Here’s a brief summary of “The School” by Donald Barthelme:
“The School” is a short story by Donald Barthelme that explores the dark and absurd aspects of life through a seemingly mundane setting—a school. In this story, the narrator describes a series of unfortunate and bizarre events that occur within a school, involving the deaths of various animals. These deaths become increasingly absurd and numerous, including a parrot, a bat, a giraffe, and even a teacher’s own children.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the deaths are random and inexplicable, leaving the characters, who are teachers and students, struggling to make sense of the chaos around them. The story satirizes the unpredictability and absurdity of life, as well as the absurdity of trying to find meaning in random events.
Share With Your Friends“The School” is a surreal and darkly humorous story that uses absurdity to comment on the human condition and the often futile quest for understanding in a world that can be both unpredictable and senseless.
Daily Pedia Short Stories