The Boar-Pig by Saki (1910)
Two women, Mrs. Philidore Stossen and her daughter, seek to attend a prestigious garden party without an invitation. They plan to sneak in through a back route, avoiding the hostess. As they navigate through a paddock and a fruit garden, they are spotted by a young girl, Matilda Cuvering, who is perched in a tree. Matilda observes their approach and anticipates their failure when they encounter a locked gate. The Stossens are confronted by a large boar-pig named Tarquin, which causes them distress. Matilda, who is under punishment for misbehavior, decides to have some fun at their expense. She engages in a conversation with Mrs. Stossen, who is desperate for help. Matilda explains her predicament and refuses to assist unless she is compensated, showcasing her cleverness and self-interest. After some negotiation, Mrs. Stossen offers money to Matilda to lure the pig away. Matilda, motivated by the prospect of collecting funds for a charity, agrees to help. She cleverly uses overripe medlars to entice Tarquin back to his stye, allowing the Stossens to escape. Once free, Mrs. Stossen expresses disbelief at Matilda's cunning and doubts the sincerity of her charitable intentions. The story concludes with a humorous twist, revealing that Matilda did indeed collect a small amount for the charity, despite her earlier antics. The narrative highlights themes of social class, cleverness, and the absurdity of social conventions.
By Saki · First published 1910 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Fiction · 2,111 words
First lines
"There is a back way on to the lawn," said Mrs. Philidore Stossen to her daughter, "through a small grass paddock and then through a walled fruit garden full of gooseberry bushes. I went all over the place last year when the family were away. There is a door that opens from the fruit garden into a shrubbery, and once we emerge from there we can mingle with the guests as if we had come in by the ordinary way. It's much safer than going in by the front entrance and running the risk of coming bang up against the hostess; that would be so awkward when she doesn't happen to have invited us."
"Isn't it a lot of trouble to take for getting admittance to a garden party?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Boar-Pig is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, 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: Saki
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Fiction, Short Story, Children's Literature
- Length: 2,111 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Boar-Pig by Saki
- 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 Boar-Pig?
- How does this short story by Saki fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Satire — The story critiques social norms and class distinctions through humor and irony.
- Comedy — The narrative employs comedic elements, particularly in the interactions between characters and the absurdity of the situation.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that explores character dynamics and social commentary.
- Short Story — The text is a concise narrative, typical of Saki's short story format.
Tags
satire · humor · short story · animal · society · class · irony · British literature · character study · social commentary · nature · rural life