The Hungry Student by Hilaire Belloc
This satirical novel follows the misadventures of a young student at a fictional university, where he navigates a series of absurd and humorous situations. The story critiques the academic system and societal norms through the protagonist's experiences.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1906 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Social Commentary · 2,374 words
First lines
It was with great astonishment combined with a sense of misfortune that I discovered the other day in a garret off the King's road in Chelsea a poor hack formerly of my acquaintance, who in his endeavour to keep body and soul together had formerly been distinguished or rather ridiculous among journalists by his excursions into every conceivable subject and his preparedness to write any sort of books that a publisher might order of him.
When I found him after these many years he was lying in the last stages of some disease the name of which I forget but which anyhow was mortal; and it was the character in the disease which most affected him -- to its scientific appellation he was indifferent.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hungry Student is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Social Commentary, Literary Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 2,374 words
- Structure: 1 section, 41 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hungry Student 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Hungry Student?
- How does this short story by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Book by Hilaire Belloc
- Slawkenbergiuss Tale by Laurence Sterne
- The Stolen White Elephant by Mark Twain
- Concerning The Trouser Crease by Oliver Herford
- Pity The Poor Guest Of Honor by Oliver Herford
- On A Tag Provider by Hilaire Belloc
Genres
- Satire — The narrative employs humor and irony to critique societal norms and the struggles of impoverished students.
- Comedy — The story contains humorous elements, particularly in the exaggerated depiction of the students' dining experiences and their interactions.
- Social Commentary — The text reflects on social issues such as poverty, hunger, and the lengths to which individuals will go to survive.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style and character development align with the conventions of literary fiction, focusing on the human condition.
Tags
Satirical · Humorous · Poetic · Social Commentary · Literary Fiction · Coming of Age · Education · Critique of Society · Irony · Wit · Wordplay · Nonsense Verse