The Devil by Guy de Maupassant
A young woman's husband dies and she becomes infatuated with the devil, who appears to her in various forms, leading her down a path of moral decay and eventual destruction.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1881 · Genre: Realism, Tragedy, Satire · 3,209 words
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The Devil 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: Realism, Tragedy, Satire, Horror, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 3,209 words
- Structure: 1 section, 52 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Devil 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 The Devil?
- How does this short story by Guy de Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- He by Guy De Maupassant
- The Man With The Dogs by Guy De Maupassant
- The Wolf by Guy De Maupassant
- The Duel by Guy De Maupassant
- Madame Hermet by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Realism — The story focuses on the everyday life and struggles of peasants, highlighting realistic social and economic issues.
- Tragedy — The narrative revolves around the death of an old woman and the moral dilemmas faced by her son, leading to a tragic conclusion.
- Satire — The story critiques human greed and the absurdity of human behavior through exaggerated characters and situations.
- Horror — Elements of horror are present in the depiction of death and the nurse's attempt to scare the dying woman with a devilish apparition.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · Dark Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · French Literature · Realism · Existential Crisis · Moral Ambiguity · Philosophical Themes · Human Nature · Societal Critique