The Boy by Alice Meynell (1902)

Name: The Boy
Author: Alice Meynell

The Boy by Alice Meynell is a poem that explores the themes of childhood, innocence, and the passing of time. The speaker reflects on the boy's youthful energy and curiosity, contrasting it with the adult world's cynicism and jadedness. Throughout the poem, Meynell uses imagery and symbolism to convey the fleeting nature of childhood and the inevitability of growing older. The poem concludes by acknowledging the beauty of youth, even as it slips away.

By Alice Meynell · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Children's literature, Autobiographical · 964 words

First lines

After an infancy of more than common docility and a young childhood of few explicit revolts, the boy of twelve years old enters upon a phase which the bystander may not well understand but may make shift to note as an impression.

What this Textopian page supports

The Boy is listed on Textopian as a short story by Alice Meynell, dated 1902 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Alice Meynell
Date: 1902 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Children's literature, Autobiographical
Length: 964 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Boy 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 The Boy?
How does this short story by Alice Meynell fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The book is recognized for its poetic prose and lyrical expression, depicting the world from a boy's point of view.
Children's literature — Even though not explicitly written for children, the book's narrative revolves around the experiences and thoughts of a boy, and it can be seen as a literature that speaks to children or about childhood.
Autobiographical — The book echoes some semi-autobiographical elements, as Alice Meynell channels some aspects of her own childhood and upbringing through her writing.