A Judge of Music
A Judge of Music is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton and published in 1893. The story follows the character of Mr. John C. Hackett, who is known for his ability to judge music with great accuracy. One day, he receives an invitation from a wealthy man named Mr. Barker to attend a concert at his home. However, when Mr. Hackett arrives, he discovers that the musicians are actually playing poorly and out of tune. Despite this, Mr. Barker insists that they are playing beautifully and asks for Mr. Hackett's opinion on their performance. The story ends with a twist that reveals the true nature of Mr. Barker's intentions.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1893 · Genre: Fable, Humor, Children's Literature · 466 words
First lines
It is not well to despise anybody or anything until you know what they can do. I have known some very stupid-looking people who could do a sum in the rule-of-three in a minute, and who could add up a column of six figures abreast while I was just making a beginning at the right-hand bottom corner. But stupid-looking beings are often good at other things besides arithmetic. I have seen doctors, with very dull faces, who knew all about castor-oil and mustard-plasters, and above you see a picture of a Donkey who understood music.
What this Textopian page supports
A Judge of Music is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Humor, Children's Literature, Satire, Short Story
- Length: 466 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for A Judge of Music by Frank R. Stockton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Judge of Music?
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- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Storyteller by Saki
- A Few Feathered Friends by Frank R. Stockton
- The Fox And The Monkey by Esopo
- Billy Bunny And The Theater Play by David Cory
- The Finest Story In The World by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Fable — The story features anthropomorphized animals and delivers a moral lesson.
- Humor — The narrative employs humorous elements, particularly in the depiction of the donkey's musical endeavors.
- Children's Literature — The simple language and moral lesson make it suitable for a younger audience.
- Satire — The story subtly critiques human behavior and societal norms through the actions of the donkey.
Tags
music · judgment · critique · performance · art · creativity · competition · narrative · humor · society · culture · characters