The Cat and the King
The story follows a cat who lives with a king and his court. One day, the king becomes ill and the cat takes advantage of the situation to gain power and control over the kingdom. However, the cat's rule is short-lived as he soon becomes the victim of his own manipulation and is overthrown by the king's loyal subjects. The story explores themes of power, greed, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1898 · Genre: Satire, Fantasy, Political Commentary · 96 words
First lines
A Cat was looking at a King, as permitted by the proverb.
"Well," said the monarch, observing her inspection of the royal person,
"how do you like me?"
"I can imagine a King," said the Cat, "whom I should like better."
What this Textopian page supports
The Cat and the King is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1898 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Fantasy, Political Commentary, Adventure, Fiction
- Length: 96 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Cat and the King by Ambrose Bierce
- 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 The Cat and the King?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Royal Jester by Ambrose Bierce
- His Fly Speck Majesty by Ambrose Bierce
- The Fogy And The Sheik by Ambrose Bierce
- The Ineffective Rooter by Ambrose Bierce
- A Fish Commissioner by Ambrose Bierce
- The Man And His Goose by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — The book uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to critique politics and society, typical of Bierce's work
- Fantasy — The integration of magic, imaginary creatures, and strange realms classify the book as a fantasy.
- Political Commentary — The book provides critical commentary on politics and government, which is evident in the character of the King and the societal structure.
- Adventure — The cat's journey with the king involves various escapades and challenges that create an adventurous narrative.
Tags
fantasy · short story · humor · satire · political satire · kingdom · cat · animal protagonist · magic realism · surrealism · absurdity · parody