Debacle by D.H. Lawrence (1918)
Debacle is a novel by D.H. Lawrence, first published in 1926. It is set in the aftermath of World War I, and follows the lives of two English soldiers, Tom and George, as they struggle to adjust to civilian life. Tom and George have been discharged from the army and are trying to find their place in the world. Tom is a dreamer, while George is more practical and focused on making money. They both find work in a coal mine, but soon realize that the job is not what they expected. The novel follows the two men as they struggle to make ends meet and find a place in society. They experience a series of setbacks and disappointments, and their friendship is tested. As the novel progresses, the two men come to terms with their experiences in the war and the changes that have taken place in their lives. The novel is a powerful exploration of the psychological effects of war and the difficulties of adjusting to civilian life. It is a poignant and moving story of friendship, loss, and hope.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1918 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Realism, Drama · 240 words
First lines
THE trees in trouble because of autumn, / And scarlet berries falling from the bush, / And all the myriad houseless seeds / Loosing hold in the wind's insistent push
Moan softly with autumnal parturition, / Poor, obscure fruits extruded out of light / Into the world of shadow, carried down / Between the bitter knees of the after-night.
Bushed in an uncouth ardour, coiled at core / With a knot of life that only bliss can unravel, / Fall all the fruits most bitterly into earth / Bitterly into corrosion bitterly travel.
What is it internecine that is locked, / By very fierceness into a quiescence / Within the rage? We shall not know till it burst / Out of corrosion into new florescence.
What this Textopian page supports
Debacle is listed on Textopian as a short story by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: D.H. Lawrence
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Modernist Literature, Realism, Drama, Romance
- Length: 240 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Debacle by D.H. Lawrence
- 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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Genres
- Modernist Literature — D.H. Lawrence is considered a major figure in the Modernist literary movement, and 'Debacle' is a prime example of his modernist writing style.
- Realism — The novel is set in a realistic world and deals with the consequences of war, making it a work of realism.
- Drama — The novel is full of dramatic moments and characters, making it a work of drama.
- Romance — The novel contains a romantic subplot between two of the characters, making it a work of romance.
Tags
D.H. Lawrence · Debacle · novel · literature · conflict · human relationships · society · psychology · drama · modernism · existentialism · critique