The Brogue by Hector Hugh Munro
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his family's estate after serving in the military. He is disillusioned with the societal norms and expectations that govern his life. The narrative explores themes of identity, morality, and the constraints placed on individuals by social conventions.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1898 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Short Story · 2,312 words
First lines
The hunting season had come to an end, and the Mullets had not succeeded in selling the Brogue. There had been a kind of tradition in the family for the past three or four years, a sort of fatalistic hope, that the Brogue would find a purchaser before the hunting was over; but seasons came and went without anything happening to justify such ill-founded optimism. The animal had been named Berserker in the earlier stages of its career; it had been rechristened the Brogue later on, in recognition of the fact that, once acquired, it was extremely difficult to get rid of. The unkinder wits of the neighbourhood had been known to suggest that the first letter of its name was superfluous. The Brogue had been variously described in sale catalogues as a light-weight hunter, a lady's hack, and, more simply, but still with a touch of imagination, as a useful brown gelding, standing 15.1.
What this Textopian page supports
The Brogue is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1898 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: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Short Story, Domestic Fiction, Romance
- Length: 2,312 words
- Structure: 1 section, 37 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Brogue by Hector Hugh Munro
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Brogue?
- How does this short story by Hector Hugh Munro fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is driven by humorous situations and witty dialogue, particularly involving the sale of the troublesome horse and the ensuing complications.
- Satire — The story satirizes social norms and the desperation of the Mullet family to marry off their daughters, highlighting societal expectations with irony.
- Short Story — The work is structured as a concise narrative focusing on a single incident, typical of the short story format.
- Domestic Fiction — The plot revolves around family dynamics and the social aspirations of the Mullet family, reflecting domestic concerns.
Tags
Satire · Dark Comedy · Short Stories · Irish Culture · Social Commentary · Morality Tales · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Humor · Wit · Sarcasm · Critique of Society