Mirls by George MacDonald (1863)
"Mirls" is a fantasy novel written by George MacDonald and published in 1872. The story follows the adventures of a young girl named Mirl who lives in a magical world called Fairyland. Along with her companions, she embarks on a quest to save Fairyland from an evil sorcerer named Goblin. Throughout the novel, Mirl learns valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and self-discovery.
By George MacDonald · First published 1863 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 274 words
First lines
The stars are steady abune; I' the water they flichter and flee; But, steady aye, luikin doon They ken theirsels i' the sea.
A' licht, and clear, and free, God, thou shinest abune; Yet luik, and see thysel in me, Aye on me luikin doon.
Throu the heather an' how gaed the creepin thing, But abune was the waff o' an angel's wing.
Hither an' thither, here an' awa, Into the dub ye maunna fa'; Oot o' the dub wad ye come wi' speed, Ye maun lift yer han's abune yer heid.
What this Textopian page supports
Mirls is listed on Textopian as a novel by George MacDonald, dated 1863 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical, Scottish Literature
- Length: 274 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mirls 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 Mirls?
- How does this novel 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.
- Religious — The themes include divine presence and spiritual reflection, common in religious literature.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential and introspective themes, typical of philosophical writing.
- Scottish Literature — The use of Scots language and cultural references aligns it with Scottish literary tradition.
Tags
fantasy · adventure · mythical creatures · imagination · childhood · morality · friendship · self-discovery · whimsy · magic · narrative · allegory