Running After the Rainbow
A young boy, filled with innocent curiosity, rushes outside after a rainbow, believing that treasures lie at its ends. His mother questions his pursuit, but he is determined to find the beauty he imagines awaits him. As he runs through the wet grass and climbs hills, he remains hopeful, ignoring his mother's warnings. However, despite his efforts, he fails to catch the rainbow. When he emerges from the woods, the sun sets, casting colorful clouds but revealing no sign of the rainbow he sought. Disappointed and sobbing, he reflects on his mother's wisdom, wishing he had been content rather than chasing an elusive dream. As he returns home, his mother greets him with a mix of scolding and affection, allowing him to forget his disappointment. The narrative explores themes of innocence, the pursuit of dreams, and the realization that sometimes, the journey is more significant than the destination. The boy learns a valuable lesson about contentment and the nature of desire, ultimately finding solace in his mother's embrace.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1856 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Adventure · 392 words
First lines
"WHY thus aside your playthings throw, Over the wet lawn hurrying so? Where are you going, I want to know? " "I'm running after the rainbow."
"Little boy, with your bright brown eyes Full of an innocent surprise, Stop a minute, my Arthur wise, What do you want with the rainbow?"
What this Textopian page supports
Running After the Rainbow is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1856 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1856 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction
- Length: 392 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Running After the Rainbow by Dinah Mulock
- 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 Running After the Rainbow?
- How does this short story by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — Based on the storyline, this book is primarily a romance novel as it extensively describes a love story between the main characters
- Drama — The book also belongs to the drama genre as it portrays a range of emotional conflicts and hardships faced by the main characters
- Adventure — The elements of pursuit and exploration throughout the plot situate it in the adventure genre
- Fantasy — Use of metaphoric title and elements of dreamy landscape implies an association with the fantasy genre
Tags
adventure · self-discovery · journey · hope · dreams · friendship · perseverance · nature · inspiration · growth · challenges · life lessons