O Friend! I Know Not
"I Know Not" is a collection of poems written by Alice Meynell in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The poems explore themes of love, loss, and longing, with a focus on the mysteries of the human experience. Meynell's writing is characterized by its simplicity and clarity, with each poem offering a glimpse into her inner world. The collection includes some of Meynell's most famous poems, such as "The Moon" and "The Night."
By Alice Meynell · First published 1891 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Victorian literature · 142 words
First lines
O FRIEND! I know not which way I must look
For comfort; being, as I am, oppressed
To think that now our life is only dressed
For show; mean handiwork of craftsman, cook,
What this Textopian page supports
O Friend! I Know Not is listed on Textopian as a poem by Alice Meynell, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Victorian literature
- Length: 142 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for O Friend! I Know Not by Alice Meynell
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering O Friend! I Know Not?
- How does this poem by Alice Meynell fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
- From Locksley Hall by Alfred Tennyson
- The Oak Leaves by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Rosaline by Alice Meynell
- To The Beloved by Alice Meynell
- I Saw My Lady Weep by Alice Meynell
- Wishes To His Supposed Mistress by Alice Meynell
Genres
- Poetry — Alice Meynell is primarily known for her works in the genre of poetry, and 'O Friend! I Know Not' is one of her poetic outputs.
- Romantic — Given the title and the known works of Alice Meynell, it could potentially fall under the pure Romance genre considering her tendency to romanticize her subjects.
- Victorian literature — It is aligned with the period Alice Meynell belonged to, thus Victorian literary influences may be seen.
Tags
Poetry · Romanticism · Victorian Literature · Women's Writing · Nostalgia · Melancholy · Personal Reflection · Self-Discovery · Identity · Relationships · Love · Loss
More by Alice Meynell
- Poems: SONNET -- MY HEART SHALL BE THY GARDEN (1903)
- Poems: SONNET -- THOUGHTS IN SEPARATION (1903)
- Poems: TO A POET (1903)
- Poems: SONG OF THE SPRING TO THE SUMMER: THE POET SINGS TO HER POET (1903)
- Poems: TO THE BELOVED (1903)
- Poems: MEDITATION (1903)
- Poems: TO THE BELOVED DEAD -- A LAMENT (1903)
- Poems: SONNET (1903)
- All works by Alice Meynell