The Peace Offering
A young man returns to his family's estate after a long absence and brings with him a woman he claims is his wife. The family is shocked by her appearance and behavior, which suggests she may be mentally unstable or even a prostitute. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the young man has been using his supposed marriage as an excuse to bring this woman into their home, where she proceeds to wreak havoc on the family's social standing and relationships.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1909 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Drama · 2,003 words
First lines
"I want you to help me in getting up a dramatic entertainment of some sort," said the Baroness to Clovis. "You see, there's been an election petition down here, and a member unseated and no end of bitterness and ill-feeling, and the County is socially divided against itself. I thought a play of some kind would be an excellent opportunity for bringing people together again, and giving them something to think of besides tiresome political squabbles."
The Baroness was evidently ambitious of reproducing beneath her own roof the pacifying effects traditionally ascribed to the celebrated Reel of Tullochgorum.
What this Textopian page supports
The Peace Offering is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1909 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: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Drama, Farce, Social Commentary
- Length: 2,003 words
- Structure: 1 section, 47 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Peace Offering 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 Peace Offering?
- 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?
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Genres
- Comedy — The narrative is driven by humorous dialogue and situations, particularly through the character of Clovis and the absurdity of the play's production.
- Satire — The story satirizes social conventions and the pretensions of the upper class, as well as the political tensions within the county.
- Drama — The plot revolves around the staging of a dramatic play, with interpersonal conflicts and theatrical elements central to the story.
- Farce — The exaggerated characters and improbable situations, such as the chaotic play rehearsal and the political fallout, contribute to a farcical tone.
Tags
Satire · Dark Comedy · Social Commentary · Literary Fiction · Short Story Collection · British Literature · Edwardian Era · Class Satire · Morality Tale · Absurdism · Black Humor · Critique of Society