The Prophet by D.H. Lawrence (1916)
The Prophet is a work of 26 prose poetry fables written by the English author D.H. Lawrence. It was first published in 1923. The book is divided into chapters, each of which contains a poem, a parable, or a story. The poems and stories are all related to the theme of self-knowledge and spiritual growth. The main character in the book is Al Mustapha, a prophet who is sent by God to teach the people of Orphalese the importance of understanding themselves and their place in the world. Throughout the book, Al Mustapha speaks of the need to find balance in life, to be aware of one's own limitations, and to accept the inevitability of death. He also speaks of the importance of love, of understanding the beauty of nature, and of living in harmony with the world. The Prophet is considered to be one of Lawrence's most important works, and it has been translated into many languages. It is a timeless classic that continues to inspire readers to this day.
By D.H. Lawrence · First published 1916 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Modernist Literature, Romance · 36 words
First lines
AH, my darling, when over the purple horizon shall
loom
The shrouded mother of a new idea, men hide their
faces,
What this Textopian page supports
The Prophet is listed on Textopian as a short story by D.H. Lawrence, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: D.H. Lawrence
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Modernist Literature, Romance, Drama
- Length: 36 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Prophet by D.H. Lawrence
- 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 Prophet?
- How does this short story by D.H. Lawrence fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Snap Dragon by D. H. Lawrence
- Desire by George William Russell
- Paradise Re Entered by D. H. Lawrence
- The Palace And The Hut by Kahlil Gibran
- Lightning by D. H. Lawrence
- Scent Of Irises by D. H. Lawrence
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — The Prophet is a philosophical novel that explores the nature of human existence and the meaning of life.
- Modernist Literature — The Prophet is a modernist novel that employs stream-of-consciousness narration and explores themes of alienation and existentialism.
- Romance — The Prophet contains a romantic subplot between the protagonist and his love interest, which serves as a foil to the philosophical themes of the novel.
- Drama — The Prophet is a dramatic novel that follows the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and his struggles with his inner demons.
Tags
philosophy · spirituality · wisdom · love · nature · humanity · freedom · self-discovery · art · life · death · relationships