The Griffin and the Minor Canon
A stone griffin, carved with care but grim in appearance, sits above the door of an old church in a quiet town, with smaller copies set along the church's sides. Far away in dreadful wilds lives the real Griffin the sculptor once copied, last of his race and never having seen his own reflection. On learning of the stone likeness, he flies to the town to view it, terrifying the townspeople, who flee indoors. Only the Minor Canon, a humble, kind young priest devoted to the sick, the poor, and the town's unruly schoolchildren, dares approach at the townspeople's urging. The Griffin asks to be shown the image; the Minor Canon delays him until morning to give the town time to prepare, then guards the stone griffin overnight against citizens who want to smash it before the monster arrives. The next day the Griffin gazes at his likeness admiringly, declaring it an excellent likeness apart from a slightly stiff neck. He explains he eats only at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, easing immediate fears, and settles into visiting his statue daily. The Griffin grows attached to the Minor Canon, following him on his rounds, waiting outside the church, watching him teach, and sharing stories of his centuries of experience, which the Minor Canon finds as instructive as reading old books. Officials and wealthy citizens flee the town, leaving only the poor and working people behind. As the autumnal equinox nears, the townspeople, fearing the Griffin will devour their children, pressure the Minor Canon to leave for the dreadful wilds, reasoning the Griffin will follow him there. He obeys out of duty, undertaking a long, hard journey. The Griffin, finding him gone, instead takes over the school himself, drilling the children rigorously and effectively, and visits the sick and poor, curing many with remedies unknown to them and inadvertently ending idleness and begging in the town. When two old men are sent to offer the Griffin a feast in place of eating a child, he refuses, revealing that the only creature he would have relished eating was the Minor Canon, whom he thought brave and honest. Learning the townspeople sent the Minor Canon away deliberately, the Griffin becomes enraged, his tail glowing red-hot, and he denounces the citizens' cowardice and cruelty at a town meeting, banishing the church officers and demanding the Minor Canon be honored above all upon his return. He then tears the stone griffin from the church and carries it to his wilderness home, setting it before his cave. The Griffin finds the starving Minor Canon, revives him with healing roots and herbs, and explains what has happened, assuring him he need not fear the Griffin returning to town — he prefers to remain by his stone likeness. He carries the sleeping Minor Canon back and leaves him in the field before dawn. The Minor Canon is welcomed home with great honor, given a high office, and eventually becomes a bishop, beloved and revered by the town. The Griffin, uninterested in any meal without the Minor Canon, eats nothing when the equinox comes, and gazing upon his stone image, gradually declines and dies. The little griffins remain on the church's sides, but the great stone griffin that once stood over the door is gone.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1885 · Genre: Fantasy, Fable, Children's Literature · 6,809 words
First lines
Over the great door of an old, old church which stood in a quiet town of a far-away land there was carved in stone the figure of a large griffin. The old-time sculptor had done his work with great care, but the image he had made was not a pleasant one to look at. It had a large head, with enormous open mouth and savage teeth; from its back arose great wings, armed with sharp hooks and prongs; it had stout legs in front, with projecting claws; but there were no legs behind, -- the body running out into a long and powerful tail, finished off at the end with a barbed point. This tail was coiled up under him, the end sticking up just back of his wings.
What this Textopian page supports
The Griffin and the Minor Canon is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1885 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: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Fable, Children's Literature, Allegory, Short Story
- Length: 6,809 words
- Structure: 1 section, 86 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Griffin and the Minor Canon by Frank R. Stockton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Fantasy — The story features mythical creatures and fantastical elements.
- Fable — The narrative conveys a moral lesson through its characters and plot.
- Children's Literature — The writing style and themes are suitable for a younger audience.
- Allegory — The story uses symbolic figures and actions to convey deeper meanings.
Tags
fantasy · allegory · mythical creatures · griffin · canon · adventure · friendship · moral lessons · imagination · conflict · sacrifice · nature