The Talking-Out of Tarrington
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after serving in the military and becomes infatuated with a woman named Florence Dombey. He begins to write her letters, but they are intercepted by her husband, who is unaware of their affair. As the young man's obsession grows, he starts to see visions of Florence everywhere, even when she is not present. His fixation on her leads him to commit a series of violent acts against those who stand in his way, including her husband and a rival suitor. The novel explores themes of love, madness, and the destructive power of unchecked emotions. The young man's descent into chaos serves as a commentary on the societal norms that govern relationships and the consequences of transgressing them.
By Hector Hugh Munro · First published 1908 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Short Story · 1,172 words
First lines
"Heavens! " exclaimed the aunt of Clovis, "here's some one I know bearing down on us. I can't remember his name, but he lunched with us once in Town. Tarrington -- yes, that's it. He's heard of the picnic I'm giving for the Princess, and he'll cling to me like a lifebelt till I give him an invitation; then he'll ask if he may bring all his wives and mothers and sisters with him. That's the worst of these small watering-places; one can't escape from anybody."
"I'll fight a rearguard action for you if you like to do a bolt now," volunteered Clovis; "you've a clear ten yards start if you don't lose time."
What this Textopian page supports
The Talking-Out of Tarrington is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Short Story, Social Commentary
- Length: 1,172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 23 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Talking-Out of Tarrington 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 Talking-Out of Tarrington?
- 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 story is characterized by its humorous dialogue and witty exchanges, particularly through the character of Clovis.
- Satire — The narrative satirizes social interactions and the pretentiousness of certain societal norms, especially through the exaggerated behavior of the characters.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single incident, typical of the short story format.
- Social Commentary — The story provides a critique of social conventions and the superficiality of social gatherings.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Dark Humor · Absurdism · Anti-Hero · Morality Play · Critique of Class · Critique of Society · Irony · Sarcasm · Black Comedy · Fictionalized Autobiography