William Tell by Harry Graham (1928)

Name: William Tell
Author: Harry Graham

The story revolves around a legendary marksman who lives in Switzerland with his son and wife. He is forced to shoot an apple off his son's head by the tyrannical ruler of the region. The marksman successfully completes the task, but later kills the ruler in revenge for his cruelty.

By Harry Graham · First published 1928 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Poetry · 647 words

First lines

All persons who, by way of joke, Point loaded guns at one another, (A state of things which ends in smoke, And murder of an aunt or brother,) Will find that it repays them well To note the tale of William Tell.

He was a patriotic Swiss, Whose skill was such with bow and arrow, He never had been known to miss A target, howsoever narrow; His archery could well defy The needle or the camel's eye.

What this Textopian page supports

William Tell is listed on Textopian as a short story by Harry Graham, dated 1928 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Harry Graham
Date: 1928 CE
Language: English
Genres: Satire, Humor, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Adventure
Length: 647 words
Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Satire — The poem uses humor and exaggeration to mock the legendary tale of William Tell, highlighting absurdities and societal behaviors.
Humor — The narrative is filled with comedic elements, including playful language and situations that are intended to amuse the reader.
Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter to convey its story and themes.
Historical Fiction — The poem is based on the historical legend of William Tell, incorporating fictionalized elements for entertainment.