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- Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
- Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
- Sprache: Englisch
The Children's Garland from the Best Poets is a poignant anthology designed to introduce young readers to the rich tapestry of English poetry through the works of esteemed poets such as William Wordsworth, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Christina Rossetti. This curated collection marvelously aligns with the Romantic and Victorian literary movements, showcasing verses that blend whimsical imagination with moral depth. The book's approachable style includes simple yet captivating language, making it an ideal gateway for children to engage with poetic forms like nursery rhymes and narrative verse. The various authors included in this collection were driven by a desire to spark an early appreciation for literature in children. Many of the contributing poets were themselves parents and educators, keen on nurturing the moral and aesthetic sensibilities of the next generation. By selecting poems that resonate with themes of nature, childhood, and human experience, they intended to create a foundation that encourages creativity and emotional growth. This anthology is a must-read for parents, educators, and young poetry enthusiasts alike. It serves not only as a delightful introduction to the world of poetry but also as a timeless resource for fostering imagination and understanding. Whether read aloud or explored independently, The Children's Garland from the Best Poets promises to enchant and inspire.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019
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The Children's Garland from the Best Poets
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Children's Garland from the Best Poets gathers poems that speak to the imagination, play, and seriousness of childhood while honoring the music and variety of the English lyric and ballad. Its unifying thread is a trust that children attend closely to the natural world, to stories of courage and craft, and to the quick turns of humor and wonder found in song and tale. From The Child and the Piper and Answer to a Child's Question to Nursery Rhymes, Lullaby for Titania, Song of Ariel, and Choral Song of Illyrian Peasants, the collection invites an ear for cadence and a mind ready for curiosity.
A large share of the garland is rooted in the living seasons and the pageantry of weather. On May Morning, Written in March, Spring, Winter, Autumn, Rain in Summer, The Summer Shower, Evening, A Fine Day, The First Swallow, and The Rainbow dwell on renewal, transition, and the solace of returning cycles. The Brook, The Sea, Stars, Ode to the Cuckoo, and To a Water Fowl trace the paths of water and wing, while Violets, To Daffodils, and Little White Lily kindle attention to delicate forms. Rural work and quiet household scenes—The Useful Plough, The Shepherd's Home, A Wren's Nest, and The Thrush's Nest—keep landscape and labor in conversation with tenderness and care.
Alongside pastoral calm stand poems of journey and tide, where meter often mirrors motion. The Ancient Mariner, The Wreck of the Hesperus, The Loss of the Royal George, A Sea Dirge, The Ballad of the Boat, A Canadian Boat Song, The Fisherman, The Sailor, and The Sea sound the depths of venture and return, risk and endurance. The Sands o' Dee and How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix press forward with urgency, showing how speed, fate, and resolve are carried by strong rhythms and memorable images.
The collection also opens a door to wonder, folklore, and the uncanny. The Approach of the Fairies, The Fairies, Queen Mab, Song of Ariel, Lullaby for Titania, The Forsaken Merman, The Nix, and The Sleeping Beauty draw on enchantment, night, and metamorphosis. The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Robin Hood and Allin a Dale, and Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford keep company with ballads such as King John and the Abbot of Canterbury, The Outlandish Knight, The Dæmon Lover, Sweet William's Ghost, The Seven Sisters; or, The Solitude of Binnorie, The Wild Huntsman, The Beggar Maid, Fair Rosamund, and Sir Lancelot du Lake, where wit, courage, and warning mingle in story-shaped song.
Public life and private conscience are tested in poems of duty, memory, and resolve. The Charge of the Light Brigade, Ye Mariners of England, The Spanish Armada, Boadicea, Napoleon and the Sailor, Sir Sidney Smith, After Blenheim, The Soldier's Dream, and How's My Boy? consider valor and its cost. Moral inquiry and everyday justice surface in Bishop Hatto, Goody Blake and Harry Gill, The Old Man's Comforts, and How He Gained Them, The Pride of Youth, and Love and Glory. Compassion and domestic feeling steady the voice in The Sailor's Mother, Dora, Alice Fell; or, Poverty, Home-Thoughts from Abroad, The Homes of England, The Lord of Burleigh, Fidelity, and Lord Ullin's Daughter.
Creatures large and small animate many pages, often with fable’s clarity or comedy’s quickness. The Nightingale and the Glow-worm, The Owl, The Parrot, The Grasshopper, The Lion and the Cub, The Fox and the Cat, The Snail, The Colubriad, The King of the Crocodiles, The Dog and the Water-Lily, An Epitaph on a Robin-Redbreast, On a Favourite Cat Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes, and The Faithful Bird explore sympathy, pride, and play. Lighter turns—John Gilpin, The Dragon of Wantley, An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog, Nongtongpaw, The Council of Horses, The Priest and the Mulberry-Tree, The Jovial Beggar, False Friends-Like, and Pairing Time Anticipated—show how wit and laughter sharpen attention as surely as awe.
The result is a conversation among songs, odes, ballads, and narratives that encourages attentive reading and shared recitation. By moving from The Rainbow to Home-Thoughts from Abroad, from The Brook to The Fountain, from The Nightingale to The Nightingale and the Glow-worm, readers meet recurring images renewed by fresh tone or form. These poems remain pertinent for the habits of notice they cultivate, the language they teach by ear, and the humane outlook they foster—an education in feeling and thought carried by story, melody, and the steady companionship of memorable lines.
Historical Context
Socio-Political Landscape
Spanning from Tudor and Stuart legacies to the Victorian present of its compilation, the Garland’s pieces register Britain’s evolving constitutional monarchy and its culture of authority and dissent. Courtly and communal ideals surface around Shakespeare’s Song of Ariel, Ben Jonson’s The Noble Nature, and Herrick’s To Daffodils, while The Old Courtier remembers hierarchical order with ironic tenderness. Ballads on Robin Hood and King John and the Abbot of Canterbury dramatize contestations of legal and clerical power. Poems like Boadicea refashion antiquity into national myth, projecting resistance and sovereignty, even as local village justice and festive misrule persist in The Jovial Beggar and kindred pieces.
Late eighteenth-century upheavals—the American and French Revolutions and the Napoleonic Wars—reshape horizons felt across the sea-songs and martial lyrics. Campbell’s Ye Mariners of England and Lord Ullin’s Daughter, Southey’s After Blenheim and Bishop Hatto, and Byron’s The Destruction of Sennacherib frame heroism and ruin within national destiny. Maritime catastrophe shadows Cowper’s The Loss of the Royal George and longer narratives such as The Ancient Mariner. Urban and middling life, increasingly assertive, animates Goldsmith’s An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog and Cowper’s John Gilpin. Wordsworth’s Goody Blake and Harry Gill interrogates punitive charity under poor-law mentalities and customary surveillance.
In the Victorian decades, the empire’s reach, industrialization, and reformist politics press upon domestic feeling and public duty. Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade memorializes Crimean sacrifice, while Hemans’s The Homes of England and Campbell’s The Soldier’s Dream explore household virtue and wartime longing. Seafaring expands into imperial lanes; Longfellow’s The Wreck of the Hesperus and The Rain in Summer, and the anonymous A Canadian Boat Song, register transatlantic circuits. Class and gender hierarchies persist, yet Barbauld’s The Mouse’s Petition and Wordsworth’s Alice Fell and The Last of the Flock advocate sympathy. Periodical print eclipses patronage, though decorum and libel constraints temper candor.
Intellectual & Aesthetic Currents
The collection moves between Enlightenment moral clarity and Romantic interiority. Goldsmith’s genial reasonableness, Cowper’s reflective piety, and Barbauld’s humane science coexist with visionary leaps by Wordsworth, Coleridge, Keats, and Shelley. Nature becomes guide and companion in To a Butterfly, The Rainbow, and To a Water Fowl, while imagination courts the uncanny in La Belle Dame sans Mercy, The Fairies, Queen Mab, and The Ancient Mariner. Children and rural people, often idealized, are treated as bearers of insight in Lucy Gray and Dora. Stylistically, plain speech vies with lyric rapture, creating a spectrum from homely anecdote to numinous allegory.
A vigorous ballad revival animates many selections, drawing on oral tradition, border legends, and chapbook culture. Anonymous narratives like Lord Randal, The Children in the Wood, and The Outlandish Knight share space with Scott’s Rosabelle and Young Lochinvar, where kinship, honor, and fatal vows govern action. Gothic shadows lengthen in The Dæmon Lover and Mary the Maid of the Inn, while humor and burlesque temper severity in The Dragon of Wantley and An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog. Shakespearean songs—Lullaby for Titania and Song of Ariel—evoke theatre’s musicality, reminding readers that poetry once moved with staged bodies.
Technological and scientific ferment widened poetic horizons. Steam and telegraph compressed distance, while expanding literacy fostered recitation and song suitable for parlors and schools. Weather lore and observation shape Signs of Rain, The Summer Shower, and Rain in Summer; seafaring knowledge undergirds The Wreck of the Hesperus and A Sea Dirge. American Romanticism converses with British modes in Poe’s The Raven, Longfellow’s narratives, and Bryant’s To a Water Fowl. Review culture spurred schools and counter-schools—from the Lake spirit of Wordsworth and Coleridge to witty urbanities—yet the anthology resists manifestos, preferring craft, melody, and memorable story over polemical experimentation.
Legacy & Reassessment Across Time
Subsequent wars and decolonizing pressures have reframed several pieces. The Charge of the Light Brigade, once unambiguous valor, invites scrutiny of command and waste after the world wars. Naval anthems like Ye Mariners of England and The Spanish Armada meet post-imperial ambivalence, while Casabianca often returns through parody as well as pathos. Ecocritical readings amplify The Rainbow, A Wren’s Nest, and The Ancient Mariner, connecting awe with environmental limits. Victorian bowdlerization shaded selections from Shakespeare; later scholarly editions restored texture. Public-domain status enabled schoolroom ubiquity worldwide, even as modern classrooms debate whose voices accompany Burns, Hemans, and Campbell.
Adaptation and media have kept these poems circulating. The Raven has generated recitations, illustrations, and screen retellings; The Pied Piper of Hamelin inspires stage and musical versions; The Three Fishers and How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix thrive in performance. Illustrated editions of The Ancient Mariner shaped its mythic aura. Digital archives and critical variorum projects stabilize texts once scattered across magazines or broadsides. Contemporary scholarship probes gendered domesticity in The Homes of England, labor and charity in Alice Fell, and faith in Lord Ullin’s Daughter, while decolonizing syllabi renegotiate sea-songs alongside colonial routes and losses.
Synopsis (Selection)
The Children's Garland from the Best Poets (Anthology)
A curated collection of classic English-language poems for young readers, spanning nature lyrics, ballads, fables, sea songs, and patriotic pieces.
THE CHILD AND THE PIPER
A vignette of a child's encounter with a piper, capturing the spell of music and innocent wonder.
ON MAY MORNING
A short celebration of spring’s arrival and the freshness of May dawn.
THE APPROACH OF THE FAIRIES
A glimpse of the fair folk drawing near at twilight, stirring the imagination with hints of unseen realms.
ANSWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION
A gentle reply that turns a child’s curiosity about birds and love into a lesson in affection and constancy.
THE BROOK
A flowing stream is traced in its perpetual course, mirroring the continuity of nature and life.
STARS
A lyric meditation on starlight and the quiet vastness of the night sky.
THE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE
A pastoral invitation in which a shepherd promises rustic pleasures to win his beloved.
THE KITTEN AND FALLING LEAVES
A playful scene in which a kitten chases autumn leaves, turning the season into a child’s game.
THE FERRYMAN, VENUS, AND CUPID
A witty classical vignette where a ferryman spars with Venus and Cupid, highlighting love’s tolls.
SONG (X)
A brief lyric on love and the lightness of song.
LUCY GRAY
A ballad of a lost child and the lingering signs of her passage, blending pathos with natural mystery.
RAIN IN SUMMER
A vivid portrait of summer rain refreshing fields, streets, and weary spirits.
EPITAPH ON A HARE
A tender tribute mourning a cherished pet hare and reflecting on gentleness and care.
ABOU BEN ADHEM AND THE ANGEL
A parable-like poem where a humble man’s love of his fellow humans earns heavenly favor.
LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCY
A knight recounts an enchantment by a mysterious lady that leaves him desolate on a cold hillside.
WINTER
A descriptive sketch of winter’s stark sights and sounds and the life that endures them.
THE INCHCAPE ROCK
A cautionary ballad about a pirate who removes a warning bell and later perishes on the same hidden reef.
WRITTEN IN MARCH
A cheerful note of renewal as early spring stirs life and labor after winter.
LORD RANDAL
A dialogue-ballad in which a returning youth reveals, bit by bit, the treachery that has undone him.
JOHN BARLEYCORN
An allegorical ballad of barley’s ‘death’ and ‘resurrection,’ celebrating the making of strong drink.
MARY-ANN'S CHILD
A domestic anecdote centered on a child, capturing homely feeling and simple moral charm.
THE USEFUL PLOUGH
A rustic praise-song to the plough and the honest labor that feeds a nation.
A WREN'S NEST
A quiet observation of a wren’s hidden nest and the care owed to fragile life.
A FINE DAY
A light sketch of clear weather and the contentment found in fair skies.
CASABIANCA
A boy remains at his post aboard a burning ship, exemplifying obedience and tragic valor.
SIGNS OF RAIN
An old-fashioned tally of weather signs that foretell rain, mixing lore with keen observation.
HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX
A breathless ride by three horsemen racing to deliver urgent news through the night.
THE RAINBOW (XXVIII)
A brief apostrophe to the rainbow, expressing lifelong wonder at its appearance.
THE RAVEN AND THE OAK
A fable-like contrast between a frail bird and a sturdy tree, meditating on endurance and time.
ODE TO THE CUCKOO
A lyric that hails the cuckoo’s call as the herald of spring and a voice of simple joy.
ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE
Robin Hood aids a true-lovers’ marriage against unjust authority using craft and merriment.
VIOLETS
A delicate tribute to modest spring flowers and the virtues they suggest.
THE PALMER
A medieval-styled ballad about a pilgrim figure whose journey tests faith and constancy.
THE FORSAKEN MERMAN
A sea-spirit laments a human wife who returned to the world above, leaving him and their children below.
THE SANDS O' DEE
A tragic shore-ballad of a young woman lost to the tide while driving home the cattle.
THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE
A lament for a warship that sank at anchor, mourning the lives lost with sober simplicity.
A SEA DIRGE
A brief, somber sea-song that evokes the ocean’s depths as grave and unappeasable.
THE ANCIENT MARINER
An old sailor stops a wedding guest to tell of a cursed voyage and the burden of a fateful deed.
SONG OF ARIEL
A sprightly enchantment from a sea-spirit who sings of change and sea-magic.
HOW'S MY BOY?
A parent anxiously questions a sailor about her son at sea, edging toward a hard truth.
THE SPANISH ARMADA
A stirring recollection of England’s peril and deliverance during the Armada, blending history with patriotic tone.
THE TAR FOR ALL WEATHERS
A jaunty song praising the sailor’s hardy spirit through storms and calm alike.
THE FISHERMAN
A waterside lyric where the lure of the deep subtly beckons the listener.
THE SAILOR
A character-piece sketching a seaman’s life of peril, resilience, and homesick cheer.
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS
A captain’s pride carries ship and child into a winter storm with fatal consequences.
A CANADIAN BOAT SONG
A rhythmic rowing-chant evoking river, pine, and the melancholy of distance.
ROSABELLE
A border ballad foretelling doom and recounting a noble lady’s tragic fate.
THE BALLAD OF THE BOAT
A reflective rowing-song that turns a voyage into a metaphor for youth and aspiration.
VERSES
Brief occasional lines on love and nature, light in tone and swift in movement.
HOME-THOUGHTS FROM ABROAD
A homesick speaker exalts the flowers and birds of England while far away.
THE DREAM OF EUGENE ARAM
A haunting narrative in which a dream reveals the weight of concealed crime.
THE BELEAGUERED CITY
An allegory of a city under siege by mysterious music, hinting at conscience and redemption.
JAFFAR
A compact tale of an upright ruler briefly dethroned and nobly restored.
COLIN AND LUCY
A simple, tender ballad of rural lovers tested by misunderstanding and loss.
THE REDBREAST CHASING THE BUTTERFLY
A child’s-eye scene of a robin in pursuit, alive to movement and the joy of watching.
THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD
An old ballad recounting two orphans lost in a forest and the pity they awaken.
ROBIN REDBREAST
A tribute to the friendly winter bird and its homely associations.
THE OWL
A brief character-sketch of the night bird, comic or eerie in its solitary habits.
HART LEAP WELL
A tale of a hunted stag and the vanity of the chase, ending in a moral insight.
THE SUMMER SHOWER
A fresh portrait of a passing shower that brightens fields and hedgerows.
THE MOUSE'S PETITION
A caged mouse pleads for mercy, arguing for compassion toward all living things.
THE GRASSHOPPER
A light ode to a summer singer whose chirp stands for warmth and ease.
THE SHEPHERD'S HOME
A pastoral picture of a shepherd’s household contentment and rural virtue.
THE LORD OF BURLEIGH
A nobleman woos in disguise and wins a humble maiden, with consequences that test love and station.
THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL
A witty fable where small and great trade barbs, honoring different strengths.
EVENING
A sunset meditation that quiets the day and gathers thoughts toward rest.
THE PARROT
A humorous snapshot of a talkative bird and the foibles it mimics.
SONG (LXVIII)
A short lyric celebrating love’s sweetness in simple, musical lines.
THE BLIND BOY
A child born blind speaks of the unknown ‘light,’ turning lack into serenity.
FALSE FRIENDS-LIKE
A brief caution against fair-weather friends who fail in need.
GOODY BLAKE AND HARRY GILL
A miserly man is condemned to a chill that no fire can warm after wronging a poor woman.
THE JOVIAL BEGGAR
A rollicking ballad praising a beggar’s carefree life and ready wit.
BISHOP HATTO
A grim legend of a cruel bishop beset by avenging mice.
THE OLD COURTIER
A nostalgic contrast between past manners and present ways at court.
JOHN GILPIN
A comic tale of an accidental runaway ride that turns a shopping trip into a town’s amusement.
THE MILKMAID
A rustic vignette of a country girl at her work, brimming with health and cheer.
SIR SIDNEY SMITH
A patriotic song praising a daring naval officer’s exploits.
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN
A strange musician rids a town of rats and, when cheated of payment, exacts an unforgettable price.
THE TIGER
A fiery meditation on the creation of a fearsome creature and the power that formed it.
KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY
A merry riddle-ballad in which a clever shepherd saves his master with quick answers.
THE FAIRIES
A lively catalogue of fairy habits and haunts, bringing the unseen world into view.
THE SUFFOLK MIRACLE
A ghostly lover escorts a maid home, only for a chilling truth to emerge.
THE NIGHTINGALE
A lyric honoring the nightingale’s song as emblem of love or poetic inspiration.
ON A FAVOURITE CAT DROWNED IN A TUB OF GOLDFISHES
A mock-elegy that mourns a vain cat with wit and moral sting.
THE FOX AT THE POINT OF DEATH
A fable where a fox, nearing its end, gives self-serving counsel.
THE OLD MAN'S COMFORTS, AND HOW HE GAINED THEM
An elder explains that prudence and restraint in youth make peace in age.
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
A martial ode recounting a gallant but fatal cavalry charge carried out in error.
YE MARINERS OF ENGLAND
A rousing sea-song summoning British sailors to defend their native shores.
NAPOLEON AND THE SAILOR
An anecdotal poem contrasting imperial pride with a seaman’s plain courage and mercy.
BOADICEA
An ode to the British queen who rose against Roman rule, urging fierce resistance.
THE SOLDIER'S DREAM
A tired soldier dreams of home and peace amid the hardships of war.
LOVE AND GLORY
A brief lyric balancing the claims of romance and honor.
AFTER BLENHEIM
A dialogue questions the meaning of ‘great victory’ beside the suffering it left.
THE SAILOR'S MOTHER
A mother travels to learn her son’s fate and meets the quiet kindness of strangers.
MAHMOUD
An Eastern apologue about a ruler’s severity tempered by wisdom.
AUTUMN
A compact portrait of harvest time, mellow light, and the year’s decline.
THE RAVEN
A grieving student is visited by a mysterious raven whose refrain deepens his despair.
THE NIX
A water-spirit’s allure threatens the unwary, blending beauty with danger.
THE SEVEN SISTERS; OR, THE SOLITUDE OF BINNORIE
A ballad of sisters, jealousy, and sorrow set by the water’s edge.
THE BEGGAR MAID
A king courts a beggar maid, and her grace outshines his pomp.
THE WILD HUNTSMAN
A spectral chase roars across the sky, a warning against cruelty and excess.
TO DAFFODILS
A tender reminder of life’s brevity, likening human bloom to fleeting flowers.
THE HOMES OF ENGLAND
A patriotic gallery of English households, from cottage to hall, idealized in domestic peace.
MARY THE MAID OF THE INN
A courageous maid ventures into a haunted spot and helps unmask a crime.
THE WITCHES' MEETING
Witches gather around a cauldron, chanting of eerie ingredients and fates.
ADELGITHA
A medieval romance of vows and vengeance, where love must reckon with guilt.
THE COUNCIL OF HORSES
A beast-fable in which horses debate their burdens and masters’ claims.
ST. ROMUALD
A saint’s life in miniature, emphasizing renunciation and spiritual resolve.
LADY ALICE
A ballad of lovers parted by deceit and the sorrow that follows.
THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT
A resourceful maiden turns the tables on a murderous suitor.
SPRING
A welcome to spring’s blossoms, birds, and renewing warmth.
SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST
A spectral visitation presses a promise kept and a last farewell.
THE FOUNTAIN
A meditative scene where a fountain’s flow suggests purity and constancy.
FAIR ROSAMUND
A tragic tale of a king’s mistress and the jealous wrath that ends her days.
THE HITCHEN MAY-DAY SONG
A merry village chorus celebrating May-Day customs and greenery.
THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE
A captive’s courtship unfolds across lines of war and honor.
LITTLE WHITE LILY
A simple child’s lesson in kindness and growth through a flower’s voice.
MINSTREL'S SONG IN ELLA
An antiquarian ballad-voice extols chivalry and sorrow in antique strain.
AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG
A comic fable where a ‘mad’ dog’s bite exposes true goodness and hypocrisy.
NONGTONGPAW
A humorous piece about a French phrase misheard as a famous person, skewering travel pretensions.
POOR DOG TRAY
A tribute to a dog’s unwavering loyalty despite human scorn.
THE FAITHFUL BIRD
An anecdote praising a bird’s constancy in guarding or guiding.
LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER
A lovers’ flight ends at a stormy crossing as a chieftain pursues too late.
THE SEA
An exultant hymn to the sea’s freedom, might, and music.
FIDELITY
A faithful dog keeps watch by his master in a lonely, solemn vigil.
THE FOX AND THE CAT
A fable in which the cat’s one good trick outdoes the fox’s many.
THE DOG AND THE WATER-LILY
A boy rescues a drowning dog and reflects on gratitude and fear.
AN EPITAPH ON A ROBIN-REDBREAST
A gentle epitaph honoring a small bird as a token of pity.
BAUCIS AND PHILEMON
An Ovidian tale of humble hospitality rewarded by the gods.
LULLABY FOR TITANIA
A fairy lullaby soothing a queen to sleep amid moonlit boughs.
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLINOR
A love triangle in ballad form spirals into jealousy and bloodshed.
QUEEN MAB
A fleet description of the tiny fairy queen who gallops through sleepers’ dreams.
YOUNG LOCHINVAR
A gallant knight rides in to claim his love from an unwanted wedding.
INCIDENT
A brief martial anecdote of daring and devotion under fire.
KING LEAR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
A homespun version of the tale where a father misreads his daughters’ love, with ruinous effect.
THE BUTTERFLY AND THE SNAIL
A fable contrasting airy pride with grounded patience.
THE DÆMON LOVER
A dark ballad of a woman lured to sea by a former lover with a hidden doom.
THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE GLOW-WORM
A moral fable counseling mutual appreciation among different gifts.
THE LADY TURNED SERVING-MAN
A woman disguises herself to travel safely and proves her wit in peril.
PAIRING TIME ANTICIPATED
A comic country piece about creatures (and people) readying for mating season.
TO A WATER FOWL
A solitary bird’s flight becomes a lesson in trust and perseverance.
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD
Robin outwits a prelate, lightening his purse and spreading cheer among his men.
SIR JOHN SUCKLING'S CAMPAIGN
A satiric ballad chronicling an ill-starred military expedition with jaunty rhymes.
THE NUN'S LAMENT FOR PHILIP SPARROW
A playful yet poignant lament over a beloved pet bird.
TO A BUTTERFLY
A gentle address to a butterfly that stirs memories of childhood calm.
THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY
A burlesque ballad in which a hero defeats a dragon amid outrageous comic turns.
THE UNGRATEFUL CUPID
A light fable where Love proves thankless to a former helper.
THE KING OF THE CROCODILES
A fanciful animal tale about power, vanity, and their comeuppance.
THE LION AND THE CUB
A fable warning that indulgence can spoil the young to their own hurt.
THE SNAIL
A tiny naturalist’s portrait that turns the snail’s pace into quiet virtue.
THE COLUBRIAD
A humorous episode involving snakes and human panic, ending in harmless relief.
THE PRIEST AND THE MULBERRY-TREE
A comic narrative where a priest’s rash vow is tested by an obstinate tree.
THE PRIDE OF YOUTH
A cautionary lyric against youthful presumption and heedlessness.
SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE
A chivalric ballad recounting one of Sir Lancelot’s feats and courtly trials.
THE THREE FISHERS
Three fishermen put to sea at dusk while their wives wait for a fate the sea too often brings.
ALICE FELL; OR, POVERTY
A brief tale of a poor child’s mishap that prompts a small act of charity.
THE FIRST SWALLOW
A cheerful welcome to spring’s first swallow and the journeys it implies.
THE GRAVES OF A HOUSEHOLD
A family’s separate graves across far lands tell of loss, travel, and endurance.
THE THRUSH'S NEST
A careful look into a thrush’s nest becomes a plea for gentle hands.
THE LAST OF THE FLOCK
A farmer, driven by hardship to sell his sheep, laments the last of his flock.
THE ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST
A child dreams of a swan’s nest as a symbol of poetic fancy and growing up.
SONG (CLXII)
A short, tuneful stanza on love or spring, meant to be sung.
TIMOTHY
A humorous or homely sketch of a simple fellow and his ways.
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
A lyrical retelling of the enchanted sleep and the long-awaited awakening.
CHORAL SONG OF ILLYRIAN PEASANTS
A folk-like chorus praising rustic joys and the dance.
THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB
A biblical episode retold with pounding rhythm as an army falls in a night.
THE WIDOW BIRD
A brief, plaintive picture of a bird mourning its mate in wintry fields.
DORA
A domestic narrative of duty, misunderstanding, and eventual reconciliation within a rural family.
A WITCH
A compact portrait of a witch figure, half-fearful, half-pitied by her neighbors.
NURSERY RHYMES
A selection of traditional jingles and riddles cherished for rhythm and nonsense.
THE AGE OF CHILDREN HAPPIEST
A sententia asserting youth as life’s happiest age, with reasons simply given.
THE NOBLE NATURE
A brief maxim-poem praising quality of virtue over length of years.
THE RAINBOW (CLXXIII)
A closing salute to the rainbow’s wonder and the thankful heart it prompts.
Author Biography
Introduction
Coventry Patmore (1823–1896) was an influential English poet and writer, best known for his work in the Victorian literary tradition. His most notable works include 'The Angel in the House' and 'The Unknown Eros,' which explore themes of love, faith, and domesticity. Patmore's literary career spanned several decades, during which he garnered a reputation as a prominent figure in Victorian poetry, engaging with the cultural and social issues of his time. His legacy continues to resonate, as his emphasis on spirituality and emotional depth paved the way for a more introspective approach in literary narratives.
Early Life
Coventry Patmore was born in Loughton, Essex, into a family with literary inclinations. His father, a successful landscape painter, and his mother, a skilled artist, exposed him to a culturally rich environment. Patmore had a close bond with his siblings, especially his sister, who shared his creative passions. This nurturing upbringing instilled in him an appreciation for art and literature, which would play a critical role in shaping his future career. The family’s artistic background also served as a foundation for Patmore’s own ambitions to become a poet and writer.
From a young age, Patmore was influenced by the Romantic poets, particularly by the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats. These early literary encounters encouraged him to explore themes of beauty, emotion, and the sublime in nature. Additionally, the spiritual and philosophical discussions within his family influenced his growing interest in religion, morality, and the intricacies of human relationships. Such early experiences laid the groundwork for Patmore's later exploration of complex emotional landscapes and spirituality in his writing.
Education and Literary Influences
Patmore's formal education began at a local village school, where he demonstrated an early proficiency in literature and writing. He later attended the prestigious King's College London, where he was exposed to a broad range of intellectual ideas and philosophical inquiry. His time at King's College broadened his literary horizons and deepened his appreciation for the English literary canon, which would inform his own poetic style.
Throughout his educational journey, Patmore encountered influential literary figures, including John Henry Newman and Alfred Lord Tennyson, whose works inspired him to explore spirituality and emotional expression. Newman's religious writings resonated with Patmore’s own quest for faith, while Tennyson's melancholic narratives and mastery of meter influenced his poetic technique. This rich tapestry of intellectual and artistic inspiration laid the foundation for Patmore's distinctive voice as a literary artist.
Moreover, Patmore's interactions with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood significantly impacted his worldview and creative output. The Brotherhood's emphasis on beauty, nature, and emotion, evident in their art and poetry, mirrored Patmore's own aesthetic aspirations. Through their shared ideals, he found a community that would both challenge and reinforce his literary endeavors, allowing him to forge a unique path as one of the leading voices in Victorian literature.
Adulthood and Key Life Events
In his early adulthood, Patmore faced the emotional turmoil of losing his first wife, Emily, who died tragically shortly after their marriage. This devastating event profoundly influenced his work and prompted him to reflect on themes of love, loss, and the complexities of marriage. The grief expressed in his poetry during this period marked a turning point in his career, as he sought solace in writing as a means of processing his heartache.
In 1854, Patmore remarried to the writer and illustrator, Emily 'Pippa' Patmore. Their relationship was characterized by mutual artistic support, which invigorated Patmore’s creative output. This marriage provided a foundation for his later works, particularly 'The Angel in the House,' where he expresses ideals of feminine virtue and domesticity, reflecting his personal aspirations for marital harmony.
As his career blossomed, Patmore found himself deeply engaged in the socio-political conversations of Victorian England. The rise of the women's rights movement and evolving gender roles provoked his interest and shaped his views, which significantly influenced his literary themes. His juxtaposition of traditional values with emerging social ideas can be seen throughout his writings, particularly in the evolving portrayal of women within 'The Angel in the House.'
Patmore's involvement in literary circles expanded as he became associated with prominent figures, including the Pre-Raphaelites and poets like Robert Browning and Swinburne. These relationships fostered a collaborative spirit in the literary community, and Patmore participated in various literary societies, fostering connections that enriched his work and public visibility. His friendships with these figures informed his perceptions of art and poetry, enabling him to mesh personal and artistic sentiments.
In 1860, Patmore published 'The Angel in the House,' a work that garnered critical acclaim and public attention. This poem, idealizing womanhood and domestic life, resonated with readers and established Patmore as a significant voice in Victorian poetry. The success of this work solidified his reputation and allowed him to explore further thematic complexities in subsequent publications, including his later collections and essays.
However, Patmore's literary success was accompanied by struggles with personal beliefs and challenges. He increasingly grappled with the dichotomy between the ideals of domestic tranquility and the realities of societal change. This internal conflict is reflected in his poetry following 'The Angel in the House', as he sought a more nuanced understanding of women's roles, faith, and human relationships in a rapidly evolving society.
Patmore's worldview faced further trials with the effects of the First World War and the Industrial Revolution in Britain. These broader societal changes compelled him to question his previously held ideals and challenged the moral and spiritual underpinnings of his work. His responses to these changes are seen in his later poetry, which illustrates a shift towards grappling with loss, uncertainty, and the search for meaning amidst chaos.
His later life was marked by both personal loss and artistic perseverance. After the deaths of his second wife and son, Patmore’s poetry began to adopt a more introspective tone, grappling with themes of mortality and faith. Despite these personal tragedies, he continued to write prolifically, contributing essays and poetry until his later years, a testament to his resilience as both an artist and individual.
Literary Career
Patmore's literary career is distinguished by his synthesis of emotion, spirituality, and domestic themes in poetry. His most celebrated work, 'The Angel in the House', portrayed the idealized woman as the moral center of familial life and evoked admiration for domestic virtues. This influential narrative not only established Patmore as a key figure in Victorian literature but also served as a springboard for discussions about gender roles in the society of his time.
Following the acclaim of 'The Angel in the House', Patmore embraced experimentation in both form and theme, exemplified by his collection 'The Unknown Eros'. This volume confronted more complex notions of love and desire, exhibiting a distinct departure from the conventional depictions present in his earlier works. Critics acknowledged this evolution as a demonstration of his broader literary ambitions and depth of understanding regarding human experience.
In addition to poetry, Patmore produced essay collections that showcased his philosophical ideologies and contemplations on art and religion. These works reveal his underlying beliefs about the relational dynamics of love, art, and spirituality. Patmore's essays contributed to his overall reputation as an intellectual voice amidst literary contemporaries, as he engaged with broader cultural themes through a personal lens.
Throughout his career, Patmore's literary style matured, marked by increased depth in imagery and thematic exploration. His adept use of meter and a rich vocabulary drew from the varied influences of Romantic and Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics. This resulted in works that balanced lyrical beauty with profound philosophical inquiry, earning him recognition and respect among literary circles and readers alike.
Patmore's contribution to the literary world extended beyond personal legacy; he played an influential role in the broader cultural trends of the Victorian era. His marriage-centered literary themes prompted discussions on the nature of women and domestic life, intersecting sociocultural transformations prevalent during his lifetime. This engagement allowed him to cement his place in the ongoing dialogues around gender, identity, and art.
Despite facing criticism for his conventional views on gender, critics and scholars recognized the emotional complexity in Patmore’s works. His exploration of love, suffering, and spirituality resonated with readers seeking deeper understanding amid a changing world. This recognition brought him a dedicated following, reinforcing his importance within the canon of Victorian literature.
As his works continued to be published and discussed, Patmore's reputation remained robust, with his poetry still studied for its rich emotional resonance and spiritual quests. His enduring literary contributions have secured a place in anthologies, reflecting his lasting impact in shaping modern literary dialogues.
Greatest Achievements
Coventry Patmore's most notable achievements include the lasting impact of 'The Angel in the House', which not only became a literary hallmark of Victorian poetry but also influenced societal views on women's roles within the family and community. His innovative blending of personal insight with broader cultural commentary established him as a critical voice of his generation. Moreover, Patmore's engagement with both poetry and essays showcased his versatility as a writer, ensuring his place among significant literary figures of the time.
Beliefs and Advocacy
At the core of Patmore's writings lay a commitment to exploring love, spirituality, and the intricacies of human relationships. His belief in the sanctity of marriage and the moral importance of character formation informed much of his poetic output. This emphasis resonates strongly in works like 'The Angel in the House', where the idealization of womanhood is interwoven with his quest for a profound understanding of love as an essential component of human existence.
