Pink Dominoes by Rudyard Kipling
The narrative unfolds at a fancy ball where the protagonist is engaged to Jenny, who wears a pink domino. They plan to sneak away from the festivities to share intimate moments. The protagonist, eager and romantic, mistakenly embraces another woman in a similar costume, believing her to be Jenny. This encounter leads to confusion when the woman, upon realizing the mistake, flees, leaving him bewildered. The next day, the protagonist learns that there are two pink dominoes at the ball. One belongs to Jenny, while the other cloaks the wife of a prominent political figure, Sir Julian House. The protagonist reflects on the incident with a mix of embarrassment and intrigue, realizing the complexities of identity and social interactions masked by costumes. The story explores themes of mistaken identity, youthful folly, and the consequences of impulsive actions in romantic pursuits. The protagonist's internal conflict highlights the tension between desire and social propriety, ultimately leading to a humorous yet poignant realization about love and relationships.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1925 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic Comedy, Social Commentary · 444 words
First lines
"They are fools who kiss and tell" -- Wisely has the poet sung. Man may hold all sorts of posts If he'll only hold his tongue.
Jenny and Me were engaged, you see, On the eve of the Fancy Ball; So a kiss or two was nothing to you Or any one else at all.
What this Textopian page supports
Pink Dominoes is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1925 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic Comedy, Social Commentary, Narrative, Historical Fiction
- Length: 444 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Pink Dominoes by Rudyard Kipling
- 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 Pink Dominoes?
- How does this short story by Rudyard Kipling fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Ladies by Rudyard Kipling
- The Post That Fitted by Rudyard Kipling
- The Castle Inn by Stanley J. Weyman
- Her Reputation by Talbot Mundy
- The Mission Of Mr Eustace Greyne by Robert Hichens
- Love Owomen by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Romantic Comedy — The plot revolves around romantic misunderstandings and humorous situations related to love.
- Social Commentary — The poem reflects on social norms and behaviors regarding romance and secrecy.
- Narrative — The poem tells a story with a clear sequence of events and character interactions.
Tags
Rudyard Kipling · Pink Dominoes · poetry · romance · engagement · mystery · identity · deception · social commentary · love · ball · domino