Little Orphant Annie
The poem tells the story of a young orphan girl who lives with her grandmother and is left alone when she goes out to work. The girl's mother has died and her father is absent. She is forced to fend for herself, but is aided by a kind-hearted woman who leaves food for her.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1885 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Poetry · 595 words
First lines
Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay, An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away, An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep, An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep; An' all us other childern, when the supper things is done, We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about, An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you Ef you Don't Watch Out!
Onc't they was a little boy wouldn't say his prayers, -- So when he went to bed at night, away up stairs, His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl, An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wasn't there at all!
What this Textopian page supports
Little Orphant Annie is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1885 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Poetry, Folklore, Horror
- Length: 595 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Little Orphant Annie 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
- 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 Little Orphant Annie?
- How does this poem by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Little Orphant Annie In Dialect by James Whitcomb Riley
- Little Girl Two Little Girls by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Pixy People by James Whitcomb Riley
- Born To The Purpl W M Some Songs After Master Singers by James Whitcomb Riley
- Old Bob White by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Little Lady by James Whitcomb Riley
Genres
- Children's Literature — The poem is written in a style and language accessible to children, with a focus on moral lessons and storytelling.
- Fantasy — The presence of supernatural elements like goblins and witch-tales places the work within the fantasy genre.
- Poetry — The work is structured as a poem with rhyming verses and a rhythmic cadence.
- Folklore — The narrative draws on traditional folklore themes, such as cautionary tales and mythical creatures.
Tags
Poem · Children's Literature · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Nursery Rhyme · Orphan · Poetic Form · Ballad · Free Verse · Rhyming Couplets · Satire · Social Commentary