The Wolves
The Wolves is a novel by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, published in 1926. It tells the story of a young girl, Mary, who lives in a small Kentucky town in the early 1900s. Mary is an orphan, and she is taken in by her aunt and uncle, who live on a farm. Mary is a dreamer, and she loves to explore the woods and fields around her home. One day, Mary discovers a pack of wolves living in the woods. She befriends them, and they become her protectors. As Mary grows older, she learns more about the wolves and their ways. She also learns about the people in her town, and the secrets they keep. The Wolves is a coming-of-age story about a young girl who discovers the power of friendship and loyalty. It is a story of courage and resilience in the face of adversity. It is a story of love and loss, and of the strength of the human spirit.
By Elizabeth Madox Roberts · First published 1922 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Realism, Historical Fiction · 106 words
First lines
When Grandmother Polly had married and gone, But before her father had given her Clem, Or Joe, or Sandy, or Evaline -- Before he had given her any of "them",
She used to live in a far-away place, In a little cabin that was her home, And all around were bushes and trees, And the wolves could come.
At night they ran down out of the rocks And bristled up their trembly fur. They came and howled by Polly's door And showed their little white teeth at her.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wolves 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, Historical Fiction, Folklore
- Length: 106 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wolves 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 Wolves?
- 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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- A Little Wind by Elizabeth Madox Roberts
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Genres
- Southern Gothic — The Wolves is set in rural Kentucky and explores themes of family, religion, and morality, which are all common elements of Southern Gothic literature.
- Realism — The Wolves is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday lives of its characters and their struggles with poverty and religion.
- Historical Fiction — The Wolves is set in the early 20th century and explores the history of the region and its people.
- Folklore — The Wolves contains elements of folklore, such as superstitions and folk tales, which are used to explore the themes of the novel.
Tags
American · American poetry · Children's poetry · bristled · bushes · cabin · children's poetry, american · clem · door · evaline · far-away · father