The Shadows on the Wall
The story follows the life of a young woman named Ruth, who is living in a small New England town. Ruth is a lonely woman, and she finds solace in her home, which is filled with shadows on the wall. One day, Ruth discovers that the shadows are actually the spirits of her dead relatives, who are trying to communicate with her. Ruth is terrified by the presence of the spirits, but she soon learns that they are trying to help her. With their guidance, Ruth is able to find peace and happiness in her life. The Shadows on the Wall is a haunting and beautiful story about the power of love and the importance of family. It is a timeless classic that will stay with readers long after they have finished the book.
By Mary E. Wilkins · First published 1902 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery · 5,341 words
First lines
'Henry had words with Edward in the study the night before Edward died,' said Caroline Glynn.
What this Textopian page supports
The Shadows on the Wall is listed on Textopian as a novel by Mary E. Wilkins, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Mary E. Wilkins
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance
- Length: 5,341 words
- Structure: 1 section, 256 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Shadows on the Wall by Mary E. Wilkins
- 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 Shadows on the Wall?
- How does this novel by Mary E. Wilkins fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The title of the book, 'The Shadows on the Wall', implies a dark and mysterious atmosphere, which is a common element of Gothic Fiction.
- Horror — The title of the book, 'The Shadows on the Wall', implies a dark and mysterious atmosphere, which is a common element of Horror.
- Mystery — The title of the book, 'The Shadows on the Wall', implies a dark and mysterious atmosphere, which is a common element of Mystery.
- Romance — Mary E. Wilkins is known for writing stories with romantic elements, so Romance is likely to be a relevant genre for this book.
Tags
gothic · supernatural · mystery · psychological · family · isolation · fear · suspense · darkness · ghosts · Victorian · literary fiction