Klausner invents a sound machine to capture sounds inaudible to humans. He invites Dr. Scott to his lab to demonstrate his machine. Dr. Scott is skeptical but listens as Klausner plays strange sounds he recorded from plants and other sources. As they step outside, neighbors have gathered, suspicious of Klausner's sanity. Frightened, Dr. Scott flees, and in the chaos that follows, Klausner's precious machine is destroyed.

1. THE SOUND MACHINE
ROALD DAHL(1916-1990)

2. TITLE
•The title is appropriate as the story
revolves around the sound machine
invented by the protagonist in an
attempt to capture the sounds which
are inaudible to the human ear.

3. SETTING
• The story is set in Klausner’s laboratory which is located in
a secluded wooden shed at the back of the house. The
interior of the shed is an unpainted room, having a long
wooden workbench. On this bench lies a ‘black box’, about
three feet long, shaped like a ‘child’s coffin’, the sound
machine invented by Klausner. The second place
mentioned is his garden, at the back of his house. It is an
open space ideal for listening to sounds.

4. •The third place mentioned in the story is a park,
where Klausner takes his machine to test its
usefulness.
•The time chosen for the action in the story is also
appropriate, i.e. in a warm summer evening, at night
and early morning, when there is comparatively less
noise than the rest of the day.

5. CHARACTERISATION
• KLAUSNER
a. Physical attributes
- small, frail man, nervous and twitchy.
- Large head inclined towards his left shoulder
- Face- smooth and pale, almost white
- Pale- grey hair
- Pale, small, thin, looks like an ancient, consumptive, bespectacled
child.

6. CHARACTER TRAITS TEXTUAL EVIDENCES
Meticulous and patient He picked up a piece of
paper….checking each wire. He
did this for perhaps an hour.
Insecure (lack of confidence) He was shifting from one
foot…. He kept talking to
himself….happen if it did.
Nervous He was a small,… where the
body was.
Crazy/ mad Mrs. Saunders …..completely
crazy.

7. Patient Klausner sat down…and
waited.
Excited There was no sign of
madness….excited.
Confident “What does it sound
like?”… “Exactly…like?”

8. DR. SCOTT
Character traits Textual evidences
Inquisitive “What is this?”…Making a radio?”…But
he kept standing there…was up to.
Skeptical The doctor looked at the long, black…I
wish you luck.
The doctor smiled….over his ears.
The doctor began to… don’t know.”
Nervous The doctor…nervous. The doctor
hesitated. He saw…run away fast.

9. THEMES
•1. Individuality Vs. Conformity
Society has certain accepted norms and beliefs, theories
and interpretations of life. When an individual’s beliefs or
theories differ with what society upholds, that person
meets obstacles. The story seems to suggest that a
compromise can be reached so that the individual can
survive in the face of opposition.

10. • 2. Madness vs. Sanity
People who hold different views from the rest of the
society are often labelled as mad. In the story,
Klausner’s madness is hinted at. His behavior and what
he propounds seem strange and odd to others.

11. • 3. Appearance vs. reality
The question that lingers from the beginning to the end of
the story is whether the sounds that Klausner heard were real
or a figment of his imagination. Klausner is totally convinced
that there are sounds that ordinary human ear cannot hear.
Another theory he claims is that plants cry out when they are
cut. The Sound Machine which could have proved these facts
is destroyed. This is another question that remains
unanswered till the end. There may be differing perceptions
of reality.

12. •4. Rejection vs. Acceptance
The Sound Machine shows us that people are different.
It seems to suggest that we should not reject people
who are different from us or whose ideas we find
controversial. Even if you are not convinced or do not
agree with others’ views, it is possible to live
harmoniously with each other.