Among the Rushes
Among the Rushes is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, first published in 1929. It tells the story of a young woman, Lizzie, who is living in a small Kentucky town in the early 1900s. Lizzie is a dreamer, and she longs to escape the confines of her small town and explore the world. She is also in love with a young man, but her family disapproves of him and she is unable to pursue her dreams. Lizzie's life is changed when a mysterious stranger arrives in town. He is a traveling salesman, and he brings with him a sense of adventure and possibility. Lizzie is drawn to him, and she begins to imagine a life beyond her small town. As she gets to know the stranger, she discovers that he is not who he seems, and she must decide whether to stay in her small town or take a chance on the unknown. The novel is a coming-of-age story, exploring themes of love, family, and identity. It is a lyrical and evocative portrait of a young woman's search for meaning and purpose in a world that often seems to be against her.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Historical Fiction · 98 words
First lines
I saw a curly leaf and it was caught against the grassy side, And it was tangled in the watery grasses where the branch is wide; I had it for my little ark of rushes that must wait and hide.
I had it for my little Moses hidden where no one could see, The little baby Moses that nobody knew about but me.
And I was hiding in the flags and I was waiting all the day, And watching on the bank to see if Pharaoh's daughter came that way.
What this Textopian page supports
Among the Rushes 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, Regional Fiction
- Length: 98 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Among the Rushes by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Among the Rushes?
- 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
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- At The Water by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
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Genres
- Southern Gothic — The novel is set in rural Kentucky and explores themes of family, religion, and morality, which are common in 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 social expectations.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the early 20th century and explores the history and culture of rural Kentucky at the time.
- Regional Fiction — The novel is set in a specific region and explores the culture and history of that region.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · ark · baby · bank · branch · caught · children's poetry, american · curly · daughter · day