The Bull by Fyodor Sologub (1906)
The novel revolves around the life of a young man who becomes infatuated with a woman named Sofia. He sees her as an ideal and perfect being, but his perception of her is distorted by his own desires and fantasies. As he becomes more obsessed with Sofia, he begins to lose touch with reality and descends into madness. His obsession ultimately leads to tragic consequences for himself and those around him. The novel explores themes of love, desire, and the destructive power of unchecked emotions. It also critiques societal norms and expectations that can lead individuals to conform to unrealistic ideals.
By Fyodor Sologub · First published 1906 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Surrealism, Children's Literature · 106 words
First lines
The Bull
A little boy had a mama who wore light blue spectacles and a papa who wore dark blue ones.
They weighed in a pair of scales all that the little boy ate, meat, bread, milk, weighed it all.
At last, one day, papa said to mama: "Our boy has today finished his first bull, tomorrow he starts on his second."
What this Textopian page supports
The Bull is listed on Textopian as a short story by Fyodor Sologub, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Fyodor Sologub
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Surrealism, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Absurdist Fiction
- Length: 106 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Bull by Fyodor Sologub
- 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 Bull?
- How does this short story by Fyodor Sologub fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- They by Fyodor Sologub
- The Little Demon by Fyodor Sologub
- He Became Better by Fyodor Sologub
- The Delicate Child by Fyodor Sologub
- Hide And Seek by Fyodor Sologub
- Adventures Of A Cobblestone by Fyodor Sologub
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes and character emotions, typical of literary fiction.
- Surrealism — The narrative contains surreal elements, such as the weighing of food and the child's perception of a bull.
- Children's Literature — The story features a child protagonist and addresses themes relevant to a young audience.
- Fantasy — The imaginative scenario of a child eating a bull introduces fantastical elements.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Russian Literature · Philosophical Themes · Existentialism · Absurdism · Dark Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Bureaucratic Red Tape · Alienation · Disillusionment