The Tomb by Guy De Maupassant (1885)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his family's estate after a long absence. He becomes obsessed with the idea of being buried alive in the family tomb and begins to experience strange and terrifying occurrences that lead him to believe he will be trapped inside it forever.
By Guy De Maupassant · First published 1885 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction · 1,604 words
First lines
On the seventeenth of July, eighteen hundred and eighty-three, at half past two o'clock in the morning, the caretaker of Béziers cemetery, who lived in a little house at the end of the burying ground, was awakened by the yelping of his dog, which was locked in the kitchen.
He immediately went downstairs, and saw that the animal was scenting something under the door and barking furiously, as though some tramp had been prowling about the house. Vincent, the caretaker, took up his gun and went out cautiously.
What this Textopian page supports
The Tomb is listed on Textopian as a short story by Guy De Maupassant, dated 1885 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: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Drama, Horror
- Length: 1,604 words
- Structure: 1 section, 45 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Tomb 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 Tomb?
- How does this short story by Guy De Maupassant fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- An Apparition by Guy De Maupassant
- The Relic by Guy De Maupassant
- The Bolted Door by Edith Wharton
- The Premature Burial by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Sign by Guy De Maupassant
- Ligeia by Edgar Allan Poe
Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The themes of death, decay, and the macabre, along with the setting in a cemetery and the act of desecration, align closely with Gothic elements.
- Psychological Fiction — The exploration of the protagonist's obsessive love and mental anguish reflects deep psychological themes.
- Literary Fiction — The work's focus on character development, emotional depth, and philosophical reflections on love and loss categorize it as literary fiction.
- Drama — The courtroom setting and the intense emotional exchanges during the trial create a dramatic narrative.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Gothic Fiction · Short Story · Mystery · Suspense · Dark Atmosphere · Isolated Setting · Paranoid Protagonist · Obsession · Madness · Death · Loss