Algernon by Hilaire Belloc (1906)
The story revolves around a young boy who befriends a talking ape and together they concoct a plan to kidnap the boy's sister. The ape's intelligence and cunning are matched by his innocence and good nature, leading to a series of events that ultimately lead to their downfall.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1906 · Genre: Children's Poetry, Humor, Cautionary Tale · 96 words
First lines
_Who played with a Loaded Gun, and, on missing his Sister was / reprimanded by his Father._
Young Algernon, the Doctor's Son, / Was playing with a Loaded Gun.
He pointed it towards his sister, / Aimed very carefully, but Missed her!
His Father, who was standing near, / The Loud Explosion chanced to Hear, / And reprimanded Algernon / For playing with a Loaded Gun.
Similar titles
- The Dromedary by Hilaire Belloc
- Sir Ippykin by Oliver Herford
- Franklin Hyde by Hilaire Belloc
- Lord Lundy by Hilaire Belloc
- Mr Gupperducks Mishap by Herbert Jenkins
- The Clowns Reply by Oliver Goldsmith
Genres
- Children's Poetry — The work is a short, rhyming poem intended for children, with a moral lesson.
- Humor — The poem uses dark humor to convey its message, with a playful tone despite the serious subject matter.
- Cautionary Tale — The narrative serves as a warning about the dangers of playing with firearms, typical of cautionary tales.
- Satire — The exaggerated scenario and the father's mild reprimand suggest a satirical take on parental responses to dangerous behavior.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Satire · Social Commentary · Comedy · Literary Fiction · English Literature · 20th Century Literature · Humor · Wit · Intellectualism · Class Satire
What this Textopian page supports
Algernon is listed on Textopian as a poem by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Poetry, Humor, Cautionary Tale, Satire
- Length: 96 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Algernon by Hilaire Belloc
- 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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