De Profundis by Edith Nesbit (1877)
The poem is a prayer to God, where the speaker describes being trapped in a pit of despair and surrounded by death and evil. Despite this, they lift their soul out of the pit and reach out to God, asking for salvation. The speaker acknowledges that even if surrounded by danger and evil, they will not be harmed because God has saved them.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1877 · Genre: Epistolary, Non-fiction, Autobiography · 207 words
First lines
NOW I am cast into the serpent pit And, catching difficult breath From the writhing, loathsome, ceaseless stir of it, The venomous whispers of curling, clasping Death, I lift my soul out of the pit to Thee And reaching with my soul to where Thou art Look down, seeing with free heart The beast God gave my soul for company Lie with companions fit; And bid, with a good will, The serpent-fangs of ill Take their foul fill Of the foul fell it wore.
What this Textopian page supports
De Profundis is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1877 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1877 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epistolary, Non-fiction, Autobiography, Drama
- Length: 207 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for De Profundis by Edith Nesbit
- 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 De Profundis?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Epistolary first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Entreaty by Edith Nesbit
- The Fire by Edith Nesbit
- The Offering by Edith Nesbit
- In The Enchanted Tower by Edith Nesbit
- The Home Coming by Edith Nesbit
- The Blue Mountain by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Epistolary — The work is written as a long letter.
- Non-fiction — The work is based on real events and people.
- Autobiography — The work is a self-written account of the author's life.
- Drama — The work contains dramatic elements and explores emotional experiences.
Tags
Victorian Era · Children's Literature · Fantasy · Adventure · Quest · Friendship · Loyalty · Bravery · Courage · Perseverance · Self-Discovery · Growing Up