The Shadows by George MacDonald
The Shadows is a novel by George MacDonald that explores the themes of good and evil, light and darkness, and the power of love to overcome fear. The story follows two young people who are drawn into a world of shadows where they must confront their own inner demons in order to find their way back to the light. Along the way, they encounter a variety of strange and mysterious characters who help them on their journey. Ultimately, the novel is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope for redemption and renewal.
By George MacDonald · First published 1863 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 249 words
First lines
My little boy, with smooth, fair cheeks, And dreamy, large, brown eyes, Not often, little wisehead, speaks, But hearing, weighs and tries.
"God is not only in the sky," His sister said one day -- Not older much, but she would cry Like Wisdom in the way --
"He's in this room. " His dreamy, clear, Large eyes look round for God: In vain they search, in vain they peer; His wits are all abroad!
"He is not here, mamma? No, no; I do not see him at all! He's not the shadows, is he? " So His doubtful accents fall --
What this Textopian page supports
The Shadows 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, Children's Literature, Fantasy
- Length: 249 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Shadows by George MacDonald
- 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 Shadows?
- How does this novel by George MacDonald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Shadows by George Macdonald
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Religious — The themes explore the presence of God and spiritual reflection.
- Philosophical — The narrative delves into existential questions and the nature of belief.
- Children's Literature — The dialogue involves children and presents themes accessible to a younger audience.
Tags
fantasy · allegory · spirituality · moral lessons · imagination · childhood · adventure · self-discovery · light vs darkness · mysticism · friendship · inner conflict