The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots
A miller leaves his three sons only a mill, an ass, and a cat. The youngest son, feeling disadvantaged, is reassured by the cat, who promises to improve their fortunes if given boots and a bag. The cat cleverly catches rabbits and partridges, presenting them to the king as gifts from his master, the Marquis of Carabas. When the king passes by while the Marquis is bathing, the cat tricks the king into believing the Marquis is drowning, leading to the Marquis receiving fine clothes and the king's favor. The cat continues to deceive those they encounter, claiming lands and meadows belong to the Marquis, impressing the king with the supposed wealth of his master. Eventually, the cat confronts an ogre known for his riches. After tricking the ogre into transforming into a mouse, the cat eats him. The king, intrigued by the castle of the ogre, visits and learns it belongs to the Marquis. Enchanted by the Marquis and his newfound wealth, the king offers him his daughter’s hand in marriage. The Marquis accepts, and the cat becomes a noble, living a life of luxury, no longer chasing mice.
By Charles Perrault · First published 1697 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 2,354 words
First lines
Once upon a time there was a miller who left no more riches to the three sons he had than his mill, his ass, and his cat. The division was soon made. Neither the lawyer nor the attorney was sent for. They would soon have eaten up all the poor property. The eldest had the mill, the second the ass, and the youngest nothing but the cat.
The youngest, as we can understand, was quite unhappy at having so poor a share.
What this Textopian page supports
The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Perrault, dated 1697 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles Perrault
- Date: 1697 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 2,354 words
- Structure: 1 section, 39 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Master Cat, or Puss in Boots?
- How does this short story by Charles Perrault fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Puss In Boots by Dinah Mulock
- The Adventures Of Puss In Boots by David Cory
- Little Thumb by Charles Perrault
- Puss In Boots Jr And The Good Gray Horse by David Cory
- Jack And The Bean Stalk by Dinah Mulock
- The Bee Man Of Orn by Frank R. Stockton
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical creatures and situations, including Puss's ability to talk and strategically manipulate situations, which are fundamental characteristics of traditional fairy tales.
- Children's Literature — Perrault's Puss in Boots has been a classic among children's stories since its first publication due to its straightforward plot, anthropomorphic characters, and themes of cunning and cleverness overcoming adversity.
- Fantasy — The book's characters, including a talking cat and an ogre with the power to shape-shift, are of fantastical nature thus placing the story in the Fantasy genre.
- Adventure — Puss embarks on a series of daring escapades to secure a better life for his master, which include trickery, battling an ogre, and interactions with royalty, suggesting elements of an Adventure-genre story.
Tags
fairy tale · cat · adventure · cleverness · trickery · animal protagonist · magic · humor · fantasy · morality · wealth · social status