On the Death of Leopold, King of the Belgians
The Death of Leopold, King of the Belgians by Charles Kingsley is a poem that was written in 1865. It describes the death of King Leopold I of Belgium and his funeral procession through Brussels. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter and consists of four stanzas, each with eight lines. The first stanza describes the king's body being carried on a bier through the streets of Brussels, surrounded by mourners. Kingsley uses vivid imagery to describe the scene, such as "the crowd that thronged the way" and "the tears that flowed like rain." The second stanza continues with the description of the funeral procession, but also includes a reference to the king's legacy. Kingsley writes, "He left his name in history's page / A name that shall not pass away," suggesting that the king's death will be remembered for generations to come. The third stanza focuses on the mourners who are following the funeral procession. Kingsley describes them as "the people of the land" and suggests that they are united in their grief over the loss of their beloved king. The final stanza concludes with a prayer for the soul of King Leopold, asking God to grant him eternal rest and peace. The poem ends with a line that reads, "So let his name be blest forevermore." Overall, The Death of Leopold, King of the Belgians is a poignant tribute to a beloved king who was deeply loved by his people. Kingsley's use of vivid imagery and emotional language helps to convey the depth of grief felt by those who mourned the loss of their leader.
By Charles Kingsley · First published 1870 · Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, History · 100 words
First lines
A King is dead! Another master mind Is summoned from the world-wide council hall.
Ah, for some seer, to say what links behind -- To read the mystic writing on the wall!
Be still, fond man: nor ask thy fate to know.
Face bravely what each God-sent moment brings.
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On the Death of Leopold, King of the Belgians is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Kingsley, dated 1870 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Charles Kingsley
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-fiction, Biography, History
- Length: 100 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Non-fiction — This book is a factual account of the death of Leopold, King of the Belgians, presumably dealing with real events and figures.
- Biography — The title suggests that the book consists of information about the life (and death) of a historical figure, making it part of the biography genre.
- History — Given the nature of the subject, the book likely contains historical elements, placing it within the history genre as it explores specific events of a certain time period.
Tags
elegy · poetry · monarchy · Belgium · historical · grief · loss · royalty · national identity · mourning · 19th century · literature