At the Water
The Water is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1926. It tells the story of a young woman, Mary, who is struggling to find her place in the world. She is a dreamer, a poet, and a wanderer, and she is searching for a place to call home. The novel follows Mary as she moves from her small Kentucky hometown to the bustling city of Louisville. Along the way, she meets a variety of people, from a kindly old man to a mysterious young woman. As she travels, Mary discovers the beauty of the natural world and the power of human connection. The Water is a lyrical and poetic exploration of identity, belonging, and the search for home. It is a timeless story of a young woman's journey of self-discovery and the power of love.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Regionalism · 113 words
First lines
I liked to go to the branch today; I liked to play with the wiggletails there. And five little smells and one big smell Were going round in the air.
One was the water, a little cold smell, And one was mud and that was more, And one was the smell of cool wet moss, And one was some fennel up on the shore.
And the one big smell came out of the mint, And one was something I couldn't tell. And the five little ones and the big one All went together very well.
What this Textopian page supports
At the Water 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, Regionalism, Fiction
- Length: 113 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for At the Water 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 At the Water?
- 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
- August Night by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Branch by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Star by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Among The Rushes by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Genres
- Southern Gothic — The novel is set in rural Kentucky and explores themes of death, decay, and the supernatural, 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 isolation.
- Regionalism — The novel is set in a specific region of the United States and explores the culture and customs of the people living there.
- Fiction — The novel is a work of fiction, with characters and events that are not based on real people or events.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · air · branch · children's poetry, american · cold · cool · fennel · mint · moss · mud