The Stake by Hector Hugh Munro
A young man returns to his village after serving in the Boer War and becomes infatuated with a woman who is engaged to be married. He kills her fiancé and then himself, leaving behind a note that reveals his motivations for the crime. The story explores themes of love, jealousy, and the destructive power of unchecked emotions.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1898 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Short Story · 1,784 words
First lines
"Ronnie is a great trial to me," said Mrs. Attray plaintively. "Only eighteen years old last February and already a confirmed gambler. I am sure I don't know where he inherits it from; his father never touched cards, and you know how little I play-a game of bridge on Wednesday afternoons in the winter, for three-pence a hundred, and even that I shouldn't do if it wasn't that Edith always wants a fourth and would be certain to ask that detestable Jenkinham woman if she couldn't get me. I would much rather sit and talk any day than play bridge; cards are such a waste of time, I think. But as to Ronnie, bridge and baccarat and poker-patience are positively all that he thinks about. Of course I've done my best to stop it; I've asked the Norridrums not to let him play cards when he's over there, but you might as well ask the Atlantic Ocean to keep quiet for a crossing as expect them to bother about a mother's natural anxieties."
What this Textopian page supports
The Stake 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, Social Commentary
- Length: 1,784 words
- Structure: 1 section, 33 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Stake 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 Stake?
- 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
- Fur by Hector Hugh Munro
- Louis by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Dreamer by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Elk by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Talking Out Of Tarrington by Hector Hugh Munro
- The Penance by Hector Hugh Munro
Genres
- Comedy — The story is filled with humorous situations and witty dialogue, particularly in the interactions between characters and the absurdity of the gambling situation.
- Satire — The narrative satirizes societal norms and the behaviors of the upper class, especially through the exaggerated concerns and actions of the characters.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single incident, typical of the short story format.
- Domestic Fiction — The plot revolves around family dynamics and domestic issues, such as the mother's concern over her son's gambling habits.
Tags
Satire · Dark Comedy · Short Stories · British Literature · 20th Century Fiction · Anti-Hero · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Gallows Humor · Absurdism · Existential Crisis · Human Nature