Fighting by George MacDonald (1894)
The novel Fighting by George MacDonald tells the story of a young man named Robert Falconer who struggles to find his place in life and ultimately discovers it through boxing. The book explores themes of identity, masculinity, and redemption as Robert navigates the challenges of growing up in Victorian England.
By George MacDonald · First published 1894 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Religious · 246 words
First lines
Here is a temple strangely wrought: Within it I can see Two spirits of a diverse thought Contend for mastery.
One is an angel fair and bright, Adown the aisle comes he, Adown the aisle in raiment white, A creature fair to see.
The other wears an evil mien, And he hath doubtless slipt, A fearful being dark and lean, Up from the mouldy crypt.
Is that the roof that grows so black?
What this Textopian page supports
Fighting is listed on Textopian as a short story by George MacDonald, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Religious, Gothic, Allegory
- Length: 246 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Fighting by George MacDonald
- 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 Fighting?
- How does this short story by George MacDonald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The presence of supernatural elements such as spirits and celestial imagery suggests a fantasy genre.
- Religious — Themes of sin, celestial air, and spiritual conflict indicate religious undertones.
- Gothic — The dark, mysterious setting and the presence of a crypt align with Gothic literature.
Tags
struggle · courage · faith · redemption · conflict · perseverance · morality · spirituality · growth · identity · hope · sacrifice