The Model by Guy De Maupassant
The novel revolves around a young man who becomes infatuated with a woman and begins to model his life after hers. He adopts her mannerisms, speech patterns, and even her relationships. As he becomes more entrenched in this imitation, he loses touch with reality and his own identity. The story explores themes of obsession, identity, and the blurring of lines between reality and fantasy.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1881 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama · 2,625 words
Editions
First lines
The little town of Étretat, curved like the crescent moon, with its white cliffs, white pebbly strand and blue sea, drowsed under the sun of a day in mid-July. At the two points of the crescent, the two harbours, the small one on the right, the big one on the left, thrust out into the quiet water a dwarf foot and the foot of a colossus; and the needle, almost as high as the cliff, broad-based and tapering to the summit, reared its painted head towards the sky.
What this Textopian page supports
The Model 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: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama, Romance, Tragedy
- Length: 2,625 words
- Structure: 1 section, 91 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Model 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
Similar titles
- Monsieur Jocaste by Guy De Maupassant
- The Model by Guy De Maupassant
- Notre Coeur by Guy De Maupassant
- Pauls Mistress by Guy De Maupassant
- Our Letters by Guy De Maupassant
- Madame Parisse by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex human emotions and relationships, focusing on the psychological depth of characters.
- Realism — It presents a realistic portrayal of life, particularly the struggles and dynamics within a marriage.
- Drama — The narrative is driven by intense emotional conflicts and dramatic events, particularly the climax involving the woman's leap.
- Romance — The story revolves around romantic relationships, highlighting themes of love, desire, and betrayal.
Tags
Psychological Fiction · Realism · French Literature · 19th Century Novel · Short Story Collection · Social Commentary · Marriage · Infidelity · Deception · Morality · Philosophy · Existentialism