May Day by Edith Nesbit (1912)
The story revolves around a young woman who is invited by a suitor to go maying on May Day. She is hesitant at first, citing the examples of maidens who lost their freedom and became slaves after going maying with men. However, the suitor assures her that they will only play and pluck flowers together, and when the day ends, they will part ways freely.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1912 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 229 words
First lines
"WILL you go a-maying, a-maying, a-maying, Come and be my Queen of May and pluck the may with me? The fields are full of daisy buds and new lambs playing, The bird is on the nest, dear, the blossom's on the tree."
"If I go with you, if I go a-maying, To be your Queen and wear my crown this May-day bright, Hand in hand straying, it must be only playing, And playtime ends at sunset, and then good-night.
"For I have heard of maidens who laughed and went a-maying, Went out queens and lost their crowns and came back slaves.
I will be no young man's slave, submitting and obeying, Bearing chains as those did, even to their graves."
What this Textopian page supports
May Day is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 229 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for May Day 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 May Day?
- 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?
Similar titles
- The Garden by Edith Nesbit
- July by Edith Nesbit
- February by Edith Nesbit
- The Daisies by Edith Nesbit
- The Mill by Edith Nesbit
- The Vain Spell by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is primarily aimed at young readers, with a focus on adventure and moral lessons.
- Fantasy — The story involves magical elements and fantastical creatures, typical of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around a series of exciting events and challenges faced by the characters.
Tags
Fantasy · Adventure · Children's Literature · Classic · British Literature · Early 20th Century · Folklore · Mythology · Magic Realism · Rural Life · Village Life · Social Class