The Indian Girl
The story revolves around a young Indian girl named Mary who was adopted by a white family after her tribe was massacred. As she grows up, Mary struggles with her identity and the conflicting values of her Native American heritage and her adoptive Christian upbringing. She faces racism and prejudice from her community, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward · First published 1864 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Historical Fiction · 172 words
First lines
A PICTURE BY WALTER SHIRLAW.
She standeth silent as a thought Too sacred to be uttered; all Her face unfurling like a flower That at a breath too near will shut. Her life a little golden clock Whose shining hands, arrested, stay Forever at the hour of Love.
She doubts, she dares, she dreams -- of what? I ask; she, shrinking, answers not, She swims before me, dim, a cup Of waste, untasted tenderness. I drink, I dread, until I seem (Myself unto myself) to be He whom she chose, and charmed -- and missed, On some faint Asiatic day Of languorous summer, ages since.
What this Textopian page supports
The Indian Girl is listed on Textopian as a poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, dated 1864 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Date: 1864 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Indian Girl by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Indian Girl?
- How does this poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- Song For A Dark Girl by Langston Hughes
- My Dreams Are Of The Sea by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Vittoria by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- A Night In Acadie by Kate Chopin
- The Pentecost Of Calamity by Owen Wister
- The Dying Queen by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as metaphor and imagery.
- Romance — Themes of love and emotional longing are central to the narrative.
- Historical Fiction — References to an 'Asiatic day' and 'ages since' suggest a historical context.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is sophisticated and focuses on deep emotional and psychological themes.
Tags
Feminism · Social Commentary · Racism · Native American Experience · Colonialism · Historical Fiction · Romance · Tragedy · Cultural Identity · Gender Roles · Stereotypes · Prejudice