The Golden Arm by Mark Twain (1906)
A mean man lives alone on the prairie with his wife, who dies and is buried with a golden arm. Consumed by greed, he digs her up to take the arm. That night, he hears a haunting voice in the wind asking, "Who got my golden arm?" Terrified, he rushes home, but the voice follows him, growing closer. He hides in bed, but the presence looms over him, and the voice accuses him again. The story builds suspense through the man's fear and the supernatural elements surrounding the golden arm, culminating in a chilling confrontation that emphasizes themes of greed and guilt.
By Mark Twain · First published 1906 · Genre: Horror, Folklore, Dark Comedy · 717 words
First lines
Once 'pon a time dey wuz a monsus mean man, en he live 'way out in de prairie all 'lone by hisself, 'cep'n he had a wife. En bimeby she died, en he tuck en toted her way out dah in de prairie en buried her. Well, she had a golden arm -- all solid gold, fum de shoulder down. He wuz pow'ful mean -- pow'ful; en dat night he couldn't sleep, Gaze he want dat golden arm so bad.
What this Textopian page supports
The Golden Arm is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mark Twain, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Mark Twain
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Folklore, Dark Comedy, Gothic Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 717 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Golden Arm by Mark Twain
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Golden Arm?
- How does this short story by Mark Twain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The story features elements of fear, suspense, and the supernatural, particularly through the ghostly voice and the protagonist's terror.
- Folklore — The narrative style and themes reflect traditional folklore, with moral lessons and a cautionary tale about greed.
- Dark Comedy — The absurdity of the situation and the protagonist's extreme fear create a darkly humorous tone.
- Gothic Fiction — The eerie atmosphere, graveyard setting, and themes of death align with gothic conventions.
Tags
American Literature · Fiction · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Regionalism · Nostalgia · Coming of Age · Family Dynamics · Small Town Life · Morality Tale · Moral Ambiguity