The Story-Teller
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 tries to win her over but ultimately fails, leading to tragic consequences. The story explores themes of love, loss, and the destructive nature of obsession.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1898 · Genre: Short Story, Satire, Children's Literature · 2,362 words
First lines
It was a hot afternoon, and the railway carriage was correspondingly sultry, and the next stop was at Templecombe, nearly an hour ahead. The occupants of the carriage were a small girl, and a smaller girl, and a small boy. An aunt belonging to the children occupied one corner seat, and the further corner seat on the opposite side was occupied by a bachelor who was a stranger to their party, but the small girls and the small boy emphatically occupied the compartment. Both the aunt and the children were conversational in a limited, persistent way, reminding one of the attentions of a housefly that refuses to be discouraged. Most of the aunt's remarks seemed to begin with "Don't," and nearly all of the children's remarks began with "Why? " The bachelor said nothing out loud. "Don't, Cyril, don't," exclaimed the aunt, as the small boy began smacking the cushions of the seat, producing a cloud of dust at each blow.
What this Textopian page supports
The Story-Teller 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: Short Story, Satire, Children's Literature, Comedy, Fable
- Length: 2,362 words
- Structure: 1 section, 62 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Story-Teller 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
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Similar titles
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- A Touch Of Realism by Hector Hugh Munro
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- Mark by Hector Hugh Munro
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Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single incident, typical of short stories.
- Satire — The story uses humor and irony to critique societal norms and the conventional moral tales told to children.
- Children's Literature — The narrative involves children as central characters and revolves around storytelling for children.
- Comedy — The story contains elements of humor, particularly in the interactions between the characters and the unexpected twist in the tale.
Tags
Satire · Dark Comedy · Short Stories · Literary Fiction · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Psychological Insight · Human Nature · Irony · Absurdity · Existentialism · Philosophical Themes