A Little Wind
In A Little Wind, Elizabeth Madox Roberts tells the story of a young woman named Mary, who is struggling to make her way in the world. Mary is a poor, uneducated girl from the rural Kentucky hills, and she has been forced to leave her home and move to the city in search of work. She finds a job as a maid in a wealthy family's home, but she is constantly reminded of her lowly station in life. Despite her hardships, Mary is determined to make something of herself and she begins to take classes at night in order to learn more about the world. As Mary's education progresses, she begins to develop a sense of self-confidence and a newfound appreciation for the beauty of the world around her. She also begins to form relationships with the people in her life, including her employer's daughter, who she comes to view as a friend. Through her experiences, Mary learns to accept her place in the world and to find joy in the small moments of life. In the end, Mary is able to find a place for herself in the world and to make a life for herself that is full of love and happiness.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Historical Fiction · 87 words
First lines
(A Song)
When I lay down In a clover place, With eyelids closed, In a clover place, A little wind came to my face.
One gentle wind Blew on my mouth, And I said, "It will quiver by. What little wind now can it be?" And I lay still Where the clovers were.
But when I raised my lids to see, Then it was a butterfly.
What this Textopian page supports
A Little Wind 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: Southern Gothic, Realism, Historical Fiction, Fiction
- Length: 87 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Little Wind 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 Little Wind?
- How does this short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Southern Gothic first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Firefly by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Star by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Pilaster by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- August Night by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Strange Tree by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Genres
- Southern Gothic — The novel is set in rural Kentucky and explores themes of poverty, religion, and family dynamics, which are all common elements of Southern Gothic literature.
- Realism — The novel is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday lives of its characters and their struggles with poverty and family dynamics.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the early 20th century and explores the lives of its characters in the context of the time period.
- Fiction — The novel is a work of fiction, as it is not based on real events or people.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · blew · butterfly · children's poetry, american · closed · clover · clovers · eyelids · gentle · lay