The Dance on the Beefsteak
The Dance on the Beefsteak by E.F. Benson is a short story that was first published in 1903. It tells the tale of a group of friends who gather for dinner and decide to play a game where they must dance around a beefsteak while singing a song. The game quickly turns into a competition, with each friend trying to outdo the other in terms of skill and creativity. As the night progresses, the game becomes more intense and the stakes higher, until finally one of the friends is declared the winner.
By E.F. Benson · Genre: Fiction, Satire, Comedy · 4,103 words
First lines
This Midsummer day, the early hours of which were bathed in so serene a sunshine, has ended in storm and hurly-burly. Only this morning the general outlook was as unclouded as is now the velvet blue of the star-scattered Italian sky, but this evening our very souls are driven like dead leaves before a shrivelling blast. Nature, unsympathetic, indifferent, still holds on her great unruffled courses; the stars wheel, the north wind blows lightly from across the gulf; the little ripples shed themselves in lines of phosphorescent flame; Naples lies a necklace of light on the edge of the sea, the loveliness of the Southern night is undiminished. But Mrs. Mackellar has danced on the beefsteak, and she has dismissed Seraphina.
What this Textopian page supports
The Dance on the Beefsteak is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.F. Benson, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.F. Benson
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Satire, Comedy, Historical fiction
- Length: 4,103 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dance on the Beefsteak by E.F. Benson
- 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 Dance on the Beefsteak?
- How does this short story by E.F. Benson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Jesting Of Arlington Stringham by Saki
Genres
- Fiction — As E.F. Benson is a fiction writer, the book 'The Dance on the Beefsteak' likely belongs to this category as well.
- Satire — The title 'The Dance on the Beefsteak' suggests a mockery of societal norms, which is characteristic of satirical writings.
- Comedy — The unusual, exaggerated title of 'The Dance on the Beefsteak' hints at entertaining comedic elements.
- Historical fiction — E.F. Benson is known for producing historical fiction, so 'The Dance on the Beefsteak' could potentially fall into this category.
Tags
satire · comedy · social commentary · British literature · early 20th century · class distinction · humor · relationships · dinner party · character study · irony · dialogue-driven