The Mummy's Foot
The story follows a young man named Pierre, who is on a journey to Egypt. While there, he visits a shop that sells ancient artifacts, and he is drawn to a mysterious mummy's foot. He purchases the foot and takes it back to France with him. Once back in France, Pierre discovers that the mummy's foot has strange powers. It can bring him luck, but it also brings him bad luck. He finds himself in a series of strange and dangerous situations, and he must use the foot to his advantage in order to survive. The story is a classic example of the supernatural horror genre, and it is a great example of Gautier's writing style. It is a thrilling and suspenseful story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
By Théophile Gautier · First published 1840 · Genre: Romanticism, Fantasy, Horror · 4,977 words
First lines
I had entered, in an idle mood, the shop of one of those curiosity venders who are called "marchands de bric-à-brac" in that Parisian "argot" which is so perfectly unintelligible elsewhere in France.
You have doubtless glanced occasionally through the windows of some of these shops, which have become so numerous now that it is fashionable to buy antiquated furniture, and that every petty stockbroker thinks he must have his "chambre au moyen âge".
What this Textopian page supports
The Mummy's Foot is listed on Textopian as a novel by Théophile Gautier, dated 1840 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Théophile Gautier
- Date: 1840 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romanticism, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
- Length: 4,977 words
- Structure: 1 section, 106 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mummy's Foot by Théophile Gautier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Mummy's Foot?
- How does this novel by Théophile Gautier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romanticism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce
- A Good For Nothing by Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen
- The Severed Hand by Wilhelm Hauff
- A Summer Evenings Dream by Edward Bellamy
- Whats He Doing In There by Fritz Leiber
Genres
- Romanticism — The Mummy's Foot is a classic example of Romanticism, a literary movement that emerged in the late 18th century and was characterized by a focus on emotion, imagination, and the beauty of nature.
- Fantasy — The Mummy's Foot is a fantasy story, as it features a supernatural element in the form of a mummy's foot that grants wishes.
- Horror — The Mummy's Foot contains elements of horror, as it features a mummy and its supernatural powers.
- Mystery — The Mummy's Foot contains elements of mystery, as the protagonist must unravel the mystery of the mummy's foot and its powers.
Tags
Horror tales · Short stories · ancient · aspect · became · centuries · could · daughter · even · every · eyes · five