Elijah, the Prophet by Ivan Bunin
The novel revolves around a young man's spiritual crisis and his struggle to reconcile his faith with the harsh realities of life. It explores themes of disillusionment, morality, and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. The protagonist grapples with the idea that God may not be as present or benevolent as he had been taught, leading to a sense of spiritual disorientation.
By Ivan Bunin · First published 1905 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Drama · 1,932 words
First lines
There was a fire that Spring at Semyon Novikov's, who lived with his thin-armed brother, Nikon, at Ovsiany Brod. Then the brothers decided to divide their property, and Semyon was to build a new house for himself, farther down on the high road.
On the night before St. Elijah's day, the carpenters asked permission to go home. So Semyon himself had to spend the night in the unfinished building. He had his supper with his brother's large family, in the little room full of flies and noise, lit his pipe, threw a coat over his shoulders, and said to his wife:
What this Textopian page supports
Elijah, the Prophet is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ivan Bunin, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ivan Bunin
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Magical Realism, Drama, Religious Fiction, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 1,932 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Elijah, the Prophet by Ivan Bunin
- 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 Elijah, the Prophet?
- How does this short story by Ivan Bunin fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep themes of morality, human suffering, and existential questions through a character-driven narrative.
- Magical Realism — The presence of supernatural elements, such as the prophet Elijah and the judgment scene, blends with the ordinary life of the protagonist.
- Drama — The intense emotional conflicts and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist create a dramatic narrative.
- Religious Fiction — The story incorporates religious themes and figures, particularly the character of Elijah and the exploration of faith.
Tags
Prophetic Fiction · Historical Novel · Russian Literature · Biblical Retelling · Autobiographical Elements · Coming of Age · Spiritual Quest · Moral Ambiguity · Social Commentary · Psychological Insight · Symbolism · Mythology