Bunnicula — Chapter 1

About This Passage

These two opening sentences immediately establish Harold's voice as a narrator. Notice three things. First, the phrase 'I shall never forget' is borrowed from formal old-fashioned writing — the kind of opening you might find in a Victorian novel. A dog using this phrase is doing something funny on purpose, sounding more dignified than any actual dog would. Second, 'these now tired old eyes' is a sentimental flourish that sounds like an old man telling a story by the fire — it reminds us that Harold is looking back on events that have already happened. Third, the unexpected word 'abomination' (a heavy religious word for something terrible) turns out to refer to the vacuum cleaner. The mismatch between the heavy word and the silly object is the joke. Copying this passage trains a writer to notice how a narrator's voice can be established in two sentences, and how mixing dignified and silly language is a good way to create humor.

Narration Prompt

In your own words, tell the story of this chapter. What were the most important moments? What made them important — and how do you know?

Discussion Questions

1. Harold begins the book by telling us he is too dignified to go to movies because 'you can't lie down at the movies and still see the screen,' and people think you are 'being impolite' if you snore. Is Harold actually dignified, or is he making fun of himself? How do you know? What does the difference between these two readings tell us about what kind of narrator Harold is going to be?
2. Toby and Pete argue passionately over who 'found' the rabbit and who should get to keep him. Toby was the one who sat on the rabbit's box at the movie theater; Pete is older and bigger. Is finding something the same as having a right to it? What does the chapter seem to think about this question?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide