The Corpse
The Corpse, by Charles Pierre Baudelaire: A poem of 1847, part of the collection "Les Fleurs du Mal." It describes a corpse's eerie and macabre beauty. The speaker finds himself drawn to the cadaver's peaceful countenance, Admiring its serene features, untouched by life's turmoil. The poem explores themes of mortality, decay, and the transience of human existence.
By Charles Pierre Baudelaire · First published 1857 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Poetry · 497 words
First lines
Remember, my Beloved, what thing we met By the roadside on that sweet summer day; There on a grassy couch with pebbles set, A loathsome body lay.
The wanton limbs stiff-stretched into the air, Steaming with exhalations vile and dank, In ruthless cynic fashion had laid bare The swollen side and flank.
What this Textopian page supports
The Corpse is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Pierre Baudelaire, dated 1857 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Date: 1857 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Poetry, Psychological Thriller
- Length: 497 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Corpse by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- 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 Corpse?
- How does this poem by Charles Pierre Baudelaire fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Dance Of Death by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- The Shooting Range And The Cemetery by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- The Accursed by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- The Death Of The Poor by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- The Remorse Of The Dead by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- The Irreparable by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
Genres
- Gothic Fiction — Considering Charles Baudelaire's rich history of exploring themes of death, decay, and the dark side of the human condition, this work is likely to fit comfortably within the gothic fiction genre.
- Horror — Given the title and Baudelaire's propensity for provoking a sense of shock and unease in his readers, horror may be an appropriate secondary genre.
- Poetry — As Baudelaire is well-known for his poetry, hints of the poetry genre may likely be present throughout the narrative. However, without further information about the book, the poetry genre could be less dominant than the previous two genres.
- Psychological Thriller — Baudelaire's fascination with exploring the intricate and sometimes disturbing aspects of the human psyche suggests a potential fit within the psychological thriller genre.
Tags
death · mortality · decay · existentialism · darkness · gothic · symbolism · poetry · romanticism · urban life · suffering · beauty