The School by Anatole France (1904)
The School is a novel written by Anatole France in 1908. It tells the story of a young man named Jacques who is sent to a boarding school in the countryside after his parents' death. The novel explores themes of identity, morality, and the role of education in shaping individuals. Through Jacques' experiences at the school, France critiques the societal norms and values of his time, highlighting the absurdity and hypocrisy of the educational system. Ultimately, the novel raises questions about the purpose of education and the kind of society we want to create for future generations.
By Anatole France · First published 1904 · Genre: Satire, Fiction, Social Criticism · 593 words
First lines
I PROCLAIM Mademoiselle Genseigne's school the best girls' school in the world. I declare miscreants and slanderers any who shall think or say the contrary. Mademoiselle Genseigne's pupils are all well-behaved and industrious, and there is no pleasanter sight to see than all their small figures sitting so still, and all the heads in a straight row. They look like so many little bottles into which Mademoiselle Gen-seigne is busy pouring useful knowledge.
Mademoiselle Genseigne sits very upright at her high desk. She has a gentle, serious face; her neatly braided hair and her black tippet inspire respect and sympathy.
What this Textopian page supports
The School is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anatole France, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Anatole France
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Fiction, Social Criticism, Historical
- Length: 593 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The School by Anatole France
- 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 School?
- How does this short story by Anatole France fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — Anatole France's 'The School' is primarily characterized by its satirical take on French society and educational institutions, which is why 'Satire' takes the top spot in the genre ranking.
- Fiction — The story is a work of fiction, built around the life events of its characters and their experiences, putting 'Fiction' as a high-ranking genre for this book.
- Social Criticism — France presents a detailed critique of contemporary social norms and practices, especially regarding education. Hence, 'Social Criticism' forms a crucial genre of this book.
- Historical — Set in a specific historical period in France, the book incorporates historical events and context, this justifies 'Historical' as one of its genres.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Nineteenth Century Literature · Social Commentary · Coming of Age · Education · Philosophy · Moral Philosophy · Political Satire · Historical Fiction · Classic Novel · French History