A Noble Dog by Edith Nesbit (1906)
The story revolves around a dog named Kipling, who is the beloved pet of a young boy named Colin. When Colin falls ill, his doctor advises that he needs fresh air and a change of scenery to recover. The family decides to move to the countryside, where they rent a small cottage surrounded by woods and fields. As Colin's health begins to improve, Kipling becomes fascinated with the local wildlife, including rabbits, birds, and squirrels. However, his instincts as a hunting dog soon take over, causing tension between Colin and his parents, who disapprove of Kipling's newfound hobby.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1906 · Genre: Children's Literature, Animal Fiction, Adventure · 562 words
First lines
ROVER would go into the water fast enough for a bathe or a swim, but he would not bring anything out. The children used to throw in sticks, and Rover and I used to bound in together; but I would bring the stick back, while he swam round and round, enjoying himself.
I am not vain, but I could not help feeling how much superior I was to such a dog as Rover. He is a prize Newfoundland, and I am only a humble retriever of obscure family.
What this Textopian page supports
A Noble Dog is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Animal Fiction, Adventure, Moral
- Length: 562 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Noble Dog by Edith Nesbit
- 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Noble Dog?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is centered around anthropomorphized dogs and their interactions with children, a common theme in children's literature.
- Animal Fiction — The main characters are dogs who communicate with each other, which is a characteristic of animal fiction.
- Adventure — The story involves a rescue scene, which is a common element in adventure narratives.
- Moral — The story conveys a lesson about understanding and valuing the abilities of others, which is typical of moral narratives.
Tags
Animal Fiction · Children's Literature · Classic Novel · Dog Story · Family Relationships · Friendship · Growing Up · Historical Fiction · Humor · Imagination · Innocence · Kindness