The Circus
The Circus is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1926. It tells the story of a young girl, Mary, who is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in a small Kentucky town. Mary is an outsider in the town, and she finds solace in the circus that comes to town every summer. She befriends the circus performers, and they teach her about life and the importance of being true to oneself. As the summer progresses, Mary learns more about the circus and its performers, and she discovers a new sense of freedom and joy. The novel is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of imagination.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Coming-of-Age · 189 words
First lines
Friday came and the circus was there, And Mother said that the twins and I And Charles and Clarence and all of us Could go out and see the parade go by.
And there were wagons with pictures on, And you never could guess what they had inside, Nobody could guess, for the doors were shut, And there was a dog that a monkey could ride.
A man on the top of a sort of cart Was clapping his hands and making a talk. And the elephant came -- he can step pretty far -- It made us laugh to see him walk.
Three beautiful ladies came riding by, And each one had on a golden dress, And each one had a golden whip. They were queens of Sheba, I guess.
What this Textopian page supports
The Circus 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, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 189 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Circus 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 The Circus?
- 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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- August Night by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
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Genres
- Southern Gothic — The Circus is set in rural Kentucky and follows the story of a young girl, Mary, who is struggling to find her place in the world. The novel is full of dark and mysterious elements, such as the mysterious circus that comes to town, and the strange characters that inhabit the town. These elements are characteristic of Southern Gothic literature.
- Realism — The Circus is a realistic novel that focuses on the everyday struggles of Mary and her family. The novel is full of vivid descriptions of the characters and their lives, and the writing style is straightforward and unadorned, which is characteristic of Realism.
- Coming-of-Age — The Circus follows the story of Mary as she grows up and learns to navigate the world around her. The novel focuses on her struggles to find her place in the world and her journey of self-discovery, which are common themes in Coming-of-Age literature.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · alive · beautiful · cart · charles · children's poetry, american · circus · clapping · clarence · dog