Retro Sathanas by Edith Nesbit
The poem explores the idea of settling for a lesser love or passion in life. The speaker is warned against mistaking a fleeting infatuation for true love, and is advised to hold out for something more meaningful. If one settles for a lesser option, they will be left with regret and a sense of what could have been. It is better to go without fulfillment than to compromise one's soul by accepting something inferior.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1902 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery · 154 words
First lines
"REFUSE, refrain: for this is not the love The Annunciation Angel warned you of; This is the little candle, not the sun; It burns, but will not warm, unhappy one!"
"But ah! suppose the sun should never shine, Then what an anguish of regret were mine To know that even from this I turned away! Candles may serve, if there should be no day."
"Nay, better to go cold your whole life long Than do the sun, than do your soul such wrong: And if the sun shine not, be life's the blame And yours the pride, who scorned the meaner flame. "
What this Textopian page supports
Retro Sathanas is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1902 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural Fiction
- Length: 154 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Retro Sathanas 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 Retro Sathanas?
- How does this poem by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Old Dispensation by Edith Nesbit
- The Strange Companion by Hilaire Belloc
- The Devils Due by Edith Nesbit
- Faith by Edith Nesbit
- The Ghost Bereft by Edith Nesbit
- Here And Hereafter by Barry Pain
Genres
- Horror — The narrative is dominated by elements of fear, the supernatural, and darkness, typical of the horror genre.
- Gothic Fiction — The story features a gloomy and eerie atmosphere, with a strong sense of dread and terror, characteristic of Gothic fiction.
- Mystery — The plot involves the unraveling of secrets and unexplained events, aligning with the mystery genre.
- Supernatural Fiction — The narrative includes elements that defy natural laws, such as demonic entities, making it part of the supernatural fiction genre.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Classic · British Literature · Humor · Satire · Parody · Religion · Philosophy · Psychology · Spirituality · Occultism