The Spider by Hanns Heinz Ewers
The novel follows the story of a young man named Franz, who is sent to a small German village to investigate a series of mysterious deaths. He soon discovers that the deaths are linked to a mysterious spider-like creature that lurks in the shadows of the village. As Franz delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself in a battle of wits with the creature, and soon discovers that it is more powerful and dangerous than he ever imagined. The novel is a classic example of German Expressionist horror, and is considered to be one of the earliest works of horror fiction. It is a gripping and suspenseful story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
By Hanns Heinz Ewers · First published 1915 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery · 7,655 words
First lines
When the student of medicine, Richard Bracquemont, decided to move
into room #7 of the small Hotel Stevens, Rue Alfred Stevens (Paris 6), three persons had already hanged themselves from the cross-bar of the window in that room on three successive Fridays.
What this Textopian page supports
The Spider is listed on Textopian as a novel by Hanns Heinz Ewers, dated 1915 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Hanns Heinz Ewers
- Date: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
- Length: 7,655 words
- Structure: 1 section, 241 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Spider by Hanns Heinz Ewers
- 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 Spider?
- How does this novel by Hanns Heinz Ewers fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Lost Hearts by M. R. James
- The Pale Ape by M. P. Shiel
- Aylmer Vance And The Vampire by Alice Askew
- The Monster Mine by Anonymous
- The Demon Of The Hartz by Thomas Peckett Prest
- The Demon Spell by Hume Nisbet
Genres
- Horror — The Spider is a horror novel that follows the story of a man who is cursed by a spider and slowly begins to transform into a spider himself.
- Fantasy — The Spider contains elements of fantasy, such as the cursed spider and the transformation of the protagonist into a spider.
- Mystery — The Spider contains elements of mystery, as the protagonist attempts to uncover the source of his curse and the identity of the mysterious spider.
- Thriller — The Spider is a thrilling novel that follows the protagonist's journey to uncover the source of his curse and the identity of the mysterious spider.
Tags
horror · gothic · supernatural · mystery · psychological · thriller · dark fantasy · occult · suspense · German literature · early 20th century · literary fiction