Learn English – Why is the article “the” used in “the events?”

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Here is the second sentence of Lovecraft's "The Shunned House":

Sometimes it enters directly into the composition of the events, while sometimes it relates only to their fortuitous position among persons and places.

According to the English language rules, was the word 'events' representing a class of objects or why is "the" placed before it?

Best Answer

The definite article locates the noun it defines within the discourse context, so any question about use the definite article must take context into account. Here are the first two sentences of Lovecraft's story:

From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent. Sometimes it enters directly into the composition of the events, while sometimes it relates only to their fortuitous position among persons and places.

It is clear that the events are those which are previously referred to as the greatest of horrors.

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