The Refusal by Edith Nesbit (1911)
The poem's speaker boasts about their magnificent palace adorned with gold and silver, refusing to let someone in, knowing that if they do, the palace's magic will disappear, leaving them both lost and frightened in darkness.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1911 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 169 words
First lines
Mine is a palace fair to see, All hung with gold and silver things, It is more glorious than a king's, And crownèd queens might envy me.
Ah, no, I will not let you in! Stay rather at the gates and weep For all the splendour that I keep, The treasures that you cannot win.
While you desire and I refuse, For both the palace still is here -- Its turrets gold, its silver gear Are yours to wish for -- mine to use.
But if I let you in, I know The spell would break, the palace fade, And we stand, trembling and afraid, Lost in the dark where chill winds blow.
What this Textopian page supports
The Refusal is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 169 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Refusal 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 The Refusal?
- 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 Things That Matter by Edith Nesbit
- The Promise Of Spring by Edith Nesbit
- The Common Lot by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- St Valentines Day by Edith Nesbit
- A Marriage Settlement by Honore De Balzac
- Change 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
Family · Marriage · Relationships · Social Class · Society · Culture · Tradition · Rebellion · Nonconformity · Individuality · Freedom · Restrictions