The Dreamer by Hector Hugh Munro
The story revolves around a young man who has a recurring dream of being hanged. He tries to understand the meaning behind this dream and its connection to his waking life. The narrative explores themes of mortality, guilt, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1901 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Short Story · 1,732 words
First lines
It was the season of sales. The august establishment of Walpurgis and Nettlepink had lowered its prices for an entire week as a concession to trade observances, much as an Arch-duchess might protestingly contract an attack of influenza for the unsatisfactory reason that influenza was locally prevalent. Adela Chemping, who considered herself in some measure superior to the allurements of an ordinary bargain sale, made a point of attending the reduction week at Walpurgis and Nettlepink's.
"I'm not a bargain hunter," she said, "but I like to go where bargains are."
What this Textopian page supports
The Dreamer is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1901 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: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Short Story, Social Commentary, Literary Fiction
- Length: 1,732 words
- Structure: 1 section, 44 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Dreamer 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
- 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 Dreamer?
- 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
- Morlvera by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Feast Of Nemesis by Hector Hugh Munro
- Judkin Of The Parcels by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Oversight by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Bull by Hector Hugh Munro
- Fate by Hector Hugh Munro
Genres
- Satire — The narrative employs humor and irony to critique societal norms and behaviors, particularly through the depiction of shopping culture and character interactions.
- Comedy — The story contains humorous elements and situations, such as the mistaken identity of Cyprian as a shop assistant, which contribute to a comedic tone.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific event and character interaction, typical of the short story format.
- Social Commentary — The text offers insights into social behaviors and class distinctions, particularly through the character of Adela and her shopping habits.
Tags
Satire · Dark Comedy · Social Commentary · Literary Fiction · Absurdist · Anti-Hero · Morality Play · Psychological Insight · Existential Crisis · Philosophical Themes · Critique of Society · Class Satire