The Laidley Worm of Spindleston-Heugh
This is a medieval romance about a knight who falls in love with a woman and marries her despite being warned that she is a shape-shifter. The story revolves around the knight's struggles to reconcile his love for his wife with the danger posed by her supernatural abilities.
By John Lang · First published 1868 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure · 2,990 words
First lines
In a land where fairy tales die hard, it is sometimes no easy task to discriminate between what is solid historical fact, what is fact, moss-grown and flower-covered, like an old, old tomb, and what is mere fantasy, the innocent fancy of a nation in its childhood, turned at last into stone -- a lasting stalactite -- from the countless droppings of belief bestowed upon it by countless generations.
What this Textopian page supports
The Laidley Worm of Spindleston-Heugh is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Lang, dated 1868 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: John Lang
- Date: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure, Folklore, Romance
- Length: 2,990 words
- Structure: 1 section, 26 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Laidley Worm of Spindleston-Heugh by John Lang
- 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 The Laidley Worm of Spindleston-Heugh?
- How does this short story by John Lang fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative features magical elements, including a cursed princess and a transformation into a dragon-like creature.
- Fairy Tale — The story follows classic fairy tale tropes, including a wicked stepmother, a heroic prince, and a moral lesson.
- Adventure — The plot involves quests, battles, and the journey of the prince to save his sister.
- Folklore — The story draws on regional legends and cultural beliefs about witches and mythical creatures.
Tags
Fairy Tale · English Folklore · Medieval Legend · Romance · Fantasy · Mythology · Magic · Worm · Dragon · Hero's Quest · Chivalry · Courtly Love