The Old Dispensation by Edith Nesbit
The story revolves around a protagonist who questions the nature of God and the suffering inflicted upon humanity. Through a poetic prayer, the narrator asks for the ability to not believe in God when they are at their happiest, surrounded by beauty and warmth. This desire stems from the perception that God allows humanity to suffer and is responsible for the hardships and struggles of life.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1923 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Romance · 202 words
First lines
O THOU, who, high in heaven, To man hast given This clouded earthly life All storm and strife, Blasted with ice and fire, Love and desire, Filled with dead faith, and love That change is master of --
O Thou, who mightest have given To all Thy heaven, But who, instead, didst give This life we live -- Who feedest with blood and tears The hungry years -- I make one prayer to Thee, O Great God! grant it me.
Some day when summer shows Her leaf, her rose, God, let Thy sinner lie Under Thy sky, And feel Thy sun's large grace Upon his face; Then grant him this, that he May not believe in Thee!
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Dispensation is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Nesbit, dated 1923 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: 1923 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 202 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Old Dispensation by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Old Dispensation?
- How does this poem by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical period and includes real events and figures from that time.
- Drama — The narrative focuses on the emotional and relational development of the characters.
- Romance — The narrative includes a significant focus on love and relationships.
- Adventure — The narrative includes elements of exploration, danger, and excitement.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Adventure · Mystery · Supernatural · Fiction · Classic · Victorian Era · British Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary