The Burial of the Rats
The Burial of the Rats is a short story by Bram Stoker, published in 1893. The story follows a man named Barnaby Scott, who lives in a small village surrounded by a vast moor. One day, while out walking, Scott discovers a large grave filled with the bodies of rats. As he examines the grave, he realizes that the rats were buried alive, and their screams can still be heard echoing through the night air. The story explores themes of death, fear, and the supernatural, as Scott becomes increasingly obsessed with the grave and its secrets.
By Bram Stoker · First published 1910 · Genre: Horror, Short Story, Gothic · 11,446 words
First lines
Leaving Paris by the Orleans road, cross the Enceinte, and, turning to the right, you find yourself in a somewhat wild and not at all savoury district. Right and left, before and behind, on every side rise great heaps of dust and waste accumulated by the process of time.
Paris has its night as well as its day life, and the sojourner who enters his hotel in the Rue de Rivoli or the Rue St. Honore late at night or leaves it early in the morning, can guess, in coming near Montrouge-if he has not done so already-the purpose of those great waggons that look like boilers on wheels which he finds halting everywhere as he passes.
What this Textopian page supports
The Burial of the Rats is listed on Textopian as a short story by Bram Stoker, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Bram Stoker
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Short Story, Gothic, Adventure
- Length: 11,446 words
- Structure: 1 section, 151 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Burial of the Rats by Bram Stoker
- 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 Burial of the Rats?
- How does this short story by Bram Stoker fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- On The Platform by Ambrose Bierce
- One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce
- A Dream Of Red Hands by Bram Stoker
- The Other Lodgers by Ambrose Bierce
- By Water by Algernon Blackwood
- Dies Irae by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Horror — Given the author's reputation for Gothic horror, as exemplified by his novel 'Dracula', and the ominous title itself suggesting death and fear.
- Short Story — Because 'The Burial of the Rats' is not a full-length novel, but rather a short tale that unfolds quickly with a limited number of characters and scenes.
- Gothic — The story exhibits features of the Gothic genre, including the incorporation of horror and terror, a desolate setting, and uncanny incidents.
- Adventure — The protagonist's encounter with the rat-killers and his subsequent escape attempt involves elements of peril and danger, fitting within the adventure genre.
Tags
gothic · horror · supernatural · vampire · rat · burial · graveyard · mystery · thriller · darkness · death · fear