Alas, the Poor Whiffletit!
The story revolves around a poor but lovable man who lives in the Appalachian Mountains. He struggles to make ends meet and faces various challenges, including poverty, illness, and personal loss. Despite his hardships, he remains optimistic and resilient, often finding humor in his situation. The narrative explores themes of poverty, class struggle, and the human spirit's ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
By Irvin S. Cobb · First published 1904 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Fiction · 17,466 words
First lines
Over Jefferson Poindexter's usually buoyant spirits a fabric of gloom, black, thick, and heavy, was spread like a burying-pall. His thoughts were the color of twelve o'clock at night at the bottom of a coal-mine and it the dark of the moon. Moroseness crowned his brow; sorrow berode his soul, and on his under lip the bull-bat, that eccentric bird which has to sit lengthwise of the limb, might have perched with room to spare. You couldn't see the ointment for the flies, and Gilead had gone out of the balm business. There was a reason. The reason was Ophelia Stubblefield.
What this Textopian page supports
Alas, the Poor Whiffletit! is listed on Textopian as a short story by Irvin S. Cobb, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Irvin S. Cobb
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Fiction, Short Stories
- Length: 17,466 words
- Structure: 1 section, 155 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Alas, the Poor Whiffletit! by Irvin S. Cobb
- 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 Alas, the Poor Whiffletit!?
- How does this short story by Irvin S. Cobb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The book is primarily comedic, focusing on humorous situations and characters.
- Satire — It employs satire to critique and mock societal norms and behaviors.
- Fiction — The narrative is fictional, with imaginative storytelling and character development.
- Short Stories — The book is a collection of short stories, each with its own plot and characters.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Humor · Fiction · Novel · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Comedy of Manners · Class Satire · Critique of Society · Whimsy · Fantasy Elements