The Sunday Bonnet
The Sunday Bonnet is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts set in rural Kentucky in the early 1900s. It follows the story of a young girl, Mary, who is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in the country after her mother dies. Mary is a dreamer and a romantic, and she finds solace in the beauty of the countryside and in the stories her aunt tells her. Mary's aunt and uncle are kind and loving, but they are also strict and religious. Mary struggles to fit in with the other children in the community, and she is often teased for her dreamy nature. She finds solace in her friendship with a young boy, John, who is also an outsider. As Mary grows older, she begins to understand the complexities of life and love. She falls in love with a young man, but her aunt and uncle disapprove of the match. Mary must make a difficult decision between following her heart and obeying her family. The Sunday Bonnet is a story of love, loss, and the power of dreams. It is a timeless tale of a young girl's journey to adulthood and her search for her place in the world.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Fiction · 141 words
First lines
It happened at Grandmother Polly's house, And there was a bonnet put away For Polly to wear when she went to church. She would not wear it every day.
It had some little flowers on, And it was standing on its head In a bonnet box where it was safe, Away up stairs on the company's bed.
And Grandmother Polly was going to church, And she sent her Alice up the stair -- Alice was black -- she was Evaline's child -- She waited on Polly and combed her hair.
And Alice said, "Oh, lawsie me!" And then she cried and came running down. And everyone went to see, and the cat Had five little cats in the bonnet crown.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sunday Bonnet 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, Historical Fiction
- Length: 141 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sunday Bonnet 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 Sunday Bonnet?
- 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
- A Child Asleep by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Pilaster by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Firefly by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Pulpit by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- The Rabbit by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
- Little Bush by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Genres
- Southern Gothic — The Sunday Bonnet is set in rural Kentucky in the early 20th century and features a protagonist who is struggling with the oppressive social conventions of the time. This is a classic example of Southern Gothic literature.
- Realism — The Sunday Bonnet is a realistic portrayal of life in rural Kentucky in the early 20th century. The characters and their struggles are presented in a realistic manner, without any fantastical elements.
- Fiction — The Sunday Bonnet is a work of fiction, as it is a story that is made up and not based on real events or people.
- Historical Fiction — The Sunday Bonnet is set in a specific time period and features characters and events that are based on real historical events and people.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · alice · bed · black · bonnet · box · cat · cats · child · children's poetry, american