Rostand by G.K. Chesterton (1903)
The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton is a novel that follows the adventures of seven anarchists who are actually undercover detectives trying to infiltrate and bring down a secret society called the Central Anarchist Council. The story explores themes of identity, morality, and the nature of good and evil.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1903 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Drama · 1,999 words
First lines
When "Cyrano de Bergerac" was published, it bore the subordinate title of a heroic comedy. We have no tradition in English literature which would justify us in calling a comedy heroic, though there was once a poet who called a comedy divine. By the current modern conception, the hero has his place in a tragedy, and the one kind of strength which is systematically denied to him is the strength to succeed. That the power of a man's spirit might possibly go to the length of turning a tragedy into a comedy is not admitted; nevertheless, almost all the primitive legends of the world are comedies, not only in the sense that they have a happy ending, but in the sense that they are based upon a certain optimistic assumption that the hero is destined to be the destroyer of the monster.
What this Textopian page supports
Rostand is listed on Textopian as a short story by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Drama, Cultural Commentary, Poetry
- Length: 1,999 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Rostand by G.K. Chesterton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Rostand?
- How does this short story by G.K. Chesterton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Criticism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Literary Criticism — The text analyzes the themes, style, and impact of Rostand's works, particularly focusing on the concept of heroic comedy.
- Philosophy — The work delves into philosophical discussions about the nature of comedy and tragedy, and the human spirit's response to them.
- Drama — The analysis centers around dramatic works, especially those of Rostand, and discusses the elements of drama in rhyme and poetic plays.
- Cultural Commentary — The text comments on cultural perceptions of comedy and tragedy, particularly in the context of French and English literature.
Tags
poetry · drama · theater · French literature · romanticism · philosophy · heroism · imagination · art · identity · conflict · love