Big Brother
Big Brother is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1929. It tells the story of a young girl, Mary, who is sent to live with her uncle and aunt in rural Kentucky after her mother dies. Mary is a dreamer and a romantic, and she finds solace in the beauty of the countryside and in the stories her uncle tells her. She also finds comfort in the friendship of her cousin, Big Brother, who is a few years older than her. Big Brother is a kind and gentle soul, and he takes Mary under his wing, protecting her from the harsh realities of life. But when Mary's aunt and uncle decide to move away, Mary is left alone with Big Brother, and the two must find a way to make a life for themselves. As they struggle to survive, Mary discovers the strength of her own spirit and the power of love.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Historical Fiction · 114 words
First lines
Our brother Clarence goes to school. He has a slate and a blue school-bag. He has a book and a copybook And a scholar's companion and a little slate rag.
He knows a boy named Joe B. Kirk, And he learns about c-a-t cat, And how to play one-two-sky-blue, And how to make a football out of a hat.
We climb up on the fence and gate And watch until he's small and dim, Far up the street, and he looks back To see if we keep on watching him.
What this Textopian page supports
Big Brother 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, Drama
- Length: 114 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Big Brother 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 Big Brother?
- 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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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 family dynamics.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the early 20th century and includes references to historical events and figures.
- Drama — The novel follows the lives of its characters and explores the conflicts and tensions between them, making it a drama.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · blue · book · boy · brother · c-a-t · cat · children's poetry, american · clarence · climb