Eccentric Mr. Clark
The story revolves around a man who lives alone and has an eccentric personality. He is portrayed as being somewhat reclusive and having a unique perspective on life. The narrative explores his thoughts and feelings about the world around him, often with a sense of irony and humor.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1884 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy · 7,925 words
First lines
All who knew Mr. Clark intimately, casually, or by sight alone, smiled always, meeting him, and thought, "What an odd man he is! " Not that there was anything extremely or ridiculously obtrusive in Mr. Clark's peculiarities either of feature, dress, or deportment, by which a graded estimate of his really quaint character might aptly be given; but rather, perhaps, it was the curious combination of all these things that had gained for Mr. Clark the transient celebrity of being a very eccentric man.
What this Textopian page supports
Eccentric Mr. Clark is listed on Textopian as a short story by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 7,925 words
- Structure: 1 section, 58 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Eccentric Mr. Clark by James Whitcomb Riley
- 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 Eccentric Mr. Clark?
- How does this short story by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Scrap Of Curious History by Mark Twain
- The Renaissance At Charleroi by O. Henry
- A Noted Traveler by James Whitcomb Riley
- Uncle Sidney To Marcellus by James Whitcomb Riley
- Orlie Wilde by James Whitcomb Riley
- Scraps by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, exploring the complexities and eccentricities of Mr. Clark's personality and life.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the psychological aspects of Mr. Clark's character, his internal struggles, and his interactions with others.
- Tragedy — The narrative contains elements of personal downfall and tragic circumstances surrounding Mr. Clark's life and family.
- Social Commentary — The text reflects on societal norms and expectations, particularly in relation to Mr. Clark's behavior and the perception of eccentricity.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · Humorous · Satirical · Social Commentary · 19th Century · Regionalism · Midwestern · Folkloric · Whimsical · Irony · Sarcasm