How John Quit the Farm
The poem tells the story of a young man who leaves his rural home to seek his fortune in the city. He faces various challenges and temptations, but ultimately returns home after realizing that he misses the simple life on the farm. The poem explores themes of nostalgia, disillusionment, and the importance of appreciating one's roots.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Family · 1,778 words
First lines
Nobody on the old farm here but Mother, me and John, Except, of course, the extry he'p when harvest-time comes on, -- And THEN, I want to say to you, we NEEDED he'p about, As you'd admit, ef you'd a-seen the way the crops turned out!
A better quarter-section ner a richer soil warn't found Than this-here old-home place o' ourn fer fifty miles around! -- The house was small -- but plenty-big we found it from the day That John -- our only livin' son -- packed up and went away.
What this Textopian page supports
How John Quit the Farm is listed on Textopian as a short story by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Family, Rural, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 1,778 words
- Structure: 1 section, 30 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for How John Quit the Farm by James Whitcomb Riley
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- A Woman Of The World by Madison Cawein
- Waitin Fer The Cat To Die by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Old Home Folks by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Plaint Human by James Whitcomb Riley
- His Mothers Way by James Whitcomb Riley
- Bin A Fishin by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming structure.
- Fiction — The narrative tells a fictional story about a family and their experiences.
- Family — The central theme revolves around family dynamics and relationships.
- Rural — The setting and lifestyle depicted are centered around farm life and rural living.
Tags
Poetry · Nostalgia · Rural Life · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Farm Life · Country Living · Youthful Rebellion · Independence · Adventure · Travel · City vs Country