Silhouettes by Jerome K. Jerome
The novel revolves around a young woman's struggle to maintain her identity and independence in the face of societal expectations and pressures from those around her. It explores themes of conformity, individuality, and the constraints placed on women during this time period. The narrative is presented through a non-linear structure, jumping back and forth between past and present events.
By Jerome K. Jerome · First published 1922 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Horror · 3,658 words
First lines
I fear I must be of a somewhat gruesome turn of mind. My sympathies are always with the melancholy side of life and nature. I love the chill October days, when the brown leaves lie thick and sodden underneath your feet, and a low sound as of stifled sobbing is heard in the damp woods-the evenings in late autumn time, when the white mist creeps across the fields, making it seem as though old Earth, feeling the night air cold to its poor bones, were drawing ghostly bedclothes round its withered limbs. I like the twilight of the long grey street, sad with the wailing cry of the distant muffin man. One thinks of him, as, strangely mitred, he glides by through the gloom, jangling his harsh bell, as the High Priest of the pale spirit of Indigestion, summoning the devout to come forth and worship. I find a sweetness in the aching dreariness of Sabbath afternoons in genteel suburbs-in the evil-laden desolateness of waste places by the river, when the yellow fog is stealing inland across the ooze and mud, and the black tide gurgles softly round worm-eaten piles.
What this Textopian page supports
Silhouettes is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jerome K. Jerome, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jerome K. Jerome
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Horror, Coming-of-Age, Realism
- Length: 3,658 words
- Structure: 1 section, 51 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Silhouettes by Jerome K. Jerome
- 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 Silhouettes?
- How does this short story by Jerome K. Jerome fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The work features dark themes, melancholic settings, and a focus on the macabre, typical of Gothic literature.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative style is introspective and rich in detail, emphasizing character development and thematic depth.
- Horror — Elements of fear, dread, and the supernatural are present, contributing to an unsettling atmosphere.
- Coming-of-Age — The protagonist's reflections on childhood and growth highlight themes of innocence and experience.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Suspense · Crime Fiction · Dark · Gothic · Atmospheric · Haunting · Emotional · Introspective · Literary Fiction · Character-Driven