Mary of Magdala by Edith Nesbit
The poem tells the story of Mary of Magdala, a sinful woman who gives birth to a child. She is afraid and ashamed, feeling unworthy to bring a child into the world. Despite her fears, she finds joy in the birth of her child. Two angels appear, bringing gifts for the baby and baptizing it. The Lord God appears, promising to care for the child and comfort Mary. In the end, Mary's tears wash away her sins, and she is reunited with her son.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1908 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Drama · 615 words
First lines
MARY of Magdala came to bed; There were no soft curtains round her head; She had no mother to hold of worth The little baby she brought to birth.
Mary of Magdala groaned and prayed: "O God, I am very much afraid; For out of my body, by sin defiled, Thou biddest me make a little child.
What this Textopian page supports
Mary of Magdala is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Drama
- Length: 615 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mary of Magdala by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a historical period and includes real historical figures, but the main plot and characters are fictional.
- Religious Fiction — The narrative revolves around religious themes and characters, specifically those from Christian tradition.
- Drama — The narrative focuses on emotional relationships and conflicts, with a strong emphasis on character development and interaction.
Tags
Christianity · Religion · Spirituality · Feminism · Women's Rights · Historical Fiction · Biblical Figures · New Testament · Gospel · Mary Magdalene · Disciples of Jesus · Early Christianity