Henry King by Hilaire Belloc (1906)
The story revolves around a man who dies and is taken to the afterlife. He meets various people there, including a woman who claims to be his wife. However, he soon realizes that she is actually a stranger. The narrative explores themes of identity, morality, and the nature of reality.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1906 · Genre: Children's Literature, Dark Comedy, Cautionary Tale · 173 words
First lines
_Who chewed bits of String, and was early cut off in Dreadful Agonies._
The Chief Defect of Henry King / Was chewing little bits of String.
At last he swallowed some which tied / Itself in ugly Knots inside.
Physicians of the Utmost Fame / Were called at once; but when they came / They answered, as they took their Fees, / "There is no Cure for this Disease.
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The poem is written in a simple, rhyming style typical of children's literature, with a moral lesson aimed at young readers.
- Dark Comedy — The poem uses humor in a dark context, dealing with the morbid subject of a child's death in a lighthearted manner.
- Cautionary Tale — The narrative serves as a warning against the dangers of chewing string, a common theme in cautionary tales.
- Poetry — The work is structured as a poem, utilizing rhyme and meter to convey its story.
Tags
Biographical Fiction · Historical Fiction · Novel · Autobiographical Elements · Coming-of-Age Story · Social Commentary · Satire · Humor · Literary Fiction · English Literature · 19th Century Setting · Family Dynamics
What this Textopian page supports
Henry King 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 Literature, Dark Comedy, Cautionary Tale, Poetry, Satire
- Length: 173 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Henry King 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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