The Destroyer by Edith Nesbit (1907)
The narrator's peaceful inner world is invaded by a powerful force that destroys everything in its path, leaving devastation and desolation behind.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature · 131 words
First lines
ACROSS the quiet pastures of my soul The invading army marched in splendid might My few poor forces fled beyond control, Scattered, defeated, hidden in the night.
My fields were green, their hedges white with May, With gold of buttercups made bright and fair, The careless conquerors did not even stay To gather one of all the blossoms there.
Only when they had passed, the fields were brown, The grass and blossoms trampled in the mud: The flowering hedges withered and torn down, And no one richer by a single bud.
What this Textopian page supports
The Destroyer is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature
- Length: 131 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Destroyer 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 The Destroyer?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Justnowland by Edith Nesbit
- The Deliverers Of Their Country by Edith Nesbit
- Accession by Edith Nesbit
- Before Winter by Edith Nesbit
- Kenneth And The Carp by Edith Nesbit
- The Island Of The Nine Whirlpools by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves magical elements and supernatural events.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around a quest, involving various challenges and obstacles.
- Children's Literature — The story is written in a manner that is suitable and engaging for young readers.
Tags
Fantasy · Adventure · Children's Literature · Classic · British Literature · Early 20th Century · Magic · Quest · Good vs Evil · Friendship · Loyalty · Courage