Strange Tree
The novel follows the story of a young girl, Mary, who lives in a small Kentucky town. Mary is an orphan, and she is taken in by a kindly old couple, the Millers. Mary is a bright and curious girl, and she quickly becomes a part of the Miller family. However, Mary's life is soon disrupted when a strange tree appears in the Miller's backyard. The tree is unlike any other tree in the area, and it seems to have a strange power over the people who come near it. Mary is drawn to the tree, and she begins to have strange dreams and visions. As Mary's connection to the tree grows, she discovers that it is connected to a mysterious past, and that it holds the key to unlocking a secret that could change her life forever. With the help of her new family, Mary must uncover the truth about the tree and its power before it is too late.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Historical Fiction, Realism · 136 words
First lines
Away beyond the Jarboe house I saw a different kind of tree. Its trunk was old and large and bent, And I could feel it look at me.
The road was going on and on Beyond to reach some other place. I saw a tree that looked at me, And yet it did not have a face.
It looked at me with all its limbs; It looked at me with all its bark. The yellow wrinkles on its sides Were bent and dark.
And then I ran to get away, But when I stopped to turn and see, The tree was bending to the side And leaning out to look at me.
What this Textopian page supports
Strange Tree 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, Historical Fiction, Realism, Mystery
- Length: 136 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Strange Tree 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 Strange Tree?
- 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 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.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in the early 20th century and follows the lives of a family living in rural Kentucky, making it a work of historical fiction.
- Realism — The book is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday lives of its characters and their struggles with poverty and family dynamics.
- Mystery — The book contains elements of mystery, as the protagonist attempts to uncover the secrets of her family's past and the strange tree in her backyard.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · bark · bending · bent · children's poetry, american · dark · feel · house · jarboe · leaning