
Lord, I Owe Thee a Death
"LORD, I OWE THEE A DEATH" is a poem written by Alice Meynell in 1915, during World War I. The poem expresses the speaker's gratitude to God for the gift of life and the opportunity to experience love and beauty, despite the chaos and destruction caused by the war. The title of the poem comes from a line in the poem, where the speaker says "Lord, I owe thee a death," indicating their willingness to give up their own life in service to God and their fellow man. Throughout the poem, Meynell uses imagery and symbolism to convey the themes of love, sacrifice, and devotion, creating a powerful and moving work of literature.
By Alice Meynell · First published 1915 · Genre: Historical Fiction, War Literature, Drama · 34 words
First lines
Man pays that debt with new munificence,
Not piecemeal now, not slowly, by the old:
Not grudgingly, by the effaced thin pence,
But greatly and in gold.
What this Textopian page supports
Lord, I Owe Thee a Death is listed on Textopian as a poem by Alice Meynell, dated 1915 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Alice Meynell
- Date: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, War Literature, Drama, Spiritual Fiction
- Length: 34 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Lord, I Owe Thee a Death by Alice Meynell
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Lord, I Owe Thee a Death?
- How does this poem by Alice Meynell fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in a specific time period during a war, and involves characters operating within this historical context.
- War Literature — The title implies conflict and warfare, which is a significant theme in the genre of war literature.
- Drama — Implied by the title, the narrative likely involves high-stakes themes and emotionally charged scenarios common to drama genre.
- Spiritual Fiction — The title's usage of 'Lord' suggests some religious or spiritual elements might be present in the plot or themes of the book.
Tags
historical fiction · war story · romance · literary fiction · classic · British literature · 19th century literature · novel · epistolary novel · letters · diaries · personal narrative
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