The Sound Machine

9 Roald Dahl [1916-1990]

1. INTRODUCTION
fighteer
was a novelist, short story writer, poet,
popular British
onn
Dahl in Great Britain
ld
writer. He w a s born in Cardiff, Wales
ROnd screenplay literature. He w a s also
an
As a child, Dahl had a passion for
pilot and

her 13, 1916.

from Repton Sch0ol
and excelled at sports. After graduating
S e p t e m b e r

tphotographer Africa. In 1939,

expe
w e n t to work
went for the Shell Oil Company of East
eo33,
in
1933, Dahl
Dahl
African Rifles and then served
in the King's
in the Royal
officer
offic
ioined
joined
as an
a n

injuries, he was sent back to England on

he
Air Force. After
er suffering from s e v e r e
the disabled list.

in 1942, after he was transferred to Washington D.C. as

Dahl began writing Cake (1942),

Attache. published work was A Piece of
His first
Assistant Air The Gremlins,
an
first children's book w a s
about his wartime adventures. Dahl's Charlie and the
best-loved children's stories include
storv
1943. His other
nublished in BFG and Fantastic Mr.
Fox.
Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The
Chocolate Factory, children
a r e known for their unexpected
endings, and his
His short stories movies and s o m e of his
humour. Dahl also wrote several scripts for
books for their 1990 in
made into popular films. Dahl died o n November 23,
Own books
w e r e

Oxford, England.
w a s first published
in
The Sound Machine' is a popular short story, which
Later on, it appeared in
September 1949 issue of the magazine, The New Yorker.
Someone Like You, published by
Alfred Knopf in 1953.
ashort story collection,
with sounds. He creates a sound machine
story of a man, obsessed
It is the
which a r e inaudible to the human
ear.
and alleges that he could hear sounds
when the machine
Lake a typical Roald Dahl story, it has a n unexpected ending,
conclude whether the man's invention w a s
Is
destroyed and the readers a r e left to
an illusion or a reality.

AAAAAN
2. PLoT DeveLOPMENTT

Storyline
ausner, a man obsessed with sounds, invents a sound machine to capture

the sounds which are inaudible to the human ear.

THE SOUND MACHINE 151

 about his his invention. But the
telis the doctor
and he ould register
by K l a u s n e r could
Alausner ren

S t t 1st sits

that the
machine
made
ronvinced

f tor
is not

man
sounds maudible to that it could reuis

his garden and finds gister

lausner tests his marhine
in
Mrs. Saunders cuts ose
when his neighbour,
Sunds emitted by the plants
stems m her ganten to Mrs. Saunders
and its result but
the experiment
Alausnet tries to explain
she uns back nto her house.
theory with his machine in a h
park
Klausner tests his
The next day with an axe. He hears a sound an
and
of tree
the base of the trunk
a
hitting at
immediately.
to come
Scott, requesting him
teiephones Dr. theory
the tree while demonstrating his to
park. Klausner again hits
At the
Dr Scott. who has put on the earphones.
branch falls on the machine and
As Klausner stikes the tree with an axe, a

destroysit.
Klausner asks Dr. Scott whether he heard a sound and the latter denies

They walk back arm in arm.

hearing any sound.

Story in Detail

1. Klausner Works on his Invention: On a warm summer evening, Klausner

goes into a shed in his garden at the back of his house. In the shed, there is a
black box that looks like a child's cofin. The box is lying on a wooden bench.
with wires, battenies and small and sharp tools.

Klausner starts his work on the box by taking the paper lying beside the
and studying it carefully. He tests the connection of the wires and refers to the
box
paper on and off. This goes on for about an hour.

2. His Doctor Visits him: As Klausner

is working, Dr. Scott who is a
walks in He wants to check
phy'sician
Klausner's throat but Klausner says that his throat
s fine
The doctor looks at the black box and
notices that Klausner has his hat
He is cunous about the box and asks on
Klausner whether he is making a radio
Klausner explains that the box has to
do with sounds. The doctor becomes
more curious and wants to
know what the box does.
3 Klausner
Explains his Iavention: Klausner
that the human ear is not
able to hear all the
explains to the doctor the theor
ether hugh
pite hed or low pitched The sounds, especially sounds that a
more tharn hfteen
human ear is unable to
hear a note Wi
thousand vibrations a
whos second He gives the
high pitched whistle which example
ablr of a
o hear the sound of a do
humans canno
152 WORKBOOK ON ECHOES:1SC SHORT STORE
 dactor is not convinced that it is possible to hear the sounds, which are
.hle to
naudible to t the human ear. He remains skeptical. Klausner gives an example of a
a roll
of copper wire which is on the be producing
workbench. The
ty ds that the human hear cannot detect. The sound may beflyofmay
on
a whistle, a bark,
sour

a croak,
or a song ot the fily. It is not impossible for the fly to produce sounds.

Nlausner then tells Dr. Scott that he has made an instrument to find out if
Klausner
are sounds that are inaudible to human ear. He has detected many peculiar
sounds using the
e instrument, which he was not able
hear before.
to
The doctor asks Klausner whether the machine on the table is able to help
detect the sounds. Klausner replies that the machine probably would and he
woul
puld try it at night and the doctor wishes him good luck. He thanks his patient
ir letting him know about his invention. He says he would want to know the
br
utcome of Klausner's invention.
4. Klausner Tries out his Invention: Klausner continues to work on his invention
and wishes to try the machine. He takes the sound machine out into the garden
and puts it on a small wooden table. He fixes the earphones to connect them to
the machine.

Klausner adjusts the knob of the sound machine. When he moves the knob the
needle moves across the dial. He is able to hear a low sharp sound at irregular
intervals in his earphones.

5. Klausner Hears Piercing Sound: Klausner suddenly hears a piercing shriek

which is frightening. He looks around to see if the person who has shrieked is
around. He only sees his neighbour, Mrs. Saunders in the next garden. He feels
that she is definitely not the one who has shrieked. She is cutting roses. He hears
the sound again and realises that the sound is heard when the stem is cut by
Mrs. Saunders.
Klausner calls out for Mrs. Saunders and asks her to cut another stem. Mrs.
Saunders is reluctant at first but gives in by snipping the stem of another rose.
He tells Mrs. Saunders that her action of cutting the stems of the rose flowers
causes the flowers to scream terribly. He tries to convince her that the flowers
sCream at a very high pitch. He questions her if she knows that the flowers go
through as much pain as a human being when his wrist is cut with garden shears.
Mrs. Saunders runs back into the house.
6. Klausner Tries to Learn More: Klausner tries to learn more from the incident.
ie gets a small white daisy and pulls it both upward and sideways. His action
auses the stem to snap. He hears a soft high-pitched shriek. He repeats the
action with another daisy. The same thing happens and he knows it is a shriek.
But he is not sure if the shriek is an expression of pain. It appears to him just
without any emotion.
Ke a
cry which is neutral and

THE SOUND MACHINE 153

 day, he takes Out nis machine and head.
R l a u s n e r Tests his Invention: Next
places the box near
He
a p a r k . He looks around and spots a
beach tree.
the tree trunk. It io
the
all his might at is a
uee trunk and then swings a n axe with
sound. It is different
from the sound he h
strong blow and he hears a peculiar has
heard previously.
returns home hurriedly and c o n t a c .
.Klausner Contacts Dr. Scott: Klausner
doctor to c o m e immediately. While h
Dr. Scott. He requests persistently for the
a b o u t w h a t would happen
a c r o s s his mind
waits for the doctor many ideas c o m e
to crops, vegetables and fruit trees if they are cut. He says that if he would ear
when they are cut, he woula
tive hundred wheat plants shrieking simultaneously,
not be able to eat bread anymore.
When the doctor appears
on the scene
9. Dr Scott Appears on the Scene:
Kiausner asks him to put on the earphones, which the doctor willingly does
and lands a second blow
Klausner gets strike the tree with the a x e
ready to

Dr. Scott s e e s what is happening above

him on the tree. The doctor shouts to
to escape from the falling branch.
Klausner to r u n quickly. The doctor too r u n s fast
10. The Sound Machine is Smashed: Klausner stands motionless and just stares

the branch. The branch falls on the

machine and smashes it into bits.
at falling
safe.
The doctor exclaims in relief that Klausner is
11. Klausner Wants to Know What the Doctor Heard: Klausner is not bothered
about himself. He is more interested to know if the doctor has heard anything when
he landed a blow on the trunk of the tree with the axe. The doctor replies that
he heard nothing and that he is not sure of what he has heard. He thinks that
it was perhaps the sound of the branch giving way. Klausner gets impatient and
continuously asks the doctor to describe the sound.

Klausner asks the doctor to stitch the gash he has caused to the tree with the
axe. Dr. Scott tells Klausner that he cannot stitch through wood. Then Klausner
tells him to apply iodine instead. He agrees to paint the cut with iodine. Klausner
observes the doctor doing it still holding on to the axe.
ne
Klausner steps near closer look at the two wounds on it.
the tree to get a
wants the doctor to come again the next day and have a look at the wounds O1
the tree. He also wants him to apply more iodine. The doctor agrees to come ba k
the next day and apply iodine if there is a need for it.
to
12. Klausner and the Doctor Return: Klausner feels happy and drops the axt
they
the ground. The doctor approaches him, holds his arm gently and says a
better leave. They walk back to the house arm in arm.

STORIBS
154 WORKBOOK ON ECHOES: 1SC sHORT
 3. NoTES
tering: reading in an untidy way
spasmodic: happening suddenly at sharp
box in which a dead body is buried. intervals
offin: a
oke: push in a particular direction. crackling: a series of sharp sounds.
poke
tugging: puling hard. tentacle: a long thin part of the body of
nyiddle: turn nervously. some creatures.

deftly: skilfully.
ultrasonic: of sounds pitched higher than
what humans can hear.
aravel path: path made with small stones.
instinctively: behaving on the basis of
plack box: a complicated cquipment.
feeling, instinct.
innards: the inner parts of a machine.
snip: cut something with scissors.
distracted: diverted.
shears: a garden tool like scissors.
intrigued: getting interested.
stony: cold, showing lack of feelings.
inquisitive: curious.
toin, spurl, plinuckment: used to reflect
obe: earlobe. that he doesn't know what it means.
ibration: feeling a continuous shaking cellar: an underground room used for
movement.
storing things.
frail: physically weak and thin. took a stance: took a
position.
tuitchy: nervous and anxious.
gash: a long deep cut on the skin.
bewildered: confused.
jutte ring: moving lightly and quickly. frantic: unable to control emotions.
animated: lively. stand anchored to: stand firm on the
Subtle: not very obvious. ground.

harmonies: pleasing sound produced when wedged: squeezed in a narrow space.

different notes are played together.
gate latch: a small metal bar used to
discords: a combination of musical notes fasten or open a door gate.
that do not sound pleasant together.
queak: a short high sound. flicked: hit with a sudden movement.
ussed: paid too much attention. swishing: moving quickly through the air
in a way making soft sound.
onsumptive: a person suffering from
Consumption, i.e., a disease of lungs. splintering: shattering.
ocked: raised at the vertical angle.
suffused: spread all over.

TRE SOUND MACHINE

155
 4. TiTLE

Machine' is quite
approprlate, as the entir
ire
he title of the story The Sound the protagonist of the sto

revolves around the sound

machine created by tory,
LOTy the tact t h a t the author is n
lausner. The use of definite article
The' signifies
Klausner.
not
the o n e created by
Cierring to any sound machine but
attempt at making a nd
involves Klausner's
The real action of the story to h u m a n ear. The author ha.
m a c h i n e to capture the sounds which a r e inaudible has
sound by depicting his workplace
Klausner's obsession with
given a n insight into and b a t t e r i e s . After Klausne
shed with a number of wires
in a secluded wooden
comprises Klausner's attemnt
i n v e n t s his sound machine,
the rest of the story
sournds which human
in capturing the
the effectiveness of his machine
proving and captures the shrieking
c a n n o t hear. He takes
his machine in his garden
beings when his neighbour, Mrs. Saunders
r o s e plant
sound made by the stem of the
next to Klausner's.
Klausner further tests his
plucks r o s e flowers from the garden hears a similar shrieking
trunk of a tree. He
machine in a park by hitting at the
to demonstrate his theory.
As Klausner tries
sound and calls his doctor, Dr. Scott
trunk of the tree, a
branch falls and destroys the
to give another blow at the
to tell if he had
heard a sound, which the
machine. Klausner forces Dr. Scott
machine is destroyed by the very sample (the
latter denies. Ironically, the sound
effectiveness of his machine.
tree), which Klausner used to test the

VAAAAANA

5. SETTING
AAAAYAAE AYAAYAAE

with its title and its plot. The Sound

The setting of the story is in conformity
who is obsessed with
Machine' is the story of a n amateur scientist, Klausner,
a r e inaudible to the human
sounds and wants to capture the sounds which
a
Klausner's laboratory is located in a secluded wooden shed
ear. That is why
room, having
the back of his house. The interior of the shed is a n unpainted
black box', about three feet long
long wooden workbench. On this bench lies a
shaped like a 'child's coffin', which is actually the device, invented by Klausner
i.e., the sound machine. Besides, there are wires, batteries and small shar
tools, which are ideal for creating the workplace of a scientist. Since the ma"
purpose of Klausner is to capture those high-pitched sounds which are inauaio
to human ear, the other place mentioned is his garden, at the back of his hou
that
an open-space, ideal for listening to the sounds. It is here, in the garden
Klausner first hears the shrieking sound made by the stem of a rose plant, wi
his neighbour, Mrs. Saunders plucks rose flowers.

156 wORKBOOK ON ECHOES:1Sc SHORT sTORI

 mentioned in the takes hi1s
hird
The third1 place story is a park, where Klausner
chine to test its usefulness. And it is in this park that Klausner hears
u n d m a c

sohrieking sound made by the tree, when he hits it with an axe. To prove
the s h r i e k i n g

he calls Dr. Scott in the park and gives a second blow on the
scovery,
This time a branch falls from the tree and destroys the sound
hsof the
his

unk o f t h e tree.
ne. Thus, the story begins and ends with the sound machine.
machine.

time chosen for the action in the appropriate, i.e.,

is also in a
story
Summer
warr
evening, at night and carly morning (six a.m.). when there is a

ratively less noise than the rest of the day. Sounds which are otherwise
dible to human ear can be heard in the evening, night and early morning.

6. CHARACTERISATION
AANAYYAANAYANAYANAY AA` A

Klausner
Kausner is the of the story. He was an amateur scientist, who was
protagonist
bse ssed with sounds. He invented a sound machine to capture the sounds which
are inaudible to the human ear.

Physical Attributes: Klausner is described as a frail, nervous and anxious man,

whose hands were always moving. He had a large head that inclined towards his
eft shoulder as if his neck could not support it. His face was smooth and pale,
aimost white. He had pale-grey eyes, which had the look of bewilderment and
Temoteness.
Obsessed: Klausner was a crazy, "dreamy" and "distracted" person. He was obsessed
with sounds as he himself said, "1 like sound." He wanted to hear those high-
pitched inaudible sounds which, according to him, made such a powerful music
they could drive a listener mad. That is why he invented a sound machine to
tapture those inaudible sounds. His obsession was so strong that he worked for
tours on it, recording the sounds made by a fiy and a bat and made changes for
mproving it. He has been described in the story as "moth of a man," indicating
nat as a moth is attracted to bright lights, so was Klausner attracted to sounds.
ven his neighbour, Mrs. Saunders, considered Klausner as a peculiar person, a
Tazy man but a harmless one.
His concentration in his work was intense. He desperately wanted to test his
achine and prove his theory. At the end of the story, even after his machine
was destroyed, he demanded to know from the doctor if the latter had heard the
Dund, which he himself had heard earlier.
asecure and Lacking in Confdence: Klausner's insecurity and lack of confidence
Visible throughout the story in his behaviour and actions. While working on
uS turn them nervously, nod his head and
machine, he would pull the wires,

THE SOUND MACHINE 157

twist his mouth into curious shapes. Even his doctor and iriend, Dr. Scott fo11n
m to be nervous and insecure and felt the tension in the room, where he i s
To work. While working inside his room, Klausner was Wearng a hat and whe cd
Dr. Scott told him about it, he anxiously enquired, "Oh, have IP" Similarly, vhen
en
Klausner was telling about his machine to Dr. Scott, he was shifting from
TOot to the other and pulling the lobe of his ear, reflecting his insecurity a n
lack of confidence.
After hearing the painful shriek of the roses, Klausner tried his experimens
with daisies. He heard the cry, but was not sure that it expressed pain. He
then jumped to the conclusion that he was wrong in calling the shriek made
by roses as a cry of pain. This shows Klausner's lack of confidence in himself

and his research.

Meticulous and Patient: Though Klausner appeared to be nervous and excited
yet he was quite meticulous and patient, like a true scientist. At the beginning
of the story, when he entered his workplace, he picked up a piece of paper lying
beside his sound machine and studied it carefully before starting his work. It
seems that he used to note down points related to his research on sounds and
would refer to them when required. Further, he would check each and everv
wire and battery and would continue to do so even for an hour, showing his
patience. Similarly, when he wanted to call Dr. Scott to verify the result produced
by his sound machine, he consulted his diary, dialled his number and waited
patiently for him to answer. He even sat down beside the telephone and waited for
Dr. Scott to come.
Lover of Nature: Throughout the story, Klausner appears to be a lover of nature
He had a garden at the back of his house; through which he had to pass to enter
his workplace. Like a moth, which is attracted to bright light, Klausner was attracted
to various sounds in nature. He believed that those high-pitched inaudible sounds
would be making new exciting music in the universe. Such inaudible sounds, if
al
heard by men, would make them mad with excitement. He wanted to capture
the sounds made by plants, animals and insects, which are inaudible to human

ear. That is why he invented a sound machine and put it to test on plants. wnet
his neighbour, Mrs Saunders cut the stem of the rose plants, Klausner coula n
the shrieking voice, as if the rose stem was in pain. He told Mrs. Saunders ue
she had "with a sharp pair of scissors cut through the stems of living things, a
each rose that you cut screamed in the most terrible way". Klausner was deep
en
at pain to think about what would happen to plants, vegetation and trees WL
they are cut.

After experimenting on a tree in a park, when Klausner called for Dr. ott
and was waiting for his arrival, he could only recall that the sound given o
out by
kind
the tree was frightful. It made him feel sick with horror. He wondered wna

STORL
158 WORKBOOK ON BCHOES: 1Sc SHORT
 ening sound would be made when five hundred stems of wheat woul1a
o fa fiigh

a
ower simultaneously. He felt if he would hear such a screaming
mor

by
vould not be able to eat bread anymore. He then imagined the pain
c u t

be
sound,
etables like potatoes, cabbages, carrots and onions had to undergo when
w h i c h
heir roots. It shows that Klausner was a
the sensitiv man, who
c u t from
are
they ature and could feel the pain of the plants.
Joved
the end of the story, when Klausner hit the trunk of the with
imilarly,
Similarly, at
at the tree

axe, he was horrified and looked at the place where the blade of axe had sunk
was

Bhe ffesh of the tree. He tried to press the edges of gash to close the wound
into
asked for forgiveness saying, "I am, I am sorry...but it will heal..it will heal
When he hit the trunk of the tree with an axe for the second time, he was
inare Concerned about the injury he had inflicted on the tree rather than the loss
more

sound machine.
of his
Dr. Scott
Dr. Scott was a physician and a friend of Klausner. He is present throughout the
story, from the stage when Klausner was inventing his sound machine till the end
when the machine was destroyed.

A Good Doctor: Dr. Scott was a physician, who used to attend to Klausner,
whenever he had an ailment. At the beginning of the story, Dr. Scott dropped in
o see Klausner, when he was passing by his house. It seems that he had been a
requent visitor to Klausner's home because he was aware of the fact that Klausner
night be working in his shed in the evening. He was concerned about the wel
eing of Klausner and enquired from him the condition of his throat. Even when
lausner said that he was fine, Dr. Scott insisted on examining his throat.
Dr. Scott made house calls as and when his patients required his services.
When Klausner called him at half-past six in the morning, Dr. Scott not onlyy
ttended his call but also visited him, though it was not a medical emergency.
A Friend and Confidant of Klausner: Dr. Scott was not only Klausner's doctor
ut also a friend and a confidant. This is indicated by the fact that Dr. Scott had
n access to Klausner's house, even to his work area, which was at the back of
s house in a secluded place. He was the only person in whom Klausner confided
s theory of sounds and that he was experimenting with a machine to capture
ne high-pitched inaudible sounds. He attentively listened to Klausner's theory
Dout sounds in nature. Although he was skeptical about Klausner's attempt at
apturing the inaudible sounds, he did not contradict him.
As a friend of Klausner, he could make out his state of mind from his expressions
nd behaviour. As he entered Klausner's work area, he could feel the tension
his room. Further, when Klausner explained to him in detail his views about
ounds, Dr. Scott could sense that something strange was going on in Klausner's

THE SOUND MACHINE 159

mind, which could not be understood from his body language. That is why
wIshed him luck for his experiment and bade goodbye to him. Later in the storhe
ry,
Scottconcerned aho
was
when Klausner called him early in the morning Dr. out
he Was l . He felt
Klausner w a s
il relievea
his health. His immediate question to
without wasting any time
when Klausner replied that he w a s fine. However, e,
Dr. Scott c a m e to Klausner's house to meet him. jOn seeing Klausner, Dr. scots
of madness or hysteria, which he
Tound him calmer, without showing any sign
him.
could feel in Klausner's voice when he telephoned
Klausner asked him to put on th.
when
Dr. Scott obliging m a n . So
was an
Similarly, when Klausner told him to
earphones, Dr. Scott obliged him smilingly.
he obeyed his command without
paint the cut o n the tree's bark with iodine, c o m e the next day and checle
He promised Klausner that he would
grudge. e v e n
needed.
healed and apply iodine if
1f the tree's bark was

and compassionate man.

Thus, Dr. Scott was a sensitive, tactful, cooperative

7. THEMES
AAAYAAYANAYANAY AAN AXAY

Appearance versus Reality

the main theme that throughout the story

runs
Appearance v e r s u s Reality is
the story, was obsessed with sounds. He believed
Klausner, the protagonist of inaudible to human ear.
that there are a number of high-pitched sounds that a r e
sounds could be captured by
He wanted to prove this theory that these inaudible
Another theory which Klausner
claimed was that plants
using a sound machine.
cut.
give out shrieking cry when they a r e
painful,
Klausner workec
a r e inaudible to human ear,
To capture those sounds, which
made by
machine. He wished to hear the sounds
for hours to invent a sound
innumerable other creatures. He told Dr.
Scott that he had watchec
fly, a bat and
of sounc
number of times the needle of his
machine recording the presence
a
n o sounds at all.
vibrations in the air, when actually there were
machine w a s capable of recorain
This suggests that Klausner w a s s u r e that his
of hearing. Klausner, howeve
those sounds which human beings a r e not capable
the sounds made by any o
made n o attempt at all in the story to capture
of his the
creature, plants. That raises a doubt about the plausibility
except
and the effectiveness of his machine.
was
Klausner took his machine in his garden to test his theory. But
he a
had worked.
what would happen if it
that his machine might not work and ar

rose, Klausner coula

moment his neighbour, Mrs. Saunders cut a yellow er s cu

shriek. He heard similar sound a s and when Mrs. Saund

frightfulpiercing
STORI
WORKB0OK ON ECHOES:1SC SHORT
160
 with
the stem w a pair of scissors. Klausner requested Mrs. Saunders to cut another
this
test
belief. And he heard the same frightful, throatless shriek. He went to
his belief
to
iers and told her what he had heard. He then explained to her at
r O s e

Saunder

h.how
ength, plants
how pla being living things, feel as much pain as humans do. After
Mrs. ders went inside her house, Klausner
Saunders

again started the experiment

hdaisies. He pulled up a white daisy from the stem and heard a faint
igh-pitched cry. He
le repeated the process, but this time he
did not feel that the
nd had anything to do with pain or any other human emotion. In fact, now
sound

realised that it was same with the roses and he had been wrong in calling it
he.

Of pain. So, Klausner himself doubted his theory. If he had heard any such
SOur
tnd, he would have asked Mrs. Saunders to put on the earphones and hear
But he did not do so.
the sound.
Further, in the story, he took his sound machine to a park. He first tried to
convince himself of the truth of his theory. He hit the trunk of a tree with an
Ke and heard a shrieking sound. He then called Dr. Scott to prove his theory.
When Klausner hit the trunk of the tree for the second time, a branch of the
ree fell on his machine and smashed it. He demanded from Dr. Scott it he had
heard any sound when the axe struck the tree. Dr. Scott denied having heard any
sOund. So the sound machine, which could have proved Klausner's theory was
destroyed. This is suggestive of the fact that Klausner was not able to prove his
theory and so it might have been a figment of his imagination. Being a sensitive
person, he might have felt that since plants are living-things, they also undergo
nilar feelings like human beings. Finally, there are different
perceptions of reality
and every person sees it according to his own thinking.

Concern for Nature

The story, The Sound Machine' deals subtly
with the theme of nature. Klausner,
m amateur scientist, was obsessed with sounds in nature. He wanted to capture
those sounds, which are either high-pitched or low-pitched and inaudible to human
tar.
Therefore, he invented a sound machine to capture those sounds despite
eing aware of the fact that these sounds could make him mad with excitement.
n the process of capturing those sounds, he tested his theory on plants. While
ding so, he heard the shrieking, frightening cry of plants, when they were cut.
He felt that plants too undergo pain and scream when they are hurt. Klausner
eng a scientist and a sensitive man, could feel the painful cry of the plants.
on the other hand, his neighbour, Mrs. Saunders and Dr. Scott could no ear
ny such sound. It is suggestive of the apathetic attitude most of the people have
lowards nature.
Klausner's concern for nature is refiected in the incident, when after hitting the
tfunk of the tree with an axe, he felt sorry and apologised to the tree. He even
ified to press the edges of the gash to close the wound. After inviting Dr. Scott

THE SOUND MACHINE 161

 Nl own distubed, imagining eated
what sort of a noise would be crea if five
r wlhrat plants were to be cut simultaneously. He felt that after hcaring

Ahateirible sound, he would not be able to cat bread any more. Alter giving
nother blow at the tree trunk, Klausner ordered Dr. Scott to stitch the wound

dapply iodin
This story is a grim reminder to all the human beings not to cut plants and

ees ndiscriminately. Human beings are ignoring the nature s sound, which it
RIves ouit through a number of natural calamities as a warning. Ii we continue

toignore the sound of nature and keep on indiscriminately cutting trees,

we
ieet the same fate as the sound machine'. The sound machine was destroyed b
wi
n agent of nature, i.e., the tree. Klausner and Dr. Scott survived as they timely
ot away from it. Similarly, it is high time for all the human beings to listen to
the sound of nature and make all the efforts to conserve our natural environment

8. STYLEe
1. Narrative Methodology: The story is told in the third person by an omniscient
narrator. The entire story is presented from the point of view of Klausner.
The author has maintained the unities of time, place and action. The action
in the story begins on a warm summer evening, when Klausner was working on
his 'sound machine' in his wooden shed. He took out his machine in the garden
when the sun had gone down. He tested his machine when his neighbour
Mrs. Saunders came in her garden and plucked the rose fowers. He continued hi
experiment till it got quite dark and took the machine back in the wooden shed
The next morning, Klausner got up as soon as there was light. This time he took
his machine to the nearby park. He called Dr. Scott at half-past six in the morning
to prove his theory. Dr. Scott came as soon as possible. Both of them remained
in the park till the sound machine' was smashed. Thus, the entire action covers
a period of 10 to 12 hours. The characters are limited to three, i.e., Klausner
Dr. Scott and Mrs. Saunders. The setting too is confined to Klausner's wooden
shed, his garden and the park.
2. Language: Roald Dahl has used simple and straight forward language. He
has given a detailed description of the protagonist of the story, Klausner an
his thoughts. He has used long sentences with several clauses. The story relates
to an amateur scientist's attempt at inventing a 'sound machine' and capturing
the sounds which are inaudible to human ear. Therefore, the author has use
vocabulary that is in conformity with machine and sound, such as:

littering of wires and batteries

small sharp tools

162 WORKBOOK ON ECHOES:18C SHORT STORIES

 ck box
black box ab
about three feet long, the shape of a child's coffin.
a
coloured wires and silver tubes.
Mass of different
three dials

He phugged the wre connections from the earphone.

when
har has skilfully used vocabulary to depict the pain of the plants,
a r ecut
frightful, throatless shriek
scream,

the cry ofpain

grouling. low-pttched, screaming sound

the story. Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing: Dahl has made use of foreshadowing in

to give the readers an inkling

important literar device used by the author
s a
disaster. At the beginning of the story, the
sound machine has
isone impending feet long, the shape of a child's coffin
described as "a black box about three
en associated with darkness, evil and death. Similarly,
the
he colour
black' is usualy
machine in the form of a child's coffin
is indicative of some
of the sound of
iesign at the beginning
the So there is a sense of foreboding
happening in story.
This is justified when
that something bad awaits the end of the story.
he story his claim
Klausner could no longer prove
'sound machine' was smashed and
e
sounds.
f capturing inaudible
devices in
Rhetorical Devices: Roald
Dahl has used the following rhetorical
he story to convey the theme
of the story.
beings to insects,
attributes of human
The author has given the
Personification: personification in the
the sound machine. The examples of
towers, trees and
ory are:
like mad on a very high note...or singing
..the creature may be whistling
a song."
to whistle
sentence, the
author has given the fly the ability
In the above
and sing like a human being
inhuman shriek, sharp and short, very clear and cold.
..athroatless,
in the most terrible way.
that you cut screamed
"..each rose

flowers have been depicted

to give a cry of pain,
In the above sentences,
stems.
cut from the
when they are

enormous noise, a growling low-pitched, screamina

..aharsh, noteless, minute."
out like a sob, lasting for fully a
sound...but drawn

163
THE SOUND MACHINE
 n the above sentence, the author has depicted the pain a tree feels whar
it is hit with an axe, it cries like a human being

"...the humming noise of the machine..

Here, the machine has been given the quality of humming.

Similes: The examples of similes in the story are:

the creature may be whistling like mad.

I tune it in, almost like a radio.

he looked like an ancient, consumptive bespectacled child.

each ear was connected to his head by a thin stiff wUire like a tentacle
Lcle.
drawn out like a sob.
Metaphors: It is a figure of speech in which a comparison between two differentiere
things is implied, but not clearly stated. Examples of metaphors in the story are

the shape of a child's coffin.

a mouth of a man.
Imagery: in The Sound Machine, the sense of sight, the sense of hearing and thed
sense of touch, are clearly notable through the use of certain words arnd phrases.ras
Visual imageru: The words related with the sense of sight include the physicalys:
objects which can be seen or visualised. These include: box, coffin, paper, diagram gra
radio, wires, garden, wooden table, earphones, needle, roses, basket, fence, daisy,da
axe, wheat field, branch, cotton wool, and iodine.
Auditors Imagery: The writer has used words and phrases that refer to variousrio
sounds such as: low-pitched, high-pitched, note, hear, whistle, inaudible, excitingc
music, fierce grinding discords, a music so powerful, turned to hear the sound, noise,not
whistling like mad, very high note, barking, croaking, singing a song, squeak of de
bat, etc. These words make the readers experience the events in the story in then
context of the 'sound machine'.

TactileImagery: The words and phrases used to relate to the sense of touchto
are: urnning his fingers along the wires, fingers moving swiftly, with his fingers
he touched the gash, touching the of his neck
edges of the gash, rub the back ands
gently he took him by the arm.

5. Lessons: The Sound Machine indirectly offers moral lessons. These include thee
following:
Hold steadfastly to your convictions without fear.

164 WORKBoOK ON ECHOES:1SC SHORT STORIES

 Respect people evenif they hold different views.
Pursue the truth even it you are alone.

and admit the truth.

Accept
Pespect all life forms and love the environment and conserve nature.

9. ToPIC FOR D1scussioN

The Sound Machine depicts the apathy of man to the sounds in nature,
1.
which are a warning to him that if he recklessly destroys nature, nature

will destroy him. Discuss.

The Sound Machine clearly reflects the indifference human beings have
towards nature.

Klausner was obsessed with the sounds-particularly with the sounds in

nature.
He wanted to capture all the sounds made by plants, animals and insects,
which are inaudible to human ear.
His sound machine was tested for the first time when his neighbour, Mrs.
Saunders cut the stem of the rose plants.

Klausner heard the shrieking pain, as if the rose stems were in pain.
H e narrated his experience to Mrs. Saunders but considering him to be a
strange, peculiar man, she ran inside her house.
Early morning, the following day, when Klausner carried out his experiment
again by hitting the trunk of the tree with an axe, he felt sorry.
He called Dr. Scott to hear the "harsh, noteless, enormous noise, a growling.
low-pitched, screaming sound", that the tree made.
When the tree was hit with the axe for the second time, Dr. Scott could not
hear any cries, because he was "more interested in getting out of the
way.
D r . Scott wanted to save his life; the tree and its pain did not matter
to him.
The trees, plants and the natural world are personified and depicted as
experiencing the same pain and agony which the human beings feel when
they are hurt.
As readers do not know if the result of the experiment carried out by
we
Klausner was real, but what we know for s u r e is that he was sensitive to
nature around him.
 t h e other hand, people such as Mrs. Saunders and Dr. Scott weu
e
e
apathetic and indifferent to nature
When Klausner hit the tree for the second time, a branch fell and destroved

the machine
The sound machine was destroyed by the very sample (the tree), which
of his machine.
Klausner used to test the effectiveness
Therefore, it can be said, that human beings are ignoring the nature's sounds
which it gives out through a number of natural calamities as a warning.

In the story the nature (tree) warned the man by smashing the sound
machine: in reality it could be any disaster that nature can inflict upo

humans if treated mercilessly.

Thus, if we continue to ignore the sound of nature and keep on indiscriminatelv

will meet the same fate as the sound machine'.

cutting trees, we

So, in order to save themselves from powerful nature, human beings should
no more be apathetic to the sound of nature and should make all the efforts

to c o n s e r v e o u r natural environment.

AAAAANAAAAAM

10. REVISION QUESTIONS

Question 1
in the story,
(a How is the theme of 'appearance' v e r s u s 'reality' reflected
The Sound Machine'? Give examples from the story to prove it.

************

**

*'*** **''

STORIB
SHORT
166 wORKBOOK ON ECHOES:1sc
 .

********************

b) How was the protagonist of the short story, 'The Sound Machine' different
from the other two characters and the general public at large? Give reasons
to support your answer.

****************"******** :*

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***********

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168 WORKBOOK ON ECHOESs:1SC SHORT STORIES

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for nature in his short story,

concern

shows his
how Roald Dahl
c) Discuss
T h e Sound Machine.
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169
o D MACHINE
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LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the short story, The Sound Machine' by Roald Dahl as a tale that
hovers between illusion and reality.
2. Klausner seemed to be an eccentric man but his concerns were quite real.
Discuss the statement with reference to Roald Dahl's, The Sound Machine

170 WORKBOOK ON ECHOES: ISC SHORT STORIES