The Truce of the Bear
The narrative follows a blind beggar named Matun, who recounts his harrowing encounter with a bear known as Adam-zad, which possesses an uncanny resemblance to a human. Each year, white hunters venture into the region, and Matun warns them against underestimating the bear, sharing his tale of a fateful hunt from fifty years prior. Matun describes his knowledge of Adam-zad's habits and cunning, detailing how the bear would raid his home and livestock. During a pursuit, Matun finally confronts the bear after tracking it for two nights. As he prepares to shoot, he is struck by the bear's human-like posture and pleading demeanor, which stirs feelings of pity within him. This moment of compassion leads to his downfall; the bear attacks, leaving Matun faceless and blind. Now, as a beggar, Matun warns the hunters about the true danger of Adam-zad. He emphasizes that the bear's most perilous moment is when it appears vulnerable, standing upright and begging for mercy. This deceptive behavior masks its inherent ferocity. Matun's repeated warnings serve as a cautionary tale about the nature of the bear and the folly of underestimating it. The story explores themes of nature, the primal instincts of both man and beast, and the consequences of compassion in the face of danger. Matun's physical scars symbolize the lasting impact of his encounter, while his tale serves as a reminder of the thin line between humanity and savagery. The narrative concludes with Matun's insistence that there can be no truce with Adam-zad, reinforcing the idea that true danger often lies beneath the surface.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1926 · Genre: Poetry, Fable, Adventure · 903 words
First lines
Yearly, with tent and rifle, our careless white men go By the pass called Muttianee, to shoot in the vale below. Yearly by Muttianee he follows our white men in -- Matun, the old blind beggar, bandaged from brow to chin.
Eyeless, noseless, and lipless -- toothless, broken of speech. Seeking a dole at the doorway he mumbles his tale to each; Over and over the story, ending as he began: ‘Make ye no truce with Adam-zad -- the Bear that walks like a man!
What this Textopian page supports
The Truce of the Bear is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1926 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: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fable, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror
- Length: 903 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Truce of the Bear 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 The Truce of the Bear?
- 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 Song Of The Little Hunter by Rudyard Kipling
- Song Of The Mens Side by Rudyard Kipling
- The Only Son by Rudyard Kipling
- The Hunting Of Arscott Of Tetcott by Sabine Baring Gould
- Merrow Down by Rudyard Kipling
- The Story Of Ung by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Fable — The story conveys moral lessons through the interaction between humans and animals, typical of fables.
- Adventure — The narrative involves hunting and encounters with a bear, embodying themes of adventure and survival.
- Fantasy — The anthropomorphism of the bear and the blending of human and animal traits introduce fantastical elements.
Tags
Rudyard Kipling · poetry · bear · hunting · truce · man vs nature · blind beggar · folklore · cautionary tale · animal symbolism · survival · fear