The Parrot by Gouverneur Morris
The Parrot is a short story written by Gouverneur Morris that tells the tale of a wealthy man who buys a parrot from an old sailor. The parrot has a unique ability to speak in multiple languages and can even recite poetry. However, when the man tries to show off his new pet to his friends, the parrot refuses to talk or perform any tricks. Frustrated, the man decides to sell the parrot back to the sailor who originally owned it. The story is a commentary on the dangers of materialism and the importance of appreciating things for their true value.
By Gouverneur Morris · First published 1925 · Genre: Adventure, Psychological Fiction, Animal Fiction · 2,367 words
First lines
He had been so buffeted by fortune, through various climates and various applications of his many-sidedness, that when I first met Leslie it was difficult to believe him a fellow countryman. His speech had been welded by the influence of alien languages to a choice cosmopolitanism. His skin, thick and brown from blazing sunshines, puckered monkey-like about his blue, blinking eyes. He never hurried. He was going to Hong-Kong to build part of a dry-dock for the English Government, he said, but his ambitions had dwindled to owning a farm somewhere in New York State and having a regular menagerie of birds and animals.
What this Textopian page supports
The Parrot is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gouverneur Morris, dated 1925 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gouverneur Morris
- Date: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Psychological Fiction, Animal Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Humor
- Length: 2,367 words
- Structure: 1 section, 26 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Parrot by Gouverneur Morris
- 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 The Parrot?
- How does this short story by Gouverneur Morris fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
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- The Character Of Quoodle by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Adventure — The narrative involves a journey, shipwreck, and survival at sea, which are key elements of adventure stories.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the protagonist's mental state, exploring themes of despair, survival, and introspection.
- Animal Fiction — A significant portion of the narrative focuses on the behavior and characteristics of animals, particularly parrots.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text includes philosophical musings on the nature of intelligence and the human condition, often through the lens of animal behavior.
Tags
adventure · mystery · humor · animal · friendship · suspense · narrative · fiction · exploration · dialogue · character development · social commentary