The Rook and the Sparrows
The Rook and the Sparrows is a poem written by Charles Lamb in 1819. The poem tells the story of a rook who is jealous of the sparrows' happiness and freedom, and how he tries to imitate them but ultimately realizes that true joy comes from being oneself. Here is the full text of the poem: The Rook and the Sparrows In yonder tree a rook did sit, And watched the sparrows as they flitted by; He saw their joy, their freedom from all care, And felt his heart with envy fill the air. "Ah!" he cried, "why cannot I be free? Why must I brood o'er woes that I cannot see? Why do these little birds so happy seem? And why am I a prisoner in this dream?" He tried to imitate their gentle flight, But found his wings too weak and heavy to take; He sang their song, but his voice was not so bright, And though he fluttered, he could not break through. "Ah!" he cried again, "I am a rook no more! I'll be myself, and seek my proper lore." And with this resolve, he spread his wings and flew, And found that joy and freedom were in him too.
By Charles Lamb · First published 1802 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure · 292 words
First lines
A little boy with crumbs of bread Many a hungry sparrow fed.
It was a child of little sense Who this kind bounty did dispense; For suddenly 'twas from them torn, And all the birds were left forlorn In a hard time of frost and snow, Not knowing where for food to go.
He would no longer give them bread, Because he had observed, he said, A great black bird, a rook by name, That sometimes to the window came And took away a small bird's share.
So foolish Henry did not care What became of the great rook That from the little sparrows took, Now and then, as 'twere by stealth, A part of their abundant wealth;
What this Textopian page supports
The Rook and the Sparrows is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Lamb, dated 1802 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Charles Lamb
- Date: 1802 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Adventure, Parable/Allegory, Fairy Tale
- Length: 292 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Rook and the Sparrows by Charles Lamb
- 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Rook and the Sparrows?
- How does this poem by Charles Lamb fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Letting In The Jungle by Rudyard Kipling
- The Kid And The Wolf by Esopo
- The Cage Bird And The Bat by Esopo
- The Blackbird And The Rooks by Dinah Mulock
- The Boy And The Skylark A Fable by Charles Lamb
- The Escaped Jackdaw by Esopo
Genres
- Fantasy — The title itself suggests the presence of animals functioning in anthropomorphic roles, a common trope in fantasy literature.
- Children's Literature — With the premise featuring animals as its protagonists, it is often typical of children's literature.
- Adventure — The conjunction 'and' in the title may imply cooperation or conflict between the two characters, which is a common theme in adventure novels.
- Parable/Allegory — The use of animals in the title could suggest the exploration of moral or philosophical themes through allegorical storytelling.
Tags
birds · nature · fable · allegory · friendship · conflict · survival · wisdom · adventure · identity · community · loyalty