The Grandmother
The Grandmother is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1929. It tells the story of a young girl, Mary, who lives with her grandmother in a small Kentucky town. Mary's grandmother is a strong-willed woman who has a deep love for her granddaughter and a deep faith in God. The novel follows Mary as she grows up and learns about life, love, and faith. She experiences the joys and sorrows of life, and learns to accept the things she cannot change. Through her grandmother's guidance, Mary learns to be strong and independent, and to trust in God. The novel is set in the early 20th century, and explores themes of family, faith, and the power of love. It is a timeless story of a young girl's journey to adulthood, and the lessons she learns along the way.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Fiction · 133 words
First lines
When Grandmother comes to our house, She sits in the chair and sews away. She cuts some pieces just alike And makes a quilt all day.
I watch her bite the little thread, Or stick the needle in and out, And then she remembers her grandmother's house, And what her grandmother told about,
And how a very long ago -- She tells it while she cuts and strips -- We used to live in Mary-land, And there was a water with ships.
But that was long before her day, She says, and so I like to stand Beside her chair, and then I ask, "Please tell about in Mary-land."
What this Textopian page supports
The Grandmother 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, Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Grandmother 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 Grandmother?
- 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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- Firefly by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- At The Water by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Sunday Bonnet by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Woodpecker by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Genres
- Southern Gothic — The Grandmother is set in rural Kentucky and explores themes of family, religion, and morality, which are all common elements of Southern Gothic literature.
- Realism — The Grandmother is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday lives of its characters and their struggles with poverty and family dynamics.
- Fiction — The Grandmother is a work of fiction, as it is a story created by the author and not based on real events.
- Literary Fiction — The Grandmother is a work of literary fiction, as it is written in a sophisticated style and explores complex themes.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · Novella · alike · bite · chair · children's poetry, american · cuts · day · grandmother · house