Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Name: Keep the Aspidistra Flying
Author: George Orwell

The novel follows the life of Gordon Comstock, a young man who has rejected the materialistic values of modern society and instead chooses to live a life of poverty and artistic integrity. He works in a workstore and lives in a small, dingy flat, where he spends his days writing poetry and dreaming of a better life. When Gordon meets and falls in love with Rosemary, a young woman from a wealthy family, he is forced to confront the realities of his situation. He must choose between his ideals and the comfort and security that Rosemary's money can provide. The novel follows Gordon's struggles to reconcile his ideals with the demands of modern life, and his attempts to keep the aspidistra, a symbol of his poverty, flying. Along the way, he must confront his own inner demons and the hypocrisy of the society he lives in.

By George Orwell · First published 1936 · Genre: Social Realism, Satire, Drama · 13 chapters · 87,422 words

First lines

-"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not money, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not money, I am nothing.

What this Textopian page supports

Keep the Aspidistra Flying is listed on Textopian as a novel by George Orwell, dated 1936 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: George Orwell
Date: 1936 CE
Language: English
Genres: Social Realism, Satire, Drama, Romance
Length: 87,422 words
Structure: 13 chapters, 3,122 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Keep the Aspidistra Flying by George Orwell
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 Keep the Aspidistra Flying?
How does this novel by George Orwell fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Social Realism first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Social Realism — The novel is set in 1930s London and follows the life of a young man who is struggling to make ends meet and is trying to find meaning in his life. It is a realistic portrayal of the struggles of the working class in this period.
Satire — The novel is a satirical critique of the materialistic values of British society in the 1930s. It is a humorous and often biting commentary on the emptiness of modern life.
Drama — The novel follows the protagonist's journey as he struggles to find meaning in his life and is filled with dramatic moments and conflicts.
Romance — The novel contains a romantic subplot between the protagonist and a woman he meets, which adds an element of romance to the story.