Some Words with a Mummy - Edgar Allan Poe - GP 5

http://www.thepoeblog.org/poe-has-some-words-with-a-mummy/

"Some Words with a Mummy" is a satire on the notion of progress. 

The tale begins with the narrator's receiving a letter from his good friend, Doctor Ponnonner. Ponnonner is very excited because he has been granted permission to examine a mummy. The letter ends with Ponnonner asking the narrator to be present at the examination.

As soon as the narrator arrives at Ponnonner's house, the examination begins. After removing three cases, the examiners finally reach the body, which is wrapped in papyrus. After removing the papyrus, they find the flesh in excellent condition, with no noticeable odour.

As Ponnonner is about to begin his internal examination, one of the men suggests an experiment with electricity. The rest of the men go along with the suggestion, and they send a series of electric charges through different spots on the mummy's body. After the third such charge, the mummy sits up and reprimands two of the men for their absurd behaviour. The two explain that their examination was for the advancement of science, and the mummy, named Allamistakeo, accepts their apology for the wounds he has received.

The men are amazed at the miracle they have witnessed, and they begin to ask Allamistakeo questions. Allamistakeo proceeds to explain that he was embalmed alive and is now in the same condition he was in during the embalming process. He also says that he is a member of the Scarabaeus family, who have an average life span of 800 years. In addition, he adds that there were many men of Scarabaeus blood who were embalmed alive.

The men then begin to explain how advanced their society is, but Allamistakeo responds to each claim and proves that things are not all that much more advanced than in his day. He says that Great Movements "were awfully common things in his day, and as for Progress, it was at one time quite a nuisance, but it never progressed."