The Maison Tellier
It's a novella about the lives of three women who run a small inn in a rural town. The story revolves around their relationships with each other and the men who frequent the inn, exploring themes of love, desire, and the constraints placed on women during that time period.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1881 · Genre: Realism, Comedy, Social Commentary · 10,647 words
First lines
I
They went there every evening about eleven o'clock, just as they would go to the club. Six or eight of them; always the same set, not fast men, but respectable tradesmen, and young men in government or some other employ, and they would drink their Chartreuse, and laugh with the girls, or else talk seriously with Madame Tellier, whom everybody respected, and then they would go home at twelve o'clock! The younger men would sometimes stay later.
What this Textopian page supports
The Maison Tellier 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, Comedy, Social Commentary, Drama, Satire
- Length: 10,647 words
- Structure: 1 section, 168 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Maison Tellier 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 The Maison Tellier?
- 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
- That Costly Ride by Guy De Maupassant
- A Lively Friend by Guy De Maupassant
- The Wooden Shoes by Guy De Maupassant
- My Uncle Jules by Guy De Maupassant
- One Nights Entertainment by Guy De Maupassant
- Duchoux by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Realism — The narrative provides a detailed depiction of everyday life and social dynamics in a small French town, focusing on ordinary characters and their interactions.
- Comedy — The story contains humorous elements, particularly in the interactions between the characters and the situations they find themselves in, such as the journey to the confirmation.
- Social Commentary — The work explores themes of social class, respectability, and the contrast between urban and rural life, offering insights into societal norms and prejudices.
- Drama — The plot includes dramatic elements, such as the emotional impact of the confirmation and the personal dynamics among the characters.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Short Story Collection · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Human Nature · Emotional Depth · Character Study · Satire · Dark Humor · Tragic Ending