Drifting Away: A Fragment
The book DRIFTING AWAY: A FRAGMENT by Charles Kingsley is a short story that explores the themes of love and loss, and the human condition. The protagonist, a young man named John, finds himself adrift in life after losing his beloved wife and child. He struggles to find meaning in his existence and comes to realize that he must let go of the past in order to move forward. The story is written in a simple, straightforward style, with vivid imagery and emotional depth.
By Charles Kingsley · First published 1870 · Genre: Fiction, Historical fiction, Adventure · 183 words
First lines
They drift away. Ah, God! they drift for ever.
I watch the stream sweep onward to the sea, Like some old battered buoy upon a roaring river, Round whom the tide-waifs hang -- then drift to sea.
I watch them drift -- the old familiar faces, Who fished and rode with me, by stream and wold, Till ghosts, not men, fill old beloved places, And, ah! the land is rank with churchyard mold.
I watch them drift -- the youthful aspirations, Shores, landmarks, beacons, drift alike.
What this Textopian page supports
Drifting Away: A Fragment is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Kingsley, dated 1870 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles Kingsley
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Historical fiction, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 183 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Drifting Away: A Fragment by Charles Kingsley
- 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 Drifting Away: A Fragment?
- How does this short story by Charles Kingsley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fiction — As Charles Kingsley's work mainly revolves around fictional narratives, it's plausible to categorize the book under fiction.
- Historical fiction — Considered Kingsley's context and well-known works, it's plausible his work may contain historical elements.
- Adventure — Given Kingsley's other works often involve adventure and exploration, this book might fall under the same category.
- Drama — Due to emotional depth and engaging narratives often found in Kingsley's work, it's feasible to categorize the book under drama.
Tags
fragment · drifting · narrative · prose · literary · exploration · identity · self-discovery · existential · reflection · journey · philosophical