Shut Out by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her hometown after being away for several years. She finds herself at odds with the community and struggles to reconcile her past and present selves. Through her experiences, the novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Thomas Anstey Guthrie · First published 1914 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-Age · 4,735 words
First lines
It is towards the end of an afternoon in December, and Wilfred Rolleston is walking along a crowded London street with his face turned westward. A few moments ago and he was scarcely conscious of where he was or where he meant to go: he was walking on mechanically in a heavy stupor, through which there stole a haunting sense of degradation and despair that tortured him dully. And suddenly, as if by magic, this has vanished: he seems to himself to have waked from a miserable day dream to the buoyant consciousness of youth and hope. Temperaments which are subject to fits of heavy and causeless depression have their compensations sometimes in the reaction which follows; the infesting cares, as in Longfellow's poem, 'fold their tents, like the Arabs, and as silently steal away,' and with their retreat comes an exquisite exhilaration which more equable dispositions can never experience.
What this Textopian page supports
Shut Out is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, dated 1914 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: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Drama, Social Commentary
- Length: 4,735 words
- Structure: 1 section, 80 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Shut Out 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 Shut Out?
- How does this short story by Thomas Anstey Guthrie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores deep emotional themes, character development, and the complexities of human relationships.
- Psychological Fiction — The protagonist's internal struggles with depression, identity, and self-perception are central to the narrative.
- Coming-of-Age — The story follows the protagonist's journey from childhood to adulthood, highlighting his emotional growth and realizations.
- Drama — The narrative is rich in dramatic tension, focusing on personal conflict and emotional turmoil.
Tags
Hockey · Sports · Fiction · Canadian Literature · Novel · Ice Hockey · Athletics · Competition · Rivalry · Teamwork · Ambition · Drama