12 Questions
True or false:Charles Crossley is the CEO of American Jet-Propelled Ships.
False
True or false: Crossley's idea to drop confetti on the Tri-Union is an act of war.
False
True or false: The pink confetti was dropped on Vienna as a form of attack.
True
True or false: The President of the United States is pleased with Crossley's attack on the Tri-Union.
False
True or false: Crossley argues that dropping confetti is a form of attack.
False
True or false: The Tri-Union retaliates by dropping radios playing music on New York.
True
True or false: The war between the two sides continues with both sides engaging in harmless attacks.
False
True or false: General Krauss accuses the Americans of killing ants.
True
True or false: The story satirizes the absurdity of war.
True
True or false: Crossley and Edith are driven crazy by a music box playing the same song over and over again.
True
True or false: Crossley is captured by his enemy, General Krauss.
True
True or false: The doctor injects Crossley with a time bomb that will kill him in 10 years.
True
Study Notes
- Charles Crossley, President of American Jet-Propelled Ships, becomes agitated by news of political pressures and secret atomic factories in Europe.
- Crossley comes up with the idea to drop confetti on the Tri-Union as a form of irritating attack.
- Crossley's private war involves 3,000 jet-propelled ships dropping pink confetti on Vienna.
- The President of the United States is angry with Crossley for attacking the Tri-Union.
- Crossley argues that dropping confetti is not an attack and that no one was injured.
- Crossley suggests further irritating attacks, such as dropping litter and napkins.
- The Tri-Union responds by dropping little yellow boxes on parachutes over New York, which turn out to be radios playing music.
- The war continues with both sides engaging in irritating attacks, such as dropping napkins and picking flowers.
- General Krauss, the personal representative of Brugh, accuses the Americans of causing property damage and killing ants.
- The story satirizes the absurdity of war and the lengths people will go to in order to avoid breaking peace laws.
- Crossley and Edith are being driven crazy by a music box that plays the same song over and over again.
- They try to stop the music box, but it dodges their attempts.
- The music box plays the same song over 100 times.
- Crossley is tasked with finding a way to end the war with Greater Bruegher.
- Crossley is captured by Krauss, his enemy in Greater Bruegher.
- Krauss threatens to broadcast a report of Crossley's death.
- Crossley comes up with harmless plans to irritate America in retaliation.
- Krauss and Crossley discuss the use of invisible croquet hoops, but ultimately decide against them.
- The President of America is dealing with the problem of chewing gum in the streets.
- Crossley's wife calls, worried about his safety.
- Crossley is on the phone with the President when his wife calls to complain about dandruff.
- Krauss is also on the phone with his wife, who complains about gaining weight.
- Krauss and Crossley plot to kill each other, but Krauss decides to have the doctor inject Crossley with a time bomb that will kill him in 10 years.
- The doctor describes the symptoms Crossley will experience before his death.
- Crossley threatens to commit suicide to bring attention to the plot against him.
- Krauss and the doctor try to stop Crossley from committing suicide.
- Women in the streets are crying over their hair falling out.
- Crossley leads Krauss and the doctor to a building and up to a terrace on the thirteenth floor.
- The story ends with the three men standing on the terrace.
- The overall tone of the story is dark and surreal.
Explore the summary of 'The Confidential Agent' by Graham Greene, a story that satirizes war and peace laws through absurd and surreal events involving political pressures, secret factories, confetti attacks, and deadly plots.
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