The Workman by Lord Dunsany (1916)
A workman falls from a great height while attempting to carve his name into the scaffolding. As he descends, he realizes the futility of his action, knowing he will soon be dead and his name will be forgotten. The narrator reflects on this moment, troubled by the workman's folly, which distracts him from his own tasks. Later, the ghost of the workman appears, laughing at the narrator's serious demeanor. The ghost expresses that life is fleeting and civilization will eventually be forgotten. He finds humor in the narrator's dedication to work, suggesting that such efforts are ultimately inconsequential in the grand scheme of existence. The ghost's laughter echoes the theme of the absurdity of human endeavors against the backdrop of time and mortality. The encounter leaves the narrator contemplating the nature of life, work, and legacy, highlighting the tension between the seriousness of human pursuits and the inevitability of oblivion.
By Lord Dunsany · First published 1916 · Genre: Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction · 320 words
First lines
I saw a workman fall with his scaffolding right from the summit of some vast hotel. And as he came down I saw him holding a knife and trying to cut his name on the scaffolding. He had time to try and do this for he must have had nearly three hundred feet to fall. And I could think of nothing but his folly in doing this futile thing, for not only would the man be unrecognizably dead in three seconds, but the very pole on which he tried to scratch whatever of his name he had time for was certain to be burnt in a few weeks for firewood.
Then I went home for I had work to do. And all that evening I thought of the man's folly, till the thought hindered me from serious work.
What this Textopian page supports
The Workman is listed on Textopian as a short story by Lord Dunsany, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Lord Dunsany
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 320 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Workman by Lord Dunsany
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Workman?
- How does this short story by Lord Dunsany fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Time And The Tradesman by Lord Dunsany
- Of Skarl The Drummer by Lord Dunsany
- The City by Lord Dunsany
- The Unpasturable Fields by Lord Dunsany
- The Deeds Of Mung by Lord Dunsany
- The Messengers by Lord Dunsany
Genres
- Fantasy — The presence of a ghost and the surreal interaction with the workman indicates a fantastical element.
- Philosophical Fiction — The narrative explores themes of existence, the futility of life, and the nature of work, prompting philosophical reflection.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is introspective and rich in imagery, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Short Story — The work is concise and presents a complete narrative arc within a brief format.
Tags
Fantasy · Adventure · Mythology · Fiction · Short Stories · Classic Literature · Literary Fiction · Symbolism · Allegory · Philosophy · Mystery · Supernatural