Short stories

All Summer in a Day - Ray Bradbury

On Venus, where constant rain falls and the sun only appears for one hour every seven years, a class of schoolchildren eagerly awaits this rare event. Margot, a girl who moved from Earth and remembers the sun, is bullied by her classmates who are jealous of her experience. They lock her in a closet just before the sun appears. When they witness the glorious sunshine, they enjoy it tremendously until it begins to rain again. Only then do they remember Margot and free her, but she has missed the sun's brief appearance.

Setting

• Venus in the future

• A setting of perpetual rainfall where the sun appears only once every seven years

• Primary locations include the underground school and the brief expedition to the surface

• The closet where Margot is imprisoned

Symbolism (All in a Summer’s day)

• The Sun: Represents joy, freedom, life, and opportunity. The brief appearance of the sun symbolizes fleeting happiness and precious moments in life.

• Rain: Symbolizes depression, monotony, and the dreary aspects of life.

• The Closet: Represents isolation, exclusion, and imprisonment.

• Venus: The setting itself is symbolic of a world devoid of light, joy, and warmth.

• Margot's Paleness: Her physical appearance symbolizes her connection to the sun and her displacement in this rainy world.

Characterization

• Margot: Pale, frail, isolated girl who remembers and longs for the sun. She is characterized by her difference and her emotional connection to Earth and sunshine.

• William: The ringleader of the bullies, characterized by his jealousy and cruelty.

• The Other Children: Collectively characterized by their mob mentality, jealousy, and later remorse.

Conflict

• Character vs. Character: Margot against her classmates who bully her

• Character vs. Society: Margot's struggle to fit in a society that resents her different experience

• Character vs. Environment: All characters against the harsh, sunless environment of Venus

The Scarlet Ibis - James Hurst

In rural North Carolina, a narrator recounts his relationship with his younger brother, Doodle, who was born with a heart condition and other physical difficulties. Despite doctors' predictions, Doodle survives, though he cannot walk. The narrator, embarrassed by Doodle's limitations, pushes him to learn to walk and perform other physical activities. When a scarlet ibis (a red tropical bird) appears in their yard and dies, Doodle gives it a proper burial. Later, during a storm, the narrator abandons Doodle when he cannot keep up. When he returns, he finds Doodle dead, his body resembling the fallen scarlet ibis.

Setting

• Rural eastern North Carolina in the early 20th century

• The family home, yard, and surrounding natural areas

• The Old Woman Swamp where the brothers spend time together

• The story spans several years, primarily during summer months

Symbolism (Scarlet Ibis)

• The Scarlet Ibis: The central symbol representing Doodle himself—beautiful, out of place, and ultimately doomed.

• The Color Red: Appears throughout the story (the ibis, Doodle's body, flowers) and symbolizes both life and death.

• The Storm: Represents the narrator's emotional turmoil and foreshadows tragedy.

• The Old Woman Swamp: Symbolizes the brothers' bond and a place of beauty and sanctuary.

• The Coffin: Built for Doodle as an infant, represents the expectation of death that haunts him.

• The Season of Summer: Represents life, growth, and possibility.

Characterisation

• The Narrator: Prideful, sometimes cruel, but also loving. His complex relationship with his brother drives the story.

• Doodle: Physically frail but spiritually strong, determined, and sensitive to beauty.

• Parents: Background characters who love Doodle but have limited expectations for him.

Conflict

• Character vs. Self: The narrator struggles with his own pride and shame

• Character vs. Character: The narrator's treatment of Doodle and pushing him beyond his capabilities

• Character vs. Nature: Doodle's struggle against his physical limitations

A Rose for Emily - William Faulkner

In a small Southern town, Miss Emily Grierson, the last member of a once-prominent family, dies alone in her decaying mansion. The story unfolds non-chronologically, revealing her refusal to pay taxes, her purchase of arsenic, her brief romance with a Northern man named Homer Barron, and her increasing reclusiveness after Homer's disappearance. After her funeral, townspeople discover Homer's corpse in an upstairs bedroom, along with evidence that Emily had been sleeping next to his body for years.

Setting

• A small, fictional Southern town called Jefferson in Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi

• Late 19th to early 20th century, spanning approximately 40 years

• Emily's once-grand but now decaying house, described as "a big, squarish frame house"

• The contrast between the old South (represented by Emily and her house) and the modernizing town

Symbolism (emily)

• Emily's House: Represents the decay of the Old South and aristocracy; once grand but now an "eyesore among eyesores."

• The Rose: Though never explicitly mentioned in the story, symbolizes love, romance, and the respect the townspeople have for Emily despite her eccentricities.

• The Strand of Gray Hair: Found on the pillow next to Homer's corpse, represents Emily's unwillingness to let go and the passage of time.

• Dust: Appears throughout the story, symbolizing decay, death, and the past.

• The Pocket Watch: Ticking into the silence, symbolizes the inexorable passage of time.

• The Portrait of Emily's Father: Represents patriarchal control and the old Southern traditions.

Characterisation

• Emily Grierson: Proud, reclusive, unable to let go of the past. Her refusal to acknowledge change leads to her macabre preservation of Homer's body.

• Homer Barron: A Northerner, representing new values and industrialization. Described as a "big, dark, ready man" who is "not a marrying man."

• Emily's Father: Though only briefly mentioned, his control over Emily's life extends beyond his death.

• The Townspeople: Collectively function as a character, representing societal judgment and curiosity.

Conflict (emily)

• Character vs. Society: Emily's refusal to conform to changing social norms and expectations

• Character vs. Self: Emily's inability to accept change, loss, and death

• Character vs. Character: Emily's relationship with her controlling father and later with Homer Barron

There Will Come Soft Rains - Ray Bradbury

In a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by nuclear war, an automated house continues to function mechanically, going through its daily routines despite the absence of its human inhabitants. The house prepares meals, cleans itself, and reads poetry (including Sara Teasdale's poem "There Will Come Soft Rains"). The silhouettes of the family are burned into one wall, evidence of their instant vaporization in the nuclear blast. The house survives until a tree branch crashes through a window, starting a fire that ultimately destroys the house despite its automated firefighting systems.

Setting

• Allendale, California in the year 2026

• A fully automated house standing alone in a city otherwise destroyed by nuclear war

• The story takes place over one day, from morning until the house's destruction that night

Symbolism (There will come soft rains)

• The House: Represents humanity's technological achievements and their ultimate futility.

• The Mechanical Mice/Cleaners: Symbolize the pointlessness of routine without purpose.

• The Dog: The only living creature in the story, symbolizes nature's resilience and the organic world.

• The Fire: Represents both destruction and natural forces overcoming technology.

• The Silhouettes on the Wall: Represent the sudden, violent end of human life and the permanent imprint humanity leaves.

• The Poem: The Teasdale poem referenced in the title suggests nature's indifference to humanity's extinction.

conflict

• Technology vs. Nature: The house's systems fighting against natural forces

• Absence vs. Presence: The continuing function of the house despite the absence of humans

• Survival vs. Destruction: The house's ultimately futile struggle to survive

Characterisation

• The House: Personified as the main character, methodically performing tasks with artificial intelligence but no true consciousness.

• The Dog: The only living character, representing nature and organic life.

• The Family: Characterized only through their absence and the silhouettes they left behind.

A Jury of Her Peers - Susan Glaspell

Based on a real murder case, the story follows Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters as they accompany their husbands (a farmer and the sheriff) to investigate the Wright farmhouse, where John Wright has been found strangled and his wife Minnie is in custody. While the men search for evidence of motive, the women discover domestic details that reveal Minnie's difficult marriage and isolation. They find a dead canary with its neck wrung, hidden in Minnie's sewing box, suggesting that John killed her pet—likely the final act that drove Minnie to murder her husband. Understanding Minnie's suffering, the women decide to hide this evidence from their husbands.

Setting (jury of her peers)

• Rural Iowa in the early 20th century

• The isolated Wright farmhouse

• Winter setting emphasizes the coldness and harshness of life

• The kitchen where the women spend their time (contrasted with the men's search upstairs)

Symbolism

The Dead Canary: Represents Minnie's spirit and joy, killed by her husband's cruelty.

• The Bird Cage: Symbolizes Minnie's imprisonment in her marriage.

• The Unfinished Housework: The preserves that burst from cold and the messy kitchen represent Minnie's deteriorating mental state.

• The Quilt: The erratic stitching shows Minnie's distress, while the "quilting" or "knotting" of it refers to the method of John's murder.

• The Farmhouse: Isolated and cold, symbolizes Minnie's lonely existence.

• The Rocking Chair: Represents Minnie's constant motion but lack of progress in her life.

Characterisation

• Mrs. Hale: Perceptive farmer's wife who feels guilty for not visiting Minnie. She understands rural isolation.

• Mrs. Peters: The sheriff's wife, initially committed to law but gradually aligns with female solidarity.

• Minnie Foster/Wright: Absent physically but central to the story. Characterized through others' memories and her belongings.

• John Wright: Described as a good but hard man, his controlling nature is revealed through the effects of his actions.

• The Men: Collectively characterized by their dismissal of women's concerns and their blindness to domestic evidence.

Conflict

• Character vs. Society: Women's knowledge and perspective versus male authority

• Character vs. Character: Implied conflict between John and Minnie Wright

• Character vs. Self: Mrs. Hale's guilt for not visiting Minnie and the women's moral dilemma about concealing evidence

Girl - Jamaica Kincaid

AThis unique, single-sentence story consists of a mother's instructions to her daughter about how to be a proper woman in Antiguan society. The mother imparts practical advice about household chores, cooking, and behavior, interspersed with warnings about becoming a "slut." The daughter occasionally interjects with protests, but the mother's voice dominates, revealing complex cultural expectations about womanhood, sexuality, and social propriety.

Setting (girl)

• Antigua, a Caribbean island

• Post-colonial society with British influences

• Domestic setting implied through the tasks described

• Mid-20th century (based on publication and cultural references)

Symbolism

• Domestic Tasks: Washing, cooking, and cleaning represent the traditional female role.

• The Slut Label: Symbolizes society's control over female sexuality and reputation.

• Bread Baking: Represents the passing down of cultural knowledge and traditional female skills.

• The Hem: Instructions about hemming represent proper appearance and propriety.

• The Baker: Learning how to "smile at someone you don't like" symbolizes female social performance.

• Medicine/Abortion Techniques: Represent hidden female knowledge and the realities of women's lives.

Characterisation (girl)

The mother is authoritative, while the daughter is passive yet questioning. Evidence: "The mother’s voice was firm and unyielding."

Conflict (girl)

Character vs. Society: The daughter's developing identity versus societal expectations for women

Character vs. Character: The tension between mother and daughter

Character vs. Self: The implied conflict of the daughter trying to form her identity amid restrictive instructions

Everyday Use - Alice Walker

Narrated by "Mama," the story centers on the visit of her educated daughter Dee (who has renamed herself "Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo") and Dee's boyfriend to their rural home. Dee, who has embraced a shallow version of her African heritage, wants to take family quilts and other household items as decorative artifacts. Mama ultimately decides to give these quilts to her shy, scarred daughter Maggie, who would put them to "everyday use" rather than display them as cultural objects.

Setting

• Rural southern United States (likely Georgia)

• 1960s/1970s during the Black Power movement and cultural awakening

• Mama's simple home and yard, representing authentic but economically modest African American rural life

Symbolism

• The Quilts: Central symbol representing family heritage, tradition, and authentic connection to ancestry.

• The House: Symbolizes humble roots and genuine connection to heritage.

• Dee's Camera: Represents objectification and distance - photographing rather than connecting.

• Dee's Dress and Name Change: Symbolize superficial connection to African heritage.

• Maggie's Scars: Represent suffering but also genuine connection to family history.

• The Yard: Described as an "extended living room," symbolizes Mama's domain and connection to place.

Characterisation

• Mama: Practical, strong, physically capable. Values functionality and genuine connection to heritage.

• Maggie: Shy, scarred (physically and emotionally) from a house fire, represents authentic connection to heritage.

• Dee/Wangero: Educated, fashionable, self-centered. Has rejected her immediate family heritage while superficially embracing a broader African heritage.

Conflict (everyday use)

• Character vs. Character: Dee's superficial appreciation of heritage versus Mama and Maggie's lived experience

• Cultural Conflict: Different interpretations of heritage and its value

• Internal Conflict: Mama's struggle to assert her own values against Dee's education and forceful personality

Hills Like White Elephants - Ernest Hemingway

At a train station in Spain, an American man and a young woman nicknamed "Jig" have a tense conversation over drinks. Through their carefully crafted dialogue, it becomes clear that Jig is pregnant and the man is pressuring her to have an abortion (referred to only as "an operation"). Without directly stating their positions, they reveal fundamental differences in how they view their relationship and future. The story ends ambiguously, with the man carrying their luggage to the platform but no clear resolution about their decision.

Setting

• A train station between Barcelona and Madrid in the Ebro River valley of Spain

• Hot, dry climate emphasized

• The 1920s, post-WWI era of American expatriates in Europe

• The junction of railways represents life choices and divergent paths

Symbolism

• White Elephants: The hills that Jig compares to white elephants symbolize the pregnancy—something unwanted by the man, precious to Jig.

• The Train Station: Represents a crossroads or decision point in their lives.

• The Two Sides of the Valley: One side is fertile and lush, the other dry and barren, symbolizing the choice between having the child or the abortion.

• Alcohol: Their continuous drinking symbolizes avoidance and the superficiality of their relationship.

• The Beaded Curtain: Separates the bar from the outside, symbolizing the barrier between their current situation and potential future.

• Luggage: Their many bags, covered with hotel labels, represent their nomadic, responsibility-free lifestyle.

Characterisation

• The American Man: Controlling, self-centered, unwilling to change his lifestyle for the pregnancy.

• Jig: Younger, more emotionally complex, facing the reality that their relationship might be superficial.

• Both characters: Defined largely through dialogue, with their true feelings emerging through subtext rather than direct statement.

Conflict

• Character vs. Character: The fundamental disagreement between the man and Jig about the pregnancy

• Character vs. Self: Jig's internal struggle to assert her own desires

• Character vs. Society: Implicit in the need to seek an "operation" rather than openly discussing abortion

Two Kinds - Amy Tan

Jing-mei (June) Woo recounts her childhood struggle against her mother's ambition to make her a prodigy. Having emigrated from China after losing her family there, Jing-mei's mother places her hopes in America's possibilities, forcing Jing-mei through a series of talents and skills. The conflict culminates in a disastrous piano recital, after which Jing-mei rebels, devastating her mother by saying she wishes she had never been born. Years later, after her mother's death, Jing-mei discovers that the piano her mother had given her contains two complementary pieces: "Pleading Child" and "Perfectly Contented," suggesting the two sides of her personality and relationship with her mother.

Setting

• San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950s and 1960s

• Chinese immigrant community balancing traditional values with American culture

• The family apartment where the piano stands

• The recital hall where Jing-mei's failure occurs

Symbolism

• The Piano: Represents both the mother's aspirations and the daughter's rebellion.

• The Two Piano Pieces: "Pleading Child" and "Perfectly Contented" symbolize the mother-daughter relationship and Jing-mei's journey.

• Shirley Temple: Represents American ideals of childhood success and talent.

• The Mirror: When Jing-mei stares at herself, she sees different reflections, symbolizing her search for identity.

• Tests and Magazines: Symbolize the mother's systematic approach to finding her daughter's talent.

• The Haircut: Jing-mei's failed attempt to look like Shirley Temple symbolizes the gap between expectations and reality.

Characterisation

• Jing-mei Woo: Rebellious, determined to assert her own identity against her mother's wishes.

• Suyuan Woo (mother): Ambitious for her daughter, shaped by her tragic past in China and her belief in American opportunity.

• Mr. Chong: The piano teacher who is deaf and cannot hear Jing-mei's mistakes, representing blind faith in potential.

Conflict

• Character vs. Character: Jing-mei's resistance against her mother's ambitions

• Character vs. Self: Jing-mei's struggle to define her own identity

• Character vs. Society: The immigrant experience of trying to succeed in America while negotiating cultural expectations

Rules of the Game - Amy Tan

Young Waverly Jong grows up in San Francisco's Chinatown and becomes a chess prodigy. Her mother, Lindo, initially encourages her talent but later begins to show her off to the community, causing tension between them. When Waverly publicly confronts her mother about this behavior, she returns home to find her place at the family table apparently gone. The story explores their complex relationship and the cultural and generational conflicts between them, using chess as a metaphor for family dynamics and cultural strategy.

Setting

• San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1960s

• The Jong family apartment

• Chess tournaments where Waverly competes

• The neighborhood streets where Waverly walks with her mother

Symbolism

• Chess: The central symbol representing strategy, rules, power dynamics, and the game of life.

• Invisible Strength: Waverly's mother teaches her this concept, symbolizing the Chinese cultural value of strategic thinking and quiet power.

• The Wind: Represents the invisible force Waverly harnesses during chess games.

• The Fish Market: Where Waverly's mother parades her around, symbolizing public display and commodification of talent.

• The Empty Seat at the Table: Represents Waverly's fear of losing her place in the family.

• Waverly's Bedroom: Shared with her brothers but later given to her alone, symbolizes her special status.

Characterisation

• Waverly Jong: Smart, strategic, increasingly assertive about her independence.

• Lindo Jong: Proud, manipulative, strategic in her own way, caught between old world values and new world opportunities.

• Winston and Vincent: Waverly's brothers who introduce her to chess but are overshadowed by her talent.

• Lau Po: The old man who teaches Waverly advanced chess, representing traditional wisdom.

Conflict

• Character vs. Character: Waverly's struggle against her mother's controlling behavior

• Character vs. Self: Waverly's internal conflict about her identity and autonomy

• Character vs. Society: Cultural tensions between American individualism and Chinese collective identity

To Build a Fire - Jack London

An unnamed man travels through the Yukon Territory during extreme cold (-75°F) against the advice of an old-timer. Accompanied only by a husky dog, he plans to meet his companions at a camp by evening. Despite his practical knowledge, he lacks respect for nature and fails to recognize the true danger of the cold. After getting his feet wet, he attempts to build a life-saving fire but fails when snow from a tree extinguishes it. His attempts to kill the dog for warmth also fail, and he ultimately freezes to death. The dog leaves his body and heads toward the camp where it knows there will be food and fire.

Setting

• The Yukon Territory during the Klondike Gold Rush (circa 1897-1898)

• Winter landscape with temperatures at -75°F

• The Yukon Trail and surrounding wilderness

• A clear, sunless day emphasizing the cold's presence

Symbolism

• Fire: Represents life, human technology, and the thin line between survival and death.

• The Cold: Symbolizes nature's indifference and overwhelming power.

• The Dog: Represents instinct and natural wisdom, contrasted with human reasoning.

• The Trail: Symbolizes humanity's attempt to impose order on wilderness.

• The Man's Hands: Their freezing represents his growing helplessness and disconnection from life.

• The Old-Timer: Though physically absent, his advice represents wisdom and respect for nature.

Characterisation

• The Man: Practical but lacking imagination, represents human arrogance toward nature. His character is defined by his physical actions and thoughts rather than dialogue.

• The Dog: Driven by instinct and survival, more adapted to the environment than the man.

• The Old-Timer: Though only mentioned, his character represents experience and proper respect for the Yukon's dangers.

Conflict

• Character vs. Nature: The man's struggle against the extreme cold

• Character vs. Self: The man's overconfidence and failure to respect natural forces

• Instinct vs. Intellect: Represented by the dog's natural caution versus the man's misplaced confidence

The Sniper - Liam O’Flaherty

During the Irish Civil War, a Republican sniper is positioned on a Dublin rooftop, where he is spotted by an enemy Free State sniper on an opposite roof. After being wounded in the arm, the Republican sniper devises a plan to trick his opponent into thinking he's dead, then shoots the enemy when he exposes himself. Curious about the identity of his skilled opponent, the Republican crosses the street to examine the body, only to discover he has killed his own brother.

Setting

• Dublin, Ireland during the Irish Civil War (June 1922)

• Rooftops on opposite sides of a street

• Nighttime setting, extending until dawn

• Urban warfare environment

Symbolism

• The Rifle: Represents the technological destruction of modern warfare.

• Dublin Streets: Symbolize the division of Ireland and its people.

• The Bridge: Represents the divide between opposing sides.

• Darkness and Light: The contrast between night and daybreak symbolizes ignorance and revelation.

• The Cigarette: Represents the sniper's youth and inexperience (taking an unnecessary risk).

• The Brother: The ultimate symbol of civil war's tragedy, killing one's own family.

Characterisation

• The Republican Sniper: Young, hardened by war yet still human. His character is revealed through his tactical thinking, pain response, and ultimate remorse.

• The Free State Sniper: Characterized only through his actions until the final revelation.

• The Old Woman: Minor character whose brief appearance and death demonstrate the civil war's disregard for civilians.

Conflict

• Character vs. Character: The duel between the two snipers

• Character vs. Self: The Republican sniper's struggle with his role as a killer

• Civil War Conflict: The larger context of Irishmen fighting Irishmen

• Character vs. Society: The individual caught in political violence

Contents of a Dead Man’s Pocket - Jack Finney

Tom Benecke stays home to work on an important work project while his wife goes to the movies. When his only copy of the project—a yellow sheet of paper—blows out his apartment window, he makes the dangerous decision to retrieve it from the narrow ledge eleven stories above the street. After nearly falling several times, he manages to get the paper and return inside, only to have the wind slam the window shut, trapping him outside again. At his moment of crisis, Tom realizes the emptiness of his ambition and what truly matters in life. He ultimately breaks through the window and decides to join his wife at the movies, leaving the now-unimportant paper behind.

Setting

• New York City apartment on Lexington Avenue

• 11th floor with a narrow ledge outside the window

• 1950s timeframe during a period of corporate ambition and careerism

• Nighttime setting enhances the danger and isolation

Symbolism

• The Yellow Paper: Represents Tom's misplaced ambition and priorities.

• The Window/Ledge: Symbolizes the dangerous boundary between security and ambition.

• The Height/Potential Fall: Represents the risk of his single-minded career focus.

• The Apartment: Represents safety, home, and what truly matters.

• The Pocket: Mentioned in the title, represents what would be found on him if he died—only his meaningless work and not items of personal value.

• The Movies: Represent leisure and connection with his wife—what he has been neglecting.

Characterisation

• Tom Benecke: Ambitious young businessman whose near-death experience transforms his values.

• Clare: Tom's wife, absent for most of the story but representing what Tom truly values.

Conflict

• Character vs. Self: Tom's internal struggle with his priorities

• Character vs. Nature: The physical danger of the ledge, wind, and height

• Character vs. Society: Implicit conflict between social expectations for career success and personal fulfillment

The Speckled Band - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are approached by Helen Stoner, who fears for her life after the mysterious death of her twin sister Julia two years earlier. Julia died shortly before her wedding, mentioning a "speckled band" with her dying breath. Now Helen is engaged and has been moved to her late sister's room by her cruel stepfather, Dr. Roylott. Holmes discovers that Roylott trained a venomous snake (the "speckled band") to crawl through a fake ventilator and down a dummy bell-rope to kill his stepdaughters to prevent them from marrying, which would reduce his inheritance. When Holmes drives the snake back through the ventilator, it attacks and kills Roylott instead.

Setting

• Victorian England, 1883

• Both London (221B Baker Street) and the countryside (Stoke Moran)

• The Gothic elements of the decaying country house

• Specific bedroom features (immovable bed, ventilator, bell-pull) crucial to the plot

Symbolism

• The Speckled Band: The snake itself symbolizes evil, deception, and danger.

• Stoke Moran: The dilapidated mansion represents the decay of the once-aristocratic Roylott family.

• The Baboon and Cheetah: Exotic, dangerous animals symbolizing Roylott's volatile and foreign nature.

• The Bell-Cord: A non-functioning ornament designed as a pathway for evil.

• The Ventilator: Normally a source of fresh air and life, perverted into a channel for death.

• India: Symbolizes the exotic and dangerous, where Roylott acquired both his violent temperament and the snake.

Characterisation

• Sherlock Holmes: Brilliant, observant detective characterized by his deductive reasoning and confidence.

• Dr. Watson: Loyal companion and narrator, representing the average person's perspective.

• Dr. Grimesby Roylott: Violent, ill-tempered villain with a mysterious past in India.

• Helen Stoner: Frightened, vulnerable young woman who nonetheless shows courage in seeking Holmes's help.

• Julia Stoner: Helen's deceased twin sister, whose death initiates the investigation.

Conflict

• Character vs. Character: Holmes vs. Roylott; Helen vs. her stepfather

• Character vs. Society: The vulnerability of women in Victorian society

• Good vs. Evil: Holmes's scientific reasoning against Roylott's murderous scheme