenting the story through financial transactions. This unconventional method engages readers by revealing plot details and character interactions through dated checks, making it a unique storytelling approach.
3.1. Use of Checks as a Storytelling Device
The checks in Ordeal by Cheque serve as the primary narrative tool. Each check provides clues about characters, events, and relationships. For instance, Lawrence Exeter’s purchases for his unborn child and subsequent hospital payments reveal his personal journey. The checks’ dates, payees, and amounts guide the reader through the plot, creating a unique, interactive experience. This method challenges readers to piece together the story, enhancing engagement and critical thinking. The use of checks also symbolizes the financial and emotional transactions central to the narrative, making it a clever and memorable storytelling technique.
Plot Structure
Ordeal by Cheque unfolds through a series of checks, revealing Lawrence Exeter’s life events. The narrative begins with his anticipation of fatherhood, progresses through financial decisions, and escalates into personal struggles, ultimately resolving the central conflict.
4.1. Exposition
The exposition of Ordeal by Cheque introduces Lawrence Exeter and his wife, establishing their anticipation of a child. Through early checks, the narrative sets up their financial stability and family expectations, providing a foundation for the unfolding story.
4.2. Rising Action
In Ordeal by Cheque, the rising action centers around Lawrence Exeter’s financial transactions, which reveal growing tension. Checks show his purchases for his unborn child, reflecting hope and preparation. However, the narrative shifts as supporting characters like Tony Spagoni and Peter Ventizzi demand payment, introducing conflict. Tony discovers a discrepancy in check amounts, escalating the situation and forcing Lawrence to agree to pay more. This buildup of financial and personal pressure creates suspense, setting the stage for the story’s climax. The checks serve as a unique medium to convey the escalating drama and character motivations, keeping readers engaged in the unfolding events.
Conflict and Climax
The conflict in Ordeal by Cheque escalates when Tony Spagoni discovers a discrepancy in the amounts on Lawrence Exeter’s checks, leading to a tense confrontation. Tony, angered by the lower payment, threatens Lawrence at gunpoint, demanding immediate resolution. This moment marks the climax of the story, as Lawrence is forced to confront the consequences of his actions. The checks reveal the turning point, exposing the truth about Lawrence’s financial dealings and the motives of the characters involved. The narrative reaches its peak as the conflict unfolds, drawing the reader into the dramatic and unexpected resolution of the story. The climax effectively ties together the plot threads, providing a satisfying conclusion to the unique narrative;
Teaching Resources and Activities
Teaching resources for Ordeal by Cheque are widely available online, including printable checks and worksheets to guide students in decoding the narrative. These materials, often provided in PDF format, enable interactive learning experiences. Activities include creating timelines of events, writing narratives based on the checks, and analyzing plot structure. Educators can easily incorporate these resources into lesson plans, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The story’s unique format makes it an excellent tool for teaching non-traditional storytelling techniques. By engaging with these activities, students gain a deeper understanding of the story’s themes and characters while developing essential literacy skills.
Availability and Accessibility
Ordeal by Cheque is readily available online as a PDF file, ensuring easy access for readers worldwide. The document can be downloaded for free, making it a convenient resource for both educators and students. Its digital format allows compatibility across various devices and operating systems, enhancing its accessibility. Users with internet access can retrieve the story instantly, regardless of their location. The PDF includes all necessary materials, such as printable checks and worksheets, making it a versatile tool for learning. Its widespread availability has contributed to its popularity, enabling a broad audience to explore this unique narrative style without any financial or technical barriers.
Analysis and Interpretation
Ordeal by Cheque offers a unique narrative structure that challenges readers to interpret the story through a series of checks. This unconventional approach requires close reading and critical thinking to uncover the plot, characters, and themes. The checks reveal Lawrence Exeter’s financial decisions, personal struggles, and relationships, providing insight into his emotional journey. The story’s conflict and climax are subtly embedded in the transactions, making it a compelling exercise in decoding narrative elements. Educators often use this story to teach students how to analyze non-traditional texts and infer meaning from indirect cues. The checks also highlight themes of financial responsibility, family dynamics, and personal ambition, adding depth to the narrative. This method of storytelling encourages readers to engage actively with the text, fostering skills in problem-solving and interpretation.
Themes and Symbolism
Ordeal by Cheque explores themes of financial responsibility, family dynamics, and personal ambition through its unique narrative. The checks symbolize more than transactions; they represent emotional struggles and relational conflicts. Lawrence Exeter’s financial decisions reflect his inner turmoil and aspirations, while the checks themselves serve as a metaphor for the tension between personal and monetary aspects of life. The story also touches on societal expectations and the pressures of providing for a family. By using checks as a storytelling device, the author highlights how financial records can reveal deeper truths about character and motivation, making the narrative both practical and symbolic in its exploration of human experience.
Ordeal by Cheque is a captivating and innovative story that uses checks as a narrative device to explore themes of family, ambition, and financial struggles. Its unique approach to storytelling engages readers while challenging them to interpret the plot through transactional records. The story’s educational value lies in its ability to teach critical thinking and narrative structure. As a widely accessible PDF, it remains a popular resource for classrooms and literature enthusiasts alike. By blending practicality with creativity, Ordeal by Cheque offers a memorable and thought-provoking experience, making it a standout example of non-traditional storytelling.