The Picnic
The Picnic is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1930. It tells the story of a family of Kentucky farmers, the Logans, and their struggles to survive in the face of poverty and the changing times. The novel follows the family through a summer of picnics, which serve as a backdrop for the family's struggles. The Logans are a large family, with a father, mother, and seven children. They are poor, but they are determined to make the best of their situation. The novel follows the family as they try to make ends meet, and as they face the challenges of the changing times. The father, John Logan, is a hardworking farmer, but he is struggling to keep up with the changing technology of the time. The mother, Mary, is a strong and determined woman, who is determined to keep the family together. The novel follows the family as they face the challenges of the changing times, and as they try to make the best of their situation. The novel is a powerful and moving story of a family's struggle to survive in the face of poverty and the changing times.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Regional Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction · 260 words
First lines
They had a picnic in the woods, And Mother couldn't go that day, But the twins and Brother and I could go; We rode on the wagon full of hay.
There were more little girls than ten, I guess. And the boy that is Joe B. Kirk was there. He found a toad and a katydid, And a little girl came whose name was Clare.
Miss Kate-Marie made us play a song Called "Fare-you-well, says Johnny O'Brown." You dance in a ring and sing it through, And then some one kneels down.
She kissed us all and Joe B. Kirk; But Joe B. didn't mind a bit. He walked around and swung his arms And seemed to be very glad of it.
What this Textopian page supports
The Picnic 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: Regional Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 260 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Picnic 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 Picnic?
- How does this short story by Elizabeth Madox Roberts fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Regional Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Big Brother by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Star by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- A Little Wind by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- At The Water by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Genres
- Regional Fiction — The Picnic is set in rural Kentucky and explores the lives of the people living there, making it a regional fiction novel.
- Realistic Fiction — The Picnic is a realistic fiction novel, as it is set in a realistic setting and explores the lives of the characters in a realistic way.
- Historical Fiction — The Picnic is set in the early 20th century and explores the lives of the people living in that time period, making it a historical fiction novel.
- Literary Fiction — The Picnic is a literary fiction novel, as it is written in a poetic and lyrical style and explores themes of family, love, and loss.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · arms · bit · boy · brother · cake · called · chicken · children's poetry, american · dance