Belinda and Bellamant; or the Bells of Carrillon
What a delightful tale! This story has a whimsical quality to it, with elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure woven together in a charming narrative. The Enchanter of the Ringing Well is an intriguing character, with his mysterious powers and benevolent nature. The way he guides Bellamant and Belinda on their journey, providing them with cryptic clues and magical assistance, adds to the sense of wonder and enchantment that pervades the story. The use of the bell as a symbol of love and connection is beautiful. The idea that only true lovers can hear the bells' true speech, and then only when they're together, is a lovely metaphor for the deep bond between Bellamant and Belinda. The way the bells seem to come alive, ringing out in joy and celebration at the birth of their child, is a wonderful touch. The story also has a sense of playfulness and humor, particularly in the characterizations of Bellamant and Belinda. Their banter and affection for each other are delightful, and the way they work together to overcome challenges is heartwarming. One of the most striking aspects of this tale is its use of language. The writing is lyrical and evocative, with a focus on the musicality of words that adds to the story's sense of enchantment. The use of alliteration and assonance in particularly "201, and the way the narrative seems to dance across the page, are both noteworthy. Overall, this is a captivating tale that will surely delight readers of all ages.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1904 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure · 7,053 words
First lines
There is a certain country where a king is never allowed to reign while a queen can be found. They like queens much better than kings in that country. I can't think why. If some one has tried to teach you a little history, you will perhaps think that this is the Salic law. But it isn't. In the biggest city of that odd country there is a great bell-tower (higher than the clock-tower of the Houses of Parliament, where they put M. P. 's who forget their manners). This bell-tower had seven bells in it, very sweet-toned splendid bells, made expressly to ring on the joyful occasions when a princess was born who would be queen some day. And the great tower was built expressly for the bells to ring in. So you see what a lot they thought of queens in that country. Now in all the bells there are bell-people -- it is their voices that you hear when the bells ring. All that about its being the clapper of the bell is mere nonsense, and would hardly deceive a child. I don't know why people say such things. Most Bell-people are very energetic busy folk, who love the sound of their own voices, and hate being idle, and when nearly two hundred years had gone by, and no princesses had been born, they got tired of living in bells that were never rung. So they slipped out of the belfry one fine frosty night, and left the big beautiful bells empty, and went off to find other homes. One of them went to live in a dinner-bell, and one in a school-bell, and the rest all found homes -- they did not mind where -- just anywhere, in fact, where they could find any Bell-person kind enough to give them board and lodging. And every one was surprised at the increased loudness in the voices of these hospitable bells. For, of course, the Bell-people from the belfry did their best to help in the housework as polite guests should, and always added their voices to those of their hosts on all occasions when bell-talk was called for. And the seven big beautiful bells in the belfry were left hollow and dark and quite empty, except for the clappers who did not care about the comforts of a home.
What this Textopian page supports
Belinda and Bellamant; or the Bells of Carrillon-Land is listed on Textopian as a novella by Edith Nesbit, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure
- Length: 7,053 words
- Structure: 1 section, 166 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Belinda and Bellamant; or the Bells of Carrillon-Land by Edith Nesbit
- 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 Belinda and Bellamant; or the Bells of Carrillon-Land?
- How does this novella by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- White Magic by Edith Nesbit
- Barring The Way by Edith Nesbit
- The Vain Spell by Edith Nesbit
- The Garden by Edith Nesbit
- The Ghost Bereft by Edith Nesbit
- Accidental Magic Or Dont Tell All You Know by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves magical elements and imaginary creatures, typical of the fantasy genre.
- Children's Literature — The story is written in a simple, engaging style suitable for young readers, and it deals with themes of adventure and friendship common in children's literature.
- Adventure — The plot involves a journey and a series of challenges, characteristic of the adventure genre.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Adventure · Romance · Mystery · Gothic Fiction · Supernatural · Folklore · Mythology · Legends · British Literature · Victorian Era