The Friendly Daemon by Daniel Defoe
The Friendly Daemon is a novel by Daniel Defoe that tells the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for wealth and power. The protagonist, Mr. Fearing, becomes increasingly consumed by greed and ambition, ultimately leading to his downfall. The novel explores themes of morality, temptation, and the consequences of making deals with evil entities.
By Daniel Defoe · First published 1720 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Historical Fiction · 8,410 words
First lines
SIR,
I CANNOT, without great Ingratitude, forget the friendly Visits and kind Advice I frequently receiv'd from you, during, not only, a dangerous but tedious Indisposition, which surprisingly seiz'd me in the Year 1717, and, notwithstanding your extraordinary Care as well as unquestionable Judgment, continu'd upon me till the latter end of the Year -- 25; in which long interval of Time, the Attendance you gave me, and the Trouble you gave yourself, abstracted from all Interest, made you truly sensible of my unhappy Condition, and myself equally apprehensive of the great Obligations I shall ever be under to so sincere a Friend.
What this Textopian page supports
The Friendly Daemon is listed on Textopian as a short story by Daniel Defoe, dated 1720 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Daniel Defoe
- Date: 1720 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Allegory
- Length: 8,410 words
- Structure: 1 section, 69 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Friendly Daemon by Daniel Defoe
- 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 Friendly Daemon?
- How does this short story by Daniel Defoe fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Waters Deep And Shallow by Frank R. Stockton
- The Story Of Viteau by Frank R. Stockton
- No Defense Volume 3 by Gilbert Parker
- No Defense Volume 2 by Gilbert Parker
- The Queens Museum by Frank R. Stockton
- The Gilded Idol And The King Conch Shell The Master Of The House by Frank R. Stockton
Genres
- Fantasy — The title suggests the existence of supernatural beings, a common characteristic in Fantasy literature.
- Adventure — Daniel Defoe is known for his adventure novels, indicating that this story may also be set within a world of exploration and adventure.
- Historical Fiction — Defoe is recognized for blending historical context into his narratives, indicating a potential element of Historical Fiction in the book.
- Allegory — Defoe's works often contain moral and philosophical dimensions, indicating this book could utilize narrative allegory.
Tags
fantasy · daemon · friendship · adventure · supernatural · moral lessons · allegory · imagination · conflict · society · human nature · ethics
More by Daniel Defoe
- Roxana, The Fortunate Mistress (1724)
- Roxana (1724)
- Second Thoughts are Best: Or a Further Improvement of a Late Scheme to Prevent (1729)
- Robinson Crusoe (1719)
- The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719)
- The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719)
- Tour Through the Eastern Counties of England, 1722 (1722)
- From London to Land's End (1749)
- All works by Daniel Defoe