An Uncomfortable Bed
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her family's estate after being away for several years. She finds the bed she slept in as a child to be uncomfortable and this discomfort serves as a catalyst for her to confront the reality of her own life and the lives of those around her, particularly her mother.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1884 · Genre: Comedy, Short Story, Satire · 1,112 words
First lines
One autumn I went to spend the hunting season with some friends in a chateau in Picardy.
My friends were fond of practical jokes. I do not care to know people who are not.
What this Textopian page supports
An Uncomfortable Bed is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1884 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: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Short Story, Satire, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 1,112 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Uncomfortable Bed by Guy de Maupassant
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Uncomfortable Bed?
- 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
- The Snipe by Guy De Maupassant
- A Question Of Direction by O. Henry
- The Last Step by Guy De Maupassant
- The Farmers Wife by Guy De Maupassant
- Sundays Of A Bourgeois by Guy De Maupassant
- Theodule Sabots Confession by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Comedy — The story revolves around a practical joke and the humorous paranoia of the protagonist, leading to a comical misunderstanding.
- Short Story — The narrative is concise, focusing on a single event and character, typical of short story structure.
- Satire — The exaggerated fear and suspicion of the protagonist satirize human nature and the tendency to overthink situations.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the protagonist's mental state, exploring themes of paranoia and self-deception.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Short Story · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Marriage · Relationships · Human Nature · Emotional Turmoil · Inner Conflict · Unreliable Narrator · Satire