Doing a Cathedral
The story revolves around the construction of a cathedral in a small town, exploring themes of faith, morality, and social hierarchy. The narrative delves into the lives of various characters, including clergy, artisans, and nobility, as they navigate their roles in the community and confront their own personal struggles.
By Thomas Anstey Guthrie · First published 1922 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Drama · 1,863 words
First lines
_The interior of Dulchester Cathedral._ TIME -- _About 12.30. The March sunshine slants in pale shafts through the clerestory windows, leaving the aisles in shadow. From without, the cawing of rooks and shouts of children at play are faintly audible. By the West Door, a party of Intending Sightseers have collected, and the several groups, feeling that it would be a waste of time to observe anything in the building until officially instructed to do so, are engaged in eyeing one another with all the genial antipathy and suspicion of true-born Britons._
What this Textopian page supports
Doing a Cathedral is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, dated 1922 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Date: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Drama, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,863 words
- Structure: 1 section, 41 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Doing a Cathedral by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- 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 Doing a Cathedral?
- How does this short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- At The British Museum by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Higher Up by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- At The Regent Street Tussauds by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Bricks Without Straw by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Love Among The Lions by F. Anstey
- An Undergraduates Aunt by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
Genres
- Satire — The book critiques societal norms and behaviors through humorous observations of sightseers in a cathedral.
- Comedy — The interactions and misunderstandings among the characters create a comedic atmosphere.
- Drama — The characters' dialogues and interactions reflect deeper themes of human nature and social commentary.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is reflective and rich in detail, focusing on character development and social critique.
Tags
Canadian literature · Humor · Satire · Social commentary · Religious criticism · Clergy · Church politics · Small town life · Rural community · Quirky characters · Witty dialogue · Irony