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Foreshadowing
Genre
Explanation and Analysis:
At the time of writing, Anna Sewell's Black Beauty occupied a unique space in the literary world. It's widely acknowledged to be the first book in the genre of animal "autobiographies." Before Black Beauty, literature largely overlooked the possibility of animals "narrating" their own life stories. Sewell's novel breaks the mold by presenting a narrative "by" a horse, giving voice to a creature that society then considered a mere "dumb beast." Through Black Beauty's perspective, the reader is given access to the intimate experiences and emotions of horses: their loyalties and affections, the hardships they face, and the simple joys they cherish. Horses and humans are portrayed as being equally emotionally complex and intelligent. This novel laid the groundwork for other stories that focus on the inner lives of animals, which quickly became a staple of children’s literature in the Victorian period.
However, Black Beauty isn't just a story for the sake of storytelling; it also serves a higher educational purpose. It belongs to the genre of instructional literature. Such books are meant to teach their audience a specific lesson or moral value. Sewell crafts the narrative to highlight the proper and kind treatment of horses. Black Beauty’s “autobiography” pulls back the curtain on practices and attitudes that often overlooked the well-being of working animals. Moreover, it doesn't just stop at horses. It also contains lessons on how humans should treat each other with empathy and kindness.
This novel is often pigeonholed as belonging solely to the genre of children’s literature. This happens, in part, due to its overt moral language and simple imagery. Sewell paints a clear and direct picture of the story's events. However, while it aligns with children's literature in these ways, it's important to note that Sewell initially wrote the book for a mixed audience. She hoped to promote better treatment of horses among both young readers and adults. The novel's structure, with its short, digestible chapters, lends itself to being read aloud, ensuring that its message would resonate with audiences of all ages.
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