The Curate's Friend by E.M. Forster
The Curate's Friend is a short story by E.M. Forster that was first published in 1925. It tells the story of a young curate who falls in love with a woman he meets while visiting his friend, a clergyman. The story explores themes such as love, friendship, and religion.
By E.M. Forster · Genre: Short Story, Fiction, Mystery · 3,435 words
First lines
It is uncertain how the Faun came to be in Wiltshire. Perhaps he came over with the Roman legionaries to live with his friends in camp, talking to them of Lucretius, or Garganus or of the slopes of Etna; they in the joy of their recall forgot to take him on board, and he wept in exile; but at last he found that our hills also understood his sorrows, and rejoiced when he was happy. Or, perhaps he came to be there because he had been there always. There is nothing particularly classical about a faun: it is only that the Greeks and Italians have ever had the sharpest eyes. You will find him in the "Tempest" and the "Benedicite; " and any country which has beech clumps and sloping grass and very clear streams may reasonably produce him.
What this Textopian page supports
The Curate's Friend is listed on Textopian as a short story by E.M. Forster, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: E.M. Forster
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction
- Length: 3,435 words
- Structure: 1 section, 57 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Curate's Friend by E.M. Forster
- 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 The Curate's Friend?
- How does this short story by E.M. Forster fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Mr Pennybaker At Church by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Malachis Cove by Anthony Trollope
- Returning Home by Anthony Trollope
- A Tangled Web by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- The Capsina by E. F. Benson
- Arundel by E. F. Benson
Genres
- Short Story — The book is a short narrative, primarily focused on a single incident and a small number of characters.
- Fiction — The plot, setting, and characters are all the creation of the author and hence it falls into the general genre of fiction.
- Mystery — There are elements of suspense and unanswered questions which engage the readers to solve the mystery.
- Historical Fiction — The story reflects the customs, social conditions etc. of a particular period, suggesting a historical context.
Tags
friendship · curate · social class · England · early 20th century · religion · identity · moral dilemmas · community · personal growth · romance · conflict