An Interview with a Cock-Sparrow
An Interview with a Cock-Sparrow is a short story written by Grant Allen in the late 19th century. The story follows an interview between a journalist and a cock sparrow, who has been accused of stealing from a local bakery. Throughout the interview, the sparrow defends himself against the accusations and provides insight into his life as a bird living in a human-dominated world.
By Grant Allen · First published 1890 · Genre: Satire, Fable, Social Commentary · 1,235 words
First lines
"BELIEVE me," said the sparrow, "it _pays_ to be civilized."
"You seem to have found it so," I answered. "You and the rook, I take it, are just the two of our birds which have lost nothing and gained much by man's presence in our island."
What this Textopian page supports
An Interview with a Cock-Sparrow is listed on Textopian as a short story by Grant Allen, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Grant Allen
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Fable, Social Commentary, Humor, Fantasy
- Length: 1,235 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Interview with a Cock-Sparrow by Grant Allen
- 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 An Interview with a Cock-Sparrow?
- How does this short story by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Some Cunning Insects by Frank R. Stockton
- Sir Marmaduke by Frank R. Stockton
- The Captains Toll Gate by Frank R. Stockton
- The Orang Outang by Frank R. Stockton
- The Seventh Pullet by Saki
- Tobermory by Saki
Genres
- Satire — The narrative uses humor and irony to critique societal norms and behaviors, particularly through the anthropomorphized sparrow's perspective.
- Fable — The story features talking animals to convey moral lessons about adaptation and survival in a changing world.
- Social Commentary — The dialogue between the sparrow and the interviewer reflects on human civilization and its impact on nature, offering insights into societal dynamics.
- Humor — The tone and style of the conversation are light-hearted and amusing, with witty exchanges and playful observations.
Tags
fiction · short story · humor · satire · bird · interview · narrative · dialogue · anthropomorphism · social commentary · character study · whimsical