The Tragic Mice by Oliver Herford
"The Tragic Mice" by Oliver Herford is a darkly humorous poem about a mouse who decides to commit suicide after being rejected by a potential mate. The mouse plans to end his life by confronting a cat, expecting to be eaten. The cat, amused by the situation, agrees to the mouse's plan. However, when the female mouse sees the male's fate, she decides to join him in death. The cat, pleased with the turn of events, prepares to consume both mice. The poem concludes with a twist: the mice had already ingested arsenic, ensuring their demise regardless of the cat's actions. The poem serves as a cautionary tale against punning and the folly of rash decisions.
By Oliver Herford · First published 1911 · Genre: Comic Poetry, Dark Comedy, Tragicomedy · 236 words
First lines
It was a tragic little mouse / All bent on suicide / Because another little mouse / Refused to be his bride.
"Alas! " he squeaked, "I shall not wed!
My heart and paw she spurns; / I'll hie me to the cat instead, / From whence no mouse returns!"
The playful cat met him half way, / Said she, "I feel for you, / You're dying for a mouse, you say, / I'm dying for one, too!"
Genres
- Comic Poetry — The work is composed in verse, using playful language and witty puns to create humor.
- Dark Comedy — It blends morbid themes such as suicide and death with a humorous tone, highlighting tragic elements in a comical way.
- Tragicomedy — The narrative interweaves aspects of both tragedy and comedy, emphasizing the bittersweet and ironic nature of its plot.
- Satire — The text employs irony and exaggeration to mock conventions of romance and societal norms, critiquing them through humor.
Tags
tragedy · satire · allegory · anthropomorphic · fable · dark comedy · irony · philosophical · existential · absurdity · social commentary · folklore
What this Textopian page supports
The Tragic Mice is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comic Poetry, Dark Comedy, Tragicomedy, Satire, Absurdist Fiction
- Length: 236 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Tragic Mice by Oliver Herford
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