The Reformed Tigress
A lady encounters a weeping Tigress at a desolate seaside resort. The Tigress expresses her desire for a man, lamenting their scarcity. The lady, alarmed, reveals that there is only one man nearby, who is likely married. The Tigress admits to being a man-eater, prompting the lady to admonish her for wasting such a limited resource. The lady argues that consuming men is unjust, as it leaves fewer for others, including herself. After a lengthy discussion, the Tigress shows remorse for her past actions. The lady advises her to seek an alternative food source, specifically oyster stew, which is plentiful and satisfying. The Tigress heeds this advice and remains on an oyster bed, while the lady is rumored to be getting married soon.
By Oliver Herford · First published 1910 · Genre: Poetry, Satire, Fable · 401 words
First lines
A lady on the lonely shore Of a dull watering place Once met a Tigress weeping sore, Tears streaming down her face.
And knowing well that safety lay In not betraying fear, She asked in quite a friendly way, "What makes you weep, my dear?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Reformed Tigress is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oliver Herford
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Satire, Fable, Humor, Fantasy
- Length: 401 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Reformed Tigress by Oliver Herford
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Reformed Tigress?
- How does this short story by Oliver Herford fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Viper by Hilaire Belloc
- The Storm by Hilaire Belloc
- The Wind Of Winter by Madison Cawein
- The Treasure Digger by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Satan Mekatrig by Israel Zangwill
- Lord Lucky by Hilaire Belloc
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Satire — The poem critiques societal norms regarding relationships and gender roles through humor and irony.
- Fable — The narrative features anthropomorphized characters and conveys a moral lesson, typical of fables.
- Humor — The poem employs wit and comedic elements to address serious themes in a light-hearted manner.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Adventure · Fantasy · Romance · Mystery · Thriller · Action · Suspense · Drama · Literary Fiction · Historical Fiction