On the Melting of the Ice by Hilaire Belloc
The story revolves around a group of children who are left alone at home when their parents go out for the evening. They decide to have an adventure and sneak into the kitchen where they find a large block of ice that has been delivered earlier in the day. As they play with the ice, it begins to melt, causing chaos and destruction throughout the house. The children's attempts to stop the melting only make things worse, leading to a series of mishaps and accidents. The story is a commentary on the consequences of unchecked curiosity and the importance of responsibility.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1903 · Genre: Historical Essay, Geological Exploration, Speculative History · 1,771 words
First lines
I wish I had been there when the ice melted; in the days when the great river valleys were formed, when the rich meadows were laid down from the mud of the flooded rivers, and when the gravels were rolled along, forming beaches one below the other as the waters subsided, when Northern Europe was carved.
Men were there and saw it. Some say it was so little a while ago that the great monarchies of the hot places, Egypt and Assyria, were in their splendour, and there is something to be said for that saying.
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Genres
- Historical Essay — The text explores historical and geological events, particularly the melting of ice and its impact on human history and geography.
- Geological Exploration — The narrative delves into geological phenomena, such as the formation of valleys and the movement of glaciers.
- Speculative History — The work speculates on historical events and cultural developments influenced by geological changes.
- Philosophical Reflection — The text reflects on the nature of historical change and the philosophical implications of rapid versus slow geological processes.
Tags
Poetry · Satire · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Fictionalized Nonfiction · Historical Fiction · Literary Satire · Societal Commentary · Cultural Criticism · Irony · Dark Humor · Absurdity
What this Textopian page supports
On the Melting of the Ice is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Essay, Geological Exploration, Speculative History, Philosophical Reflection, Travel Narrative
- Length: 1,771 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for On the Melting of the Ice by Hilaire Belloc
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