At a Tenement Window

Name: At a Tenement Window
Author: Annie Fellows Johnston

The story follows the life of a young girl named Maggie who lives in a crowded tenement building in St. Louis, Missouri. The window of her room serves as a frame for her imagination, allowing her to escape the harsh realities of her surroundings and dream of a better life. Through Maggie's eyes, Johnston explores themes of poverty, inequality, and the American Dream.

By Annie Fellows Johnston · First published 1908 · Genre: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction · 408 words

First lines

SOMETIMES my needle stops with half-drawn thread (Not often though, each moment's waste means bread, And missing stitches leave the little mouths unfed).

I look down on the dingy court below: A tuft of grass is all it has to show, -- A broken pump, where thirsty children go.

What this Textopian page supports

At a Tenement Window is listed on Textopian as a short story by Annie Fellows Johnston, dated 1908 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Annie Fellows Johnston
Date: 1908 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Realism, Social Commentary
Length: 408 words
Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for At a Tenement Window by Annie Fellows Johnston
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The story revolves around young characters and is written in a style suitable for children
Historical Fiction — The book is set in the 19th century and addresses the social conditions of that era.
Domestic Fiction — The story incorporates detailed, everyday life experiences in a tenement housing, focusing on family and home.
Realism — The narrative captures the harsh realities and struggles of life in a tenement, highlighting socio-economic issues.