In the Tube by E.F. Benson
The Tube by E.F. Benson is a short story about a man who takes the underground train in London and experiences strange events that make him question his sanity. The story begins with the narrator describing how he feels anxious and uncomfortable on the tube, as if something is following him. He then notices a woman staring at him intently, which makes him even more uneasy. As he continues to ride the train, he experiences strange occurrences such as hearing voices and seeing things that are not there. The story ends with the narrator realizing that these events were all in his mind and that he was experiencing a nervous breakdown.
By E.F. Benson · Genre: Horror, Supernatural Fiction, Short Story · 6,799 words
First lines
"It's a convention," said Anthony Carling cheerfully, "and not a very convincing one. Time, indeed! There's no such thing as Time really; it has no actual existence. Time is nothing more than an infinitesimal point in eternity, just as space is an infinitesimal point in infinity. At the most, Time is a sort of tunnel through which we are accustomed to believe that we are travelling. There's a roar in our ears and a darkness in our eyes which makes it seem real to us. But before we came into the tunnel we existed for ever in an infinite sunlight, and after we have got through it we shall exist in an infinite sunlight again. So why should we bother ourselves about the confusion and noise and darkness which only encompass us for a moment?"
What this Textopian page supports
In the Tube is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.F. Benson, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.F. Benson
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Supernatural Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 6,799 words
- Structure: 1 section, 98 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In the Tube by E.F. Benson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering In the Tube?
- How does this short story by E.F. Benson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Reginald On House Parties by Saki
- Tales Mr Minns And His Cousin by Charles Dickens
- The Stalled Ox by Saki
- The Way To The Dairy by Saki
- Reginald by Saki
- Stepping Backwards by W. W. Jacobs
Genres
- Horror — The book 'In the Tube' by E.F. Benson features elements common in horror literature such as a dark, scary atmosphere, and supernatural elements like ghosts.
- Supernatural Fiction — The story entails supernatural elements as it speaks about apparitions and hauntings.
- Short Story — The book 'In the Tube' is a short story, generally a brief work of fiction.
Tags
satire · humor · social commentary · London · urban life · class differences · relationships · dialogue · character study · early 20th century · British literature · irony