The Grave by Guy de Maupassant
A young woman's husband dies and she becomes obsessed with the grave where he is buried. She visits it daily, talks to him, and eventually begins to believe that he is still alive. Her obsession leads her to neglect her own well-being and relationships, ultimately resulting in a tragic outcome.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1888 · Genre: Horror, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy · 1,577 words
First lines
The seventeenth of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three, at half-past two in the morning, the watchman in the cemetery of Besiers, who lived in a small cottage on the edge of this field of the dead, was awakened by the barking of his dog, which was shut up in the kitchen.
Going down quickly, he saw the animal sniffing at the crack of the door and barking furiously, as if some tramp had been sneaking about the house. The keeper, Vincent, therefore took his gun and went out.
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Genres
- Horror — The story involves grave robbing and the macabre act of exhuming a corpse, creating a chilling and unsettling atmosphere.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves deeply into the protagonist's mental state, exploring themes of obsession, grief, and madness.
- Tragedy — The plot centers around the tragic loss of a loved one and the protagonist's inability to cope with this loss, leading to a desperate and doomed act.
- Drama — The story presents intense emotional conflicts and moral dilemmas, particularly in the courtroom scene and the protagonist's internal struggle.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Existentialism · Philosophical Themes · Mortality · Death · Grief · Loss · Isolation · Loneliness
What this Textopian page supports
The Grave is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1888 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: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy, Drama, Romance
- Length: 1,577 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Grave by Guy de Maupassant
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