Bessie's Doll by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Name: Bessie's Doll
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery

The story revolves around a young girl who receives a doll from her grandmother and becomes obsessed with it, using it to act out fantasies of motherhood and domesticity. As she grows older, the doll serves as a symbol of her own desires for independence and adulthood.

By Lucy Maud Montgomery · First published 1908 · Genre: Children's Literature, Coming-of-Age, Realism · 4,028 words

First lines

Tommy Puffer, sauntering up the street, stopped to look at Miss Octavia's geraniums. Tommy never could help stopping to look at Miss Octavia's flowers, much as he hated Miss Octavia. Today they were certainly worth looking at. Miss Octavia had set them all out on her verandah -- rows upon rows of them, overflowing down the steps in waves of blossom and colour. Miss Octavia's geraniums were famous in Arundel, and she was very proud of them. But it was her garden which was really the delight of her heart. Miss Octavia always had the prettiest garden in Arundel, especially as far as annuals were concerned. Just now it was like faith -- the substance of things hoped for. The poppies and nasturtiums and balsams and morning glories and sweet peas had been sown in the brown beds on the lawn, but they had not yet begun to come up.

Open reader

What this Textopian page supports

Bessie's Doll is listed on Textopian as a short story by Lucy Maud Montgomery, dated 1908 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery
Date: 1908 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Coming-of-Age, Realism, Social Commentary, Drama
Length: 4,028 words
Structure: 1 section, 81 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Bessie's Doll by Lucy Maud Montgomery
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

Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The story centers around children, their relationships, and their experiences, making it primarily a work for young readers.
Coming-of-Age — The narrative explores themes of growth, kindness, and moral development, particularly through Tommy's character.
Realism — The setting and characters reflect everyday life and social issues, portraying realistic struggles and emotions.
Social Commentary — The story addresses themes of poverty, kindness, and societal perceptions, particularly through the interactions between characters.