Back there in the Grass
The story follows a young man named John who becomes stranded on an island after his ship sinks. He must learn to survive in the wilderness and eventually discovers a hidden civilization of people living underground. The book explores themes of isolation, survival, and the search for meaning in life.
By Gouverneur Morris · First published 1920 · Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery · 7,038 words
First lines
It was spring in the South Seas when, for the first time, I went ashore at Batengo, which is the Polynesian village, and the only one on the big grass island of the same name. There is a cable station just up the beach from the village, and a good-natured young chap named Graves had charge of it. He was an upstanding, clean-cut fellow, as the fact that he had been among the islands for three years without falling into any of their ways proved. The interior of the corrugated iron house in which he lived, for instance, was bachelor from A to Z. And if that wasn't a sufficient alibi, my pointer dog, Don, who dislikes anything Polynesian or Melanesian, took to him at once. And they established a romping friendship. He gave us lunch on the porch, and because he had not seen a white man for two months, or a liver-and-white dog for two years, he told us the entire story of his young life, with reminiscences of early childhood and plans for the future thrown in.
What this Textopian page supports
Back there in the Grass is listed on Textopian as a short story by Gouverneur Morris, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Gouverneur Morris
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Romance
- Length: 7,038 words
- Structure: 1 section, 146 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Back there in the Grass by Gouverneur Morris
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Back there in the Grass?
- How does this short story by Gouverneur Morris fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative involves exploration and discovery in a remote Polynesian island, with elements of danger and the unknown.
- Fantasy — The presence of a miniature, sentient being with snake-like characteristics introduces fantastical elements beyond the realm of reality.
- Mystery — The story contains mysterious occurrences and legends, such as the taboo and the strange creature, which drive the plot.
- Horror — The unsettling and eerie atmosphere, along with the presence of a venomous creature, contributes to a sense of horror.
Tags
nostalgia · memory · childhood · nature · friendship · loss · reflection · growth · imagination · adventure · family · self-discovery