Oshidori by Lafcadio Hearn (1895)
The story revolves around a young Japanese woman who marries an American sailor and becomes pregnant with his child. The narrative explores themes of cultural identity, love, and the consequences of her decision to leave Japan for America.
By Lafcadio Hearn · First published 1895 · Genre: Fantasy, Tragedy, Folklore · 599 words
First lines
There was a falconer and hunter, named Sonjō, who lived in the district called Tamura-no-Gō, of the province of Mutsu. One day he went out hunting, and could not find any game. But on his way home, at a place called Akanuma, he perceived a pair of _oshidori_[1] (mandarin-ducks), swimming together in a river that he was about to cross. To kill _oshidori_ is not good; but Sonjō happened to be very hungry, and he shot at the pair. His arrow pierced the male: the female escaped into the rushes of the further shore, and disappeared. Sonjō took the dead bird home, and cooked it.
What this Textopian page supports
Oshidori is listed on Textopian as a short story by Lafcadio Hearn, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Lafcadio Hearn
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Tragedy, Folklore, Romance, Literary Fiction
- Length: 599 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Oshidori by Lafcadio Hearn
- 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 Oshidori?
- How does this short story by Lafcadio Hearn fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Dream Of Akinosuke by Lafcadio Hearn
- Haru by Lafcadio Hearn
- Of A Mirror And A Bell by Lafcadio Hearn
- Horai by Lafcadio Hearn
- The Dragons Teeth by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Riki Baka by Lafcadio Hearn
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative includes supernatural elements, such as a dream involving a spirit and themes of transformation.
- Tragedy — The story revolves around themes of loss, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions, leading to a tragic outcome.
- Folklore — The plot is rooted in cultural beliefs and traditional storytelling, reflecting moral lessons common in folklore.
- Romance — The bond between the male and female ducks symbolizes love and devotion, which is central to the narrative.
Tags
Japanese Folklore · Short Stories · Literary Fiction · Cultural Studies · Anthropology · Folk Tales · Mythology · Symbolism · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Historical Context · Traditional Culture