St Matthew (the Evangelistic Beasts)
ST MATTHEW (THE EVANGELISTIC BEASTS) by D.H. Lawrence: A novel that explores the themes of spirituality, morality, and the human condition through a series of dream-like episodes and vignettes. The book is structured around the figure of St Matthew, who serves as a symbol of the divine and the spiritual journey of the protagonist. Through his encounters with various characters, including a prostitute, a priest, and a group of children, the protagonist grapples with questions of faith, morality, and the nature of God. Ultimately, the book suggests that true spirituality involves a deep connection with the natural world and a rejection of traditional religious dogma.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1927 · Genre: Religious, Spirituality, Historical Fiction · 1,186 words
First lines
They are not all beasts. One is a man, for example, and one is a bird.
I, Matthew, am a man.
What this Textopian page supports
St Matthew (the Evangelistic Beasts) is listed on Textopian as a short story by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1927 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: 1927 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious, Spirituality, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy
- Length: 1,186 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for St Matthew (the Evangelistic Beasts) 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
- 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 St Matthew (the Evangelistic Beasts)?
- How does this short story by D.H. Lawrence fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Religious first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- St Luke The Evangelistic Beasts by D. H. Lawrence
- St Mark The Evangelistic Beasts by D. H. Lawrence
- St John The Evangelistic Beasts by D. H. Lawrence
- The Lion by G. K. Chesterton
- The Charm Of Lukes Narrative by George Bernard Shaw
- The Tree Of Knowledge And The Tree Of Life Or The Fall by Charles Kingsley
Genres
- Religious — The book talks about Saint Matthew, who is a religious figure. Hence, the religious genre comes up at first.
- Spirituality — The themes of the novel involve the spiritual journey of the character. This suggests a strong presence of spiritual elements.
- Historical Fiction — The character Saint Matthew is a historical figure. Thus, it can be categorised into historical fiction.
- Mystery — The title hints at some mystery or enigma surrounding the character of Saint Matthew, hence the mystery genre.
Tags
evangelism · spirituality · Christianity · symbolism · nature · beasts · mythology · allegory · philosophy · humanity · redemption · sacrifice