Goat-Feathers by Ellis Parker Butler
The story revolves around a wealthy businessman who becomes disillusioned with his luxurious lifestyle and decides to abandon it, adopting the persona of a poor, elderly man named "Goat-Feathers." He moves to a small village where he befriends a young woman and her family, learning valuable lessons about simplicity, kindness, and the importance of human relationships.
By Ellis Parker Butler · First published 1916 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Essay · 3,887 words
First lines
No human being ever tells the whole truth about himself. We seem to be born liars in that particular, all of us, and I am no different. I'm starting out now to tell the bitter, agonizing truth about myself, but before I am through I shall probably be lying at the rate of a mile a minute and cracking myself up something awful! A man can tell only so much truth; then he begins to wabble.
What this Textopian page supports
Goat-Feathers is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ellis Parker Butler, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ellis Parker Butler
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Humor, Essay, Philosophy, Non-Fiction
- Length: 3,887 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Goat-Feathers by Ellis Parker Butler
- 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 Goat-Feathers?
- How does this short story by Ellis Parker Butler fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — The book primarily uses humor and irony to critique societal norms and human behavior.
- Humor — The writing style and narrative are heavily focused on creating comedic effects.
- Essay — The book is structured as a series of essays, each addressing different aspects of life and society.
- Philosophy — The themes often delve into philosophical reflections on human nature and societal constructs.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Social commentary · Rural life · Farmers · Quirky characters · Comedy of manners · Early 20th century · American literature · Fiction · Novel · Country living