The Wedding-Ring by Henry Van Dyke
A young couple's marriage is threatened when the husband becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman who has been hired to care for their home. The wife, feeling neglected and unloved, begins an affair with a charming stranger. As the situation spirals out of control, the husband must confront his own desires and decide where his true loyalties lie.
By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1902 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 4,909 words
First lines
Before Toinette Girard made up her mind to marry Prosper Leclere, -- you remember the man at Abbeville who had such a brave heart that he was not willing to fight with an old friend, -- before Toinette perceived and understood how brave Prosper was, it seemed as if she were very much in doubt whether she did not love some one else more than she loved him, whether he and she really were made for each other, whether, in short, she cared for him enough to give herself entirely to him.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wedding-Ring is listed on Textopian as a novel by Henry Van Dyke, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Henry Van Dyke
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Religious Fiction
- Length: 4,909 words
- Structure: 1 section, 66 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wedding-Ring by Henry Van Dyke
- 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 The Wedding-Ring?
- How does this novel by Henry Van Dyke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The central theme revolves around the love and relationship between Toinette and Prosper, exploring the depth and challenges of their affection.
- Drama — The narrative includes emotional conflicts, misunderstandings, and personal growth, characteristic of dramatic storytelling.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the psychological aspects of love, jealousy, and fear, particularly through Toinette's internal struggles and Prosper's suspicions.
- Mystery — Elements of mystery are present in the form of Toinette's dream and the symbolic loss and recovery of her wedding ring.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Moral Allegory · Marriage · Love Story · Social Commentary · Psychological Insight · Character Study · Symbolism · Allegorical Fiction · Fable · Satire · Romance