In the Night
In the Night is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, first published in 1926. It tells the story of a young woman, Mary, who is struggling to make her way in the world. She is a poor, uneducated girl from the rural south, and she has been forced to leave her home and move to the city in search of work. Mary finds a job as a maid in a wealthy family's home, and she quickly learns the ways of the city. She meets a variety of people, from the wealthy family she works for to the other servants in the house. She also meets a young man, John, who she falls in love with. However, Mary's life is not easy. She is constantly struggling to make ends meet, and she is often taken advantage of by those around her. She is also haunted by her past, and she must come to terms with the fact that she can never go back home. In the end, Mary finds the strength to make a better life for herself. She learns to stand up for herself and to fight for what she believes in. In the process, she discovers a newfound sense of freedom and independence.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Historical Fiction · 265 words
First lines
The light was burning very dim, The little blaze was brown and red, And I waked just in time to see A panther going under the bed.
I saw him crowd his body down To make it fit the little space. I saw the streaks along his back, And bloody bubbles on his face.
Long marks of light came out of my eyes And went into the lamp -- and there Was Something waiting in the room -- I saw it sitting on a chair.
Its only eye was shining red, Its face was very long and gray, Its two bent teeth were sticking out, And all its jaw was torn away.
What this Textopian page supports
In the Night 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, Mystery
- Length: 265 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for In the Night 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 In the Night?
- 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
- The Pilaster by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Firefly by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Rain by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Strange Tree by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- In My Pillow by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Genres
- Southern Gothic — The book is set in the rural South and explores themes of death, decay, and the supernatural, which are all common elements of Southern Gothic literature.
- Realism — The book is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday lives of its characters and their struggles with poverty and isolation.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the early 20th century and explores the lives of its characters in the context of the time period.
- Mystery — The book contains elements of mystery, as the protagonist attempts to uncover the truth about a mysterious figure in the night.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · arms · bed · blaze · bloody · body · brown · bubbles · chair · children's poetry, american