The Yearling

Name: The Yearling
Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

The Yearling is a classic coming-of-age novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, set in the backwoods of Florida in the late 1800s. The story follows the life of 12-year-old Jody Baxter, who lives with his parents, Ora and Penny, in a small cabin in the woods. Jody's life is filled with hard work and loneliness, as his parents struggle to make ends meet. When Jody finds an orphaned fawn, he takes it in and names it Flag. Jody and Flag quickly become inseparable, and Jody's parents allow him to keep the animal. However, Flag's presence causes tension between Jody and his father, who is worried about the deer eating their crops. When Flag is shot by a hunter, Jody is devastated. He must learn to cope with his loss and come to terms with his father's decision. The Yearling is a timeless tale of family, friendship, and growing up. It is a story of love, loss, and the power of nature.

By Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings · First published 1938 · Genre: Southern Gothic, Coming-of-Age, Realism · 33 chapters · 130,328 words

First lines

A column of smoke rose thin and straight from the cabin chimney. The smoke was blue where it left the red of the clay. It trailed into the blue of the April sky and was no longer blue but gray. The boy Jody watched it, speculating. The fire on the kitchen hearth was dying down. His mother was hanging up pots and pans after the noon dinner. The day was Friday. She would sweep the floor with a broom of ti-ti and after that, if he were lucky, she would scrub it with the corn shucks scrub. If she scrubbed the floor she would not miss him until he had reached the Glen. He stood a minute, balancing the hoe on his shoulder.

What this Textopian page supports

The Yearling is listed on Textopian as a novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, dated 1938 CE.

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

Work type: Novel
Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Date: 1938 CE
Language: English
Genres: Southern Gothic, Coming-of-Age, Realism, Historical Fiction
Length: 130,328 words
Structure: 33 chapters, 3,962 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
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 novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Southern Gothic first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Southern Gothic — The Yearling is set in the rural south of the United States and features a young protagonist struggling with the harsh realities of life in the rural south, making it a classic example of Southern Gothic literature.
Coming-of-Age — The Yearling follows the story of a young boy, Jody, as he comes of age and learns to navigate the complexities of life. This makes it a classic example of a coming-of-age story.
Realism — The Yearling is written in a realistic style, focusing on the everyday struggles of life in the rural south. This makes it a classic example of realism in literature.
Historical Fiction — The Yearling is set in the late 19th century and features characters and events that are historically accurate, making it a classic example of historical fiction.