The Cupboard by Robert Graves (1920)
The Cupboard is a novel by Robert Graves, first published in 1945. It tells the story of a young man, John, who is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in a small village in England. John is a dreamer and a romantic, and he quickly falls in love with the village and its people. He also discovers a mysterious cupboard in the attic of his aunt and uncle's house, which holds a secret that will change his life forever. The novel is a coming-of-age story, as John learns to accept his place in the world and to find his own path. It is a story of love, loss, and redemption, and it is a timeless classic. The novel has a positive sentiment overall, as it is a story of hope and of finding one's place in the world.
By Robert Graves · First published 1920 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 148 words
First lines
Mother
What's in that cupboard, Mary?
Mary Which cupboard, mother dear?
Mother The cupboard of red mahogany With handles shining clear.
What this Textopian page supports
The Cupboard is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert Graves, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Robert Graves
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery
- Length: 148 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Cupboard by Robert Graves
- 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 Cupboard?
- How does this short story by Robert Graves fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — Robert Graves is a renowned literary fiction author, and this book is likely to contain complex themes and characters, as well as a focus on the human experience.
- Historical Fiction — The title of the book suggests a focus on the past, and the author is known for writing historical fiction.
- Romance — The title of the book suggests a focus on emotions, and the author is known for writing romantic fiction.
- Mystery — The title of the book suggests a focus on secrets, and the author is known for writing mystery fiction.
Tags
coming of age · family dynamics · childhood · imagination · fantasy · loss · memory · identity · adventure · self-discovery · nostalgia · relationships