Practical Jokes by Guy De Maupassant
The story revolves around a group of young men who engage in a series of practical jokes on each other, escalating from harmless pranks to more malicious and cruel acts. As the jokes become increasingly vicious, the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur, and the participants start to lose their grip on sanity. The narrative is a commentary on the darker aspects of human nature, highlighting the destructive power of unchecked ambition and the dangers of taking oneself too seriously. Through the characters' descent into chaos, the story critiques the societal norms that enable such behavior, suggesting that the pursuit of status and prestige can lead individuals to abandon all sense of morality.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1869 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Fiction · 2,309 words
First lines
We live in a period when practical jokers have the air of undertakers' men and are generally known as politicians. We never see them now, your real practical joke, your really splendid rag, your happy little games, the healthy forthright jokes of our fathers' time. And, however, what is there more amusing and more laughable than such jests? What is more amusing than to mystify credulous souls, dupe the cleverest, and make the sharpest fall into inoffensive and comic traps? What is better fun than making adroit mock of people and forcing them to laugh at their own simplicity or even, when they get angry, revenging oneself by a fresh trick?
What this Textopian page supports
Practical Jokes is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1869 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: 1869 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Fiction, Psychological, Social Commentary
- Length: 2,309 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Practical Jokes by Guy De Maupassant
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Practical Jokes?
- How does this short story by Guy De Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The narrative centers around practical jokes and comedic situations, highlighting the absurdity and humor in human interactions.
- Satire — The text critiques societal norms and behaviors, particularly through the lens of practical jokes and the folly of its characters.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional account of personal experiences and anecdotes related to practical jokes.
- Psychological — The story explores the psychological aspects of fear, anxiety, and the motivations behind practical jokes.
Tags
Satire · Dark Humor · Social Commentary · French Literature · Realism · Short Stories · Comedy of Manners · Irony · Critique of Society · Morality Tale · Absurdity · Black Comedy