A Dream Lesson by Carolyn Wells
A Dream Lesson by Carolyn Wells: Plot Summary: The story revolves around a young woman named Margaret who has a recurring dream in which she is given a lesson on the importance of living in the present moment. The dream is so vivid and realistic that Margaret begins to question what is real and what is just a product of her imagination. As she struggles to distinguish between reality and fantasy, Margaret's relationships with those around her begin to suffer. Ultimately, she must confront the root of her problem and learn to live in the present in order to find peace and happiness.
By Carolyn Wells · First published 1905 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fable, Fantasy · 656 words
First lines
Once there was a little boy who wouldn't go to bed, When they hinted at the subject he would only shake his head, When they asked him his intentions, he informed them pretty straight That he wouldn't go to bed at all, and Nursey needn't wait.
As their arguments grew stronger, and their attitude more strict, I grieve to say that naughty boy just yelled and screamed and kicked. And he made up awful faces, and he told them up and down That he wouldn't go to bed for all the nurses in the town.
What this Textopian page supports
A Dream Lesson is listed on Textopian as a short story by Carolyn Wells, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Carolyn Wells
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fable, Fantasy
- Length: 656 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Dream Lesson by Carolyn Wells
- 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 A Dream Lesson?
- How does this short story by Carolyn Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Soft Place by Frank R. Stockton
- Luckymobiling by David Cory
- The Phoenix And The Carpet by Edith Nesbit
- The Way Of Dreams by Gilbert Parker
- A Make Believe by George Macdonald
Genres
- Children's Literature — The book is a fable with talking animals and a motivational message that harnesses a child's imagination.
- Fable — The plot involves animals in a forest teaching a boy a lesson through a dream. This is a common structure for fables.
- Fantasy — The dream sequence is written with a fantastical element as animals teach the protagonist life lessons, indicating elements found in fantasy literature.
Tags
dream · lesson · imagination · adventure · fantasy · mystery · self-discovery · growth · friendship · creativity · exploration · narrative