The Christening by D.H. Lawrence
The Christening by D.H. Lawrence is a short story that explores the themes of religion, tradition, and individuality. The story follows a young woman named Rachel who is tasked with performing the christening of her cousin's child. As she goes through the ritual, Rachel begins to question the meaning of the ceremony and the role it plays in her life. She struggles with the idea of blindly following tradition without understanding its significance, and this inner conflict is reflected in her relationship with her cousin and the community around her. Ultimately, Rachel comes to realize that true spirituality lies in embracing individuality and questioning authority, rather than blindly following tradition.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1920 · Genre: Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Classic Literature · 4,356 words
First lines
The mistress of the British School stepped down from her school gate, and instead of turning to the left as usual, she turned to the right. Two women who were hastening home to scramble their husbands' dinners together-it was five minutes to four-stopped to look at her. They stood gazing after her for a moment; then they glanced at each other with a woman's little grimace.
What this Textopian page supports
The Christening is listed on Textopian as a short story by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1920 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: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Classic Literature, Drama
- Length: 4,356 words
- Structure: 1 section, 81 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Christening by D.H. Lawrence
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Christening?
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Similar titles
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- Southern Night by D. H. Lawrence
- A Fragment Of Stained Glass by D. H. Lawrence
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- Letter From Town The Almond Tree by D. H. Lawrence
- On The Strength Of A Likeness by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Short Stories — The Christening is a short narrative, part of a larger collection by D.H. Lawrence.
- Literary Fiction — D.H. Lawrence's work, including The Christening, is frequently classified as literary fiction due to its emphasis on style, psychological depth, and particular attention to details.
- Classic Literature — As a work by a renowned author of the early 20th century, The Christening is often categorized as classic literature.
- Drama — The Christening, with its story focused on interpersonal conflict and tumultuous familial relationships, can be viewed as drama.
Tags
birth · ritual · family · tradition · identity · religion · ceremony · childhood · society · conflict · emotions · relationships