The Adder's Siesta by Grant Allen
The Adder's Siesta is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a young woman named Lucy who falls in love with a man named Ralph. The book explores themes of love, betrayal, and redemption as Lucy navigates her way through a complex web of relationships.
By Grant Allen · First published 1894 · Genre: Nature Writing, Essay, Non-Fiction · 1,262 words
First lines
TWO "hedgers and tiners," demolishing a bank of earth at Turner's Corner as I walked along the Headley Road this morning, came, to their great surprise and no little horror, on a coiled and twisted colony of hibernating adders. I paused in my stroll for ten minutes to watch the unearthing. It was a curious sight; the lithe and sinuous creatures, recognizable at once as genuine vipers by the zigzag pattern of dark diamond-shaped spots down their glossy green backs, lay curled and entwined with one another in snaky amity, fast asleep past waking, and completely filling up, as with a living mass of inextricable knots, the curves and crannies of the underground hole where they had taken refuge. They were there, of course, for their little winter siesta, which occupies them for a trifle of six months at a sitting.
What this Textopian page supports
The Adder's Siesta is listed on Textopian as a short story by Grant Allen, 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: Grant Allen
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Essay, Non-Fiction, Philosophical, Environmental
- Length: 1,262 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Adder's Siesta by Grant Allen
- 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 Adder's Siesta?
- How does this short story by Grant Allen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Nature Writing first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Nature Writing — The text focuses on the natural behavior and characteristics of adders, providing detailed observations and reflections on their role in the ecosystem.
- Essay — The narrative is structured as a reflective essay, offering personal insights and arguments about the treatment and perception of adders.
- Non-Fiction — The content is factual, discussing real-life observations and scientific details about adders and other reptiles.
- Philosophical — The text includes philosophical musings on the relationship between humans and nature, and the moral implications of human actions towards wildlife.
Tags
nature · serpent · reptile · siesta · rest · wildlife · environment · ecosystem · tranquility · habitat · predator · prey