Child of God

This study guide will help you analyze the short story “Child of God” by Genevieve Abravanel. You can also find a summary of the text, as well as inspiration for interpreting it and putting it into perspective.

Presentation of the text

Title: “Child of God” (2021)
Author: Genevieve Abravanel
Genre: Short story

Genevieve Abravanel is a writer and English professor in Lancaster in the United States. She mainly writes short fiction but she has also published a non-fiction book. Her academic work focuses on literary modernism and twentieth-century British, American, and Caribbean literature. The short story “Child of God” was published on the website of the American Short Fiction magazine.

Excerpt

Below, you can read an excerpt from our study guide:

Social setting

The social setting of the story explores cultural differences, especially when it comes to the Amish community.

For example, Amos’s parents mention Rumspringa. Rumspringa refers to a coming-of-age period in Amish communities when teenagers are offered greater freedom from their parents and from the church. During this time, some Amish teenagers experiment with activities which are uncommon or not allowed in Amish communities, such as driving, going to the cinema, clubs, or bars, or wearing non-Amish clothes. This period normally begins around the age of sixteen or seventeen and lasts until the teenager either choses to be baptized in the Amish church or leaves the community. One of the purposes of Rumspringa is also for Amish teenagers to begin dating and to find a partner in the community...