A Child Asleep
Elizabeth Madox Roberts' novel, A Child Asleep, is set in rural Kentucky in the early twentieth century. It follows the story of a young girl, Mary, who is struggling to come to terms with her family's poverty and her own sense of displacement. As she grows up, Mary is forced to confront the harsh realities of life in a small town, including the death of her beloved father, the struggles of her mother to make ends meet, and the prejudice of the local community. Mary's journey is one of self-discovery and growth, as she learns to accept her circumstances and find her place in the world. Along the way, she meets a variety of characters, from the kindly old woman who takes her in to the mysterious stranger who appears in her dreams. As Mary's story unfolds, she discovers the power of friendship, the importance of family, and the strength of her own spirit. Ultimately, she learns to embrace her identity and find her own path in life.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Southern Gothic, Historical Fiction · 128 words
First lines
I looked for him everywhere Because I wanted him to play; And then I found him on his bed Asleep, but it was day.
His eyes were shut behind the lids -- He couldn't lift them up to see. And I looked at him very long, And something in him looked at me.
And he was something like a cat That is asleep, or like a dog; Or like a thing that's in the woods All day behind a log.
And then I was afraid of it, Of something that was sleeping there. I didn't even say his name, But I came down the stair.
What this Textopian page supports
A Child Asleep is listed on Textopian as a short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Southern Gothic, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature
- Length: 128 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Child Asleep by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- 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 A Child Asleep?
- How does this short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
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- Firefly by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Sunday Bonnet by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — Elizabeth Madox Roberts is known for her lyrical writing style and her exploration of themes such as family, identity, and the human condition, which are all common elements of literary fiction.
- Southern Gothic — The book is set in the rural American South and explores themes of death, decay, and the supernatural, which are all common elements of Southern Gothic literature.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the early 20th century and explores the lives of people living in rural America during this time period, which are all common elements of historical fiction.
- Children's Literature — The book is about a child and explores themes of childhood, innocence, and growing up, which are all common elements of children's literature.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · afraid · asleep · bed · cat · children's poetry, american · day · dog · eyes · lids