A Canine Ishmael
The story revolves around a young man who signs up for a whaling voyage on a ship called the Pequod, led by the vengeful Captain Ahab. Ahab's obsession is to hunt and kill Moby-Dick, a white sperm whale that had destroyed his ship and leg in a previous encounter. As the crew becomes entangled in Ahab's mad pursuit, they are drawn into a journey of destruction and chaos.
By Thomas Anstey Guthrie · First published 1903 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Animal Fiction · 3,454 words
First lines
'Tell me,' she said suddenly, with a pretty imperiousness that seemed to belong to her, 'are you fond of dogs? ' How we arrived at the subject I forget now, but I know she had just been describing how a collie at a dog-show she had visited lately had suddenly thrown his forepaws round her neck in a burst of affection -- a proceeding which, in my own mind (although I prudently kept this to myself), I considered less astonishing than she appeared to do.
For I had had the privilege of taking her in to dinner, and the meal had not reached a very advanced stage before I had come to the conclusion that she was the most charming, if not the loveliest, person I had ever met.
What this Textopian page supports
A Canine Ishmael is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Humor, Animal Fiction, Romance, Social Commentary
- Length: 3,454 words
- Structure: 1 section, 41 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Canine Ishmael by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- 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 A Canine Ishmael?
- How does this short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Ulysses And The Dogman by O. Henry
- A Madison Square Arabian Night by O. Henry
- Squaring The Circle by O. Henry
- The Country Of Cockaigne by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Best Seller by O. Henry
- Man About Town by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores complex themes of love, loss, and the emotional lives of both humans and animals, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, particularly in the portrayal of the dog's perspective and the social dynamics at play.
- Animal Fiction — The story centers around a dog, Pepper, and his experiences, making it a significant work within the animal fiction genre.
- Romance — The underlying romantic relationship between the characters influences the plot and emotional stakes, particularly in the context of the dog's place in their lives.
Tags
Satire · Humor · Fiction · Adventure · Fantasy · Talking Animals · Social Commentary · Philosophical · Witty · Irony · Absurdity · Comedy