Clocks by Jerome K. Jerome (1993)
The novel revolves around a young woman's life, her relationships and struggles with societal expectations. It explores themes of identity, morality, and the constraints placed on women during that time period. The narrative is presented through multiple perspectives, offering a nuanced understanding of the characters' experiences.
By Jerome K. Jerome · First published 1993 · Genre: Humor, Essay, Satire · 4,417 words
First lines
There are two kinds of clocks. There is the clock that is always wrong, and that knows it is wrong, and glories in it; and there is the clock that is always right -- except when you rely upon it, and then it is more wrong than you would think a clock _could_ be in a civilized country.
I remember a clock of this latter type, that we had in the house when I was a boy, routing us all up at three o'clock one winter's morning. We had finished breakfast at ten minutes to four, and I got to school a little after five, and sat down on the step outside and cried, because I thought the world had come to an end; everything was so death-like!
What this Textopian page supports
Clocks is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jerome K. Jerome, dated 1993 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Jerome K. Jerome
- Date: 1993 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Essay, Satire, Fiction, Philosophical
- Length: 4,417 words
- Structure: 1 section, 78 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Clocks by Jerome K. Jerome
- 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 Clocks?
- How does this novel by Jerome K. Jerome fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Minotaur by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Sensitive Man by Poul Anderson
- The Reason by Norman Gale
- The Somnambulists by Jack London
- The Memory Clearing House by Israel Zangwill
- A Fatal Success by Henry Van Dyke
Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and satire to explore the absurdities of life and human behavior, particularly regarding time and exaggeration.
- Essay — The text reflects on philosophical themes, such as the nature of truth, perception, and societal norms, resembling an essay format.
- Satire — It critiques societal pretenses and the human tendency to exaggerate, using clocks as a metaphor for broader human follies.
- Fiction — The narrative includes fictional elements and characters, particularly in the humorous anecdotes about the clock.
Tags
Time · Philosophy · Existentialism · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Suspense · Thriller · Paradox · Identity Crisis · Memory Loss · Dissociation · Trauma