To Cynthia, on Concealment of Her Beauty
The poem "To Cynthia, on Concealment of Her Beauty" by Alice Meynell explores the idea that true beauty lies in the hidden aspects of a person, rather than their physical appearance. The speaker argues that Cynthia's inner beauty is more attractive than any outward appearance could ever be, and that this concealment of her beauty is what makes it truly beautiful. The poem suggests that the act of hiding one's true self can be a form of self-expression and a way to protect oneself from the judgments of others.
By Alice Meynell · First published 1893 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Feminist Literature · 255 words
First lines
DO not conceal those radiant eyes,
The starlight of serenest skies;
Lest, wanting of their heavenly light,
They turn to chaos' endless night!
What this Textopian page supports
To Cynthia, on Concealment of Her Beauty is listed on Textopian as a poem by Alice Meynell, dated 1893 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: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Feminist Literature, Victorian Literature
- Length: 255 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for To Cynthia, on Concealment of Her Beauty 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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Genres
- Poetry — Alice Meynell is best known for her poetry and the title suggests a poetic form.
- Romantic — The title suggests a romantic appeal to a woman named Cynthia about her beauty.
- Feminist Literature — Meynell's works often feature themes of women's issues and beauty, which are aspects of feminist literature.
- Victorian Literature — Alice Meynell was a prominent writer during the Victorian era.
Tags
poetry · love · beauty · concealment · hidden · inner · self · psychology · emotions · introspection · women · gender
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