A Useful House by Guy de Maupassant

Name: A Useful House
Author: Guy de Maupassant

The story revolves around a young woman who lives alone in a house that has been left to her by an aunt she never knew. The house is old and somewhat decrepit, but it holds sentimental value for the protagonist. As she settles into the house, she begins to experience strange occurrences, which she attributes to the house's history and her own imagination. However, these events escalate in intensity and frequency, leading her to question her own sanity. The narrative explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and the blurring of reality and fantasy. The protagonist's mental state deteriorates as she becomes increasingly entangled in the house's mysterious past. Throughout the story, the atmosphere is tense and foreboding, building towards a shocking climax that challenges the reader's perceptions of what is real and what is not.

By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1881 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Drama · 1,589 words

First lines

Royamount's fat sides shook with laughter at the mere recollection of the funny story that he had promised to his friends, and throwing himself back in the great arm-chair, which he completely filled, _that picker up of bits of pinchbeck_, as they called him at the club, at last said:

What this Textopian page supports

A Useful House is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1881 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Guy de Maupassant
Date: 1881 CE
Language: English
Genres: Comedy, Satire, Drama, Social Commentary, Realism
Length: 1,589 words
Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

Good citation fit

Work identity for A Useful House by Guy de Maupassant
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 A Useful House?
How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Comedy — The narrative is centered around humorous situations and witty dialogue, particularly involving the characters' financial and social predicaments.
Satire — The story critiques social norms and the behavior of the upper class, using irony and exaggeration to highlight the absurdity of their actions.
Drama — The plot involves personal conflicts and emotional tension, especially concerning financial troubles and social reputation.
Social Commentary — The narrative provides insight into the societal structures and class dynamics of the time, focusing on themes of wealth and social status.