The Snipe by Guy de Maupassant
A young man returns to his childhood home after a long absence and becomes infatuated with a woman who is engaged to be married. He tries to win her over but ultimately fails, leading to tragic consequences. The story explores themes of unrequited love, class differences, and the destructive nature of unchecked emotions.
By Guy de Maupassant · First published 1883 · Genre: Short Story, Comedy, Satire · 812 words
Editions
First lines
Old Baron des Ravots had for forty years been the champion sportsman of his province. But a stroke of paralysis had kept him in his chair for the last five or six years. He could now only shoot pigeons from the window of his drawing-room or from the top of his high doorsteps.
He spent his time in reading.
What this Textopian page supports
The Snipe is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy de Maupassant, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Comedy, Satire, Realism, Social Commentary
- Length: 812 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Snipe 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
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Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific event or series of events, typical of short stories.
- Comedy — The narrative includes humorous elements, such as the baron's antics and the guests' exaggerated hunting tales.
- Satire — The story subtly critiques the absurdities of aristocratic traditions and the exaggerated importance placed on hunting rituals.
- Realism — The depiction of characters and their interactions is grounded in realistic social settings and behaviors.
Tags
Short Story · French Literature · Realism · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Satire · Dark Humor · Irony · Critique of Bourgeoisie · Class Struggle · Marriage Dynamics · Relationships