Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves

Name: Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves
Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery

The story revolves around Matthew Cuthbert's decision to adopt a boy from Prince Edward Island to help with farm work. However, he receives a girl instead, Anne Shirley, who has been sent in error. Despite initial reservations, Matthew grows fond of Anne and decides to keep her. The novel explores themes of identity, community, and the challenges faced by an orphaned child in a rural setting.

By Lucy Maud Montgomery · First published 1908 · Genre: Coming-of-Age, Literary Fiction, Family Saga · 4,244 words

First lines

Matthew was having a bad ten minutes of it. He had come into the kitchen, in the twilight of a cold, grey December evening, and had sat down in the wood-box corner to take off his heavy boots, unconscious of the fact that Anne and a bevy of her schoolmates were having a practice of "The Fairy Queen" in the sitting-room. Presently they came trooping through the hall and out into the kitchen, laughing and chattering gaily. They did not see Matthew, who shrank bashfully back into the shadows beyond the wood-box with a boot in one hand and a bootjack in the other, and he watched them shyly for the aforesaid ten minutes as they put on caps and jackets and talked about the dialogue and the concert. Anne stood among them, bright eyed and animated as they; but Matthew suddenly became conscious that there was something about her different from her mates. And what worried Matthew was that the difference impressed him as being something that should not exist. Anne had a brighter face, and bigger, starrier eyes, and more delicate features than the others; even shy, unobservant Matthew had learned to take note of these things; but the difference that disturbed him did not consist in any of these respects. Then in what did it consist?

What this Textopian page supports

Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves 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: Coming-of-Age, Literary Fiction, Family Saga, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction
Length: 4,244 words
Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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How does this short story by Lucy Maud Montgomery fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Coming-of-Age first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Coming-of-Age — The narrative centers on the growth and development of the protagonist, exploring themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the transition from childhood to adolescence.
Literary Fiction — The work features rich character development, emotional depth, and a focus on the intricacies of human relationships and societal norms.
Family Saga — The story revolves around familial relationships, particularly the bond between Matthew, Marilla, and Anne, highlighting themes of love, care, and the complexities of family dynamics.
Children's Literature — The narrative is aimed at a younger audience, featuring a child protagonist and themes that resonate with children, such as friendship, imagination, and the desire for acceptance.