The Beggar Man by Charles Lamb
The Beggar Man by Charles Lamb: A poem about a beggar who has lost his way and is struggling to find his purpose in life. The speaker of the poem reflects on the beggar's plight and wonders if he will ever find happiness again.
By Charles Lamb · First published 1807 · Genre: Drama, Social Commentary, Tragedy · 332 words
First lines
Abject, stooping, old, and wan, See yon wretched beggar man; Once a father's hopeful heir, Once a mother's tender care.
When too young to understand, He but scorch'd his little hand By the candle's flaming light Attracted, dancing, spiral, bright; Clasping fond her darling round, A thousand kisses heal'd the wound: Now, abject, stooping, old, and wan, No mother tends the beggar man.
What this Textopian page supports
The Beggar Man is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Lamb, dated 1807 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles Lamb
- Date: 1807 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Social Commentary, Tragedy, Literary Fiction
- Length: 332 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Beggar Man by Charles Lamb
- 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 Beggar Man?
- How does this short story by Charles Lamb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Good Samaritan by Charles Kingsley
- The World Is Full Of Kindness by Henry Lawson
- The Widows Mite by Anthony Trollope
- Love Thy Neighbour by George Macdonald
- The Penitent by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Ah Ling The Leper by Edward Dyson
Genres
- Drama — The Beggar Man' is primarily a drama as it primarily focuses on the struggles and hardships of the poor protagonist, which is typical of drama genre.
- Social Commentary — The work comments on social issues of poverty and destitution, making 'Social Commentary' a suitable genre.
- Tragedy — Elements of Tragedy are present in the book as it explores the tragic life of the beggar man, filled with adversities and hardships.
- Literary Fiction — Charles Lamb's rich, evocative prose style and in-depth character explorations align 'The Beggar Man' with 'Literary Fiction'.
Tags
poverty · charity · humanity · compassion · social issues · morality · altruism · struggle · redemption · suffering · kindness · empathy