Walter Simmons by Edgar Lee Masters
The narrative centers on a man reflecting on his life, initially filled with promise and creativity. As a child, he exhibited remarkable talents in various fields, including engineering, music, and art. His parents held high expectations for him, envisioning a future akin to great inventors. However, upon marrying at twenty-one, he shifted his focus to practical responsibilities, learning the trade of watchmaking and managing a jewelry store. Despite his aspirations to invent and innovate, he found himself consumed by the mundane realities of business. His dreams of creating a groundbreaking engine remained unfulfilled, and the community watched with anticipation, hoping for his success. Ultimately, he confronts the harsh truth of his limitations, acknowledging that his lack of intellectual capacity hindered his ambitions. The work explores themes of unfulfilled potential, the conflict between dreams and reality, and the weight of societal expectations.
By Edgar Lee Masters · First published 1916 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Biography · 208 words
First lines
My parents thought that I would be As great as Edison or greater:
For as a boy I made balloons And wondrous kites and toys with clocks And little engines with tracks to run on And telephones of cans and thread.
I played the cornet and painted pictures, Modeled in clay and took the part Of the villain in the Octoroon.
But then at twenty-one I married And had to live, and so, to live I learned the trade of making watches And kept the jewelry store on the square, Thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking --
What this Textopian page supports
Walter Simmons is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edgar Lee Masters, 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: Edgar Lee Masters
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Biography, Philosophical Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 208 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Walter Simmons by Edgar Lee Masters
- 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 Walter Simmons?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Literary Fiction — The themes explore personal ambition, failure, and the human condition, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Biography — The poem reflects the life and aspirations of a character, resembling biographical elements.
- Philosophical Fiction — The introspective nature of the character's thoughts on genius and capability aligns with philosophical themes.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Free Verse · Symbolism · Psychological Insight · Character Study · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Individualism · Existentialism · Philosophical Themes · Moral Ambiguity