A Touch of Realism
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after serving in the military and becomes infatuated with a woman he meets at a local dance hall. He begins an affair with her but struggles with feelings of guilt and inadequacy due to their social differences. The narrative explores themes of class, identity, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1908 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Short Story · 2,390 words
First lines
"I hope you've come full of suggestions for Christmas," said Lady Blonze to her latest arrived guest; "the old-fashioned Christmas and the up-to-date Christmas are both so played out. I want to have something really original this year."
"I was staying with the Mathesons last month," said Blanche Boveal eagerly, "and we had such a good idea. Every one in the house-party had to be a character and behave consistently all the time, and at the end of the visit one had to guess what every one's character was. The one who was voted to have acted his or her character best got a prize."
What this Textopian page supports
A Touch of Realism is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hector Hugh Munro
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Short Story, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 2,390 words
- Structure: 1 section, 62 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Touch of Realism by Hector Hugh Munro
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Touch of Realism?
- How does this short story by Hector Hugh Munro fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Satire — The story uses humor and irony to critique social norms and behaviors, particularly through the absurdity of the Christmas party game.
- Comedy — The narrative is filled with humorous situations and character interactions, especially the antics of the guests during the party.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single event, typical of the short story format.
- Social Commentary — The story provides insight into societal expectations and the absurdity of social gatherings, reflecting on human nature and social customs.
Tags
Satire · Dark Humor · Social Commentary · Realism · Anti-War · Fiction · Short Stories · British Literature · Edwardian Era · War Fiction · Psychological Insight · Morality Tale