Book Anatomy · Daddy Long Legs
Daddy Long Legs: Genre craft
15 lenses on genre craft for Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G7 G8 G9 G10 G11 G12 G13 G14 G15
G1. Genre and subgenre, and how well the book fits. AI
The book is a romance with strong literary and coming-of-age elements. It fits the romance genre well, featuring a love story with barriers and a satisfying resolution, though it emphasises character growth and education equally.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
G2. The genre's must have scenes: present or missing? AI
The romance includes the key scenes: the meeting (chapter 4), growing attraction (chapters 5 to 10), barriers to union (Judy's shame about her background, her sense of obligation), and the grand gesture and declaration (chapter 13).
Chapters: Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 9, Ch 10, Ch 13
I couldn't stand that! It didn't seem right for a person of my lack of antecedents to marry into any such family as his. (Ch 12, para 42)
Then you laughed and held out your hand and said, 'Dear little Judy, couldn't you guess that I was Daddy-Long-Legs? (Ch 13, para 5)
We belong to each other now really and truly, no make-believe. Doesn't it seem queer for me to belong to someone at last? (Ch 13, para 7)
G3. The genre's conventions: which are used? AI
The book uses romance conventions: the mysterious benefactor, the hidden identity, the slow-burn attraction, the misunderstanding about feelings, and the climactic revelation and union. It avoids melodrama and external obstacles.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 9, Ch 10
On the strength of that impertinent paper, he has offered to send you to college. (Ch 1, para 35)
Given a tall rich man who hates girls, but is very generous to one quite impertinent girl, what does he look like? (Ch 2, para 66)
Then you laughed and held out your hand and said, 'Dear little Judy, couldn't you guess that I was Daddy-Long-Legs? (Ch 13, para 5)
G4. Mystery: clue list, red herrings, fair play test. AI
5 clues. See the full lens on the book page.
G5. Thriller: clocks, chases and set pieces. AI
Not a feature of this book. There are no thrillers elements like clocks, chases or set pieces. The tension is entirely emotional and relational.
G6. Romance: the meeting, the barriers, the grand gesture. AI
The meeting occurs in chapter 4 at Lock Willow Farm. Barriers include Judy's shame about her orphan background and her sense of obligation to her benefactor. The grand gesture is Daddy-Long-Legs's revelation and declaration of love in chapter 13.
Chapters: Ch 4, Ch 10, Ch 12, Ch 13
I couldn't stand that! It didn't seem right for a person of my lack of antecedents to marry into any such family as his. (Ch 12, para 42)
Then you laughed and held out your hand and said, 'Dear little Judy, couldn't you guess that I was Daddy-Long-Legs? (Ch 13, para 5)
We belong to each other now really and truly, no make-believe. Doesn't it seem queer for me to belong to someone at last? (Ch 13, para 7)
G7. Horror and gothic: how dread builds, when the monster is seen. AI
Not a feature of this book. There is no horror or gothic element. The tone is light and romantic throughout, with no dread or darkness.
G8. Science fiction: the new idea and its rules. AI
Not a feature of this book. There is no science fiction element or speculative world-building. The setting is realistic early twentieth century America.
G9. Fantasy: moments of wonder, and the cost of magic. AI
Not a feature of this book. There is no fantasy element or magic. The story is grounded in realistic romance and coming-of-age.
G10. Adventure: stages of the journey and physical trials. AI
Not a feature of this book. While the book contains a journey of personal growth, it is not an adventure story with physical trials or stages of external exploration.
G11. Literary: inner life and the moment of insight. AI
The book emphasises inner life and character insight throughout. Judy's moments of insight include recognising her feelings for Master Jervie (chapter 9), accepting her orphan identity (chapter 11), and understanding love (chapter 13).
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 11, Ch 13
Would you be terribly displeased, Daddy, if I didn't turn out to be a Great Author after all, but just a Plain Girl? (Ch 5, para 64)
I believe absolutely in my own free will and my own power to accomplish--and that is the belief that moves mountains. (Ch 11, para 10)
We belong to each other now really and truly, no make-believe. Doesn't it seem queer for me to belong to someone at last? (Ch 13, para 7)
G12. Children's: age of the lead, level of peril, humour. AI
Not a feature of this book. The lead is an adult college student, not a child. The book is adult romance and literary fiction, not children's literature.
G13. Plays: entrances, exits and stage time per character. Count
Not a play. See the cast and speech lenses for who is on the page.
G14. Where the book bends or breaks its genre's rules. AI
The book bends romance convention by making the love story secondary to Judy's education and self-discovery. Her growth as a writer and person matters as much as her romantic resolution. The mystery of identity drives plot more than external conflict.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 9
Jerusha Abbott has commenced to be an author. A poem entitled, 'From my Tower', appears in the February Monthly--on the first page, which is a very great honour for a Freshman. (Ch 3, para 26)
Jerusha Abbott has won the short-story contest (a twenty-five dollar prize) that the Monthly holds every year. And she's a Sophomore! The contestants are mostly Seniors. (Ch 6, para 23)
I believe absolutely in my own free will and my own power to accomplish--and that is the belief that moves mountains. (Ch 11, para 10)
G15. Tropes present, with where they appear. AI
Key tropes: the mysterious benefactor (chapters 1 to 12), hidden identity (chapters 1 to 13), slow-burn romance (chapters 4 to 13), orphan heroine (chapters 1 to 13), and the grand reveal (chapter 13). The book uses these tropes sincerely without irony.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
On the strength of that impertinent paper, he has offered to send you to college. (Ch 1, para 35)
So I've decided to call you Dear Daddy-Long-Legs. I hope you won't mind. It's just a private pet name we won't tell Mrs. Lippett. (Ch 1, para 60)
Then you laughed and held out your hand and said, 'Dear little Judy, couldn't you guess that I was Daddy-Long-Legs? (Ch 13, para 5)
Ask Daddy Long Legs a question about its craft (free beta)
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