Great Godfrey's Lament
The poem tells the story of a man who has lost his way in life and is lamenting his mistakes and failures. He reflects on his past, remembering his youthful ambitions and ideals, but now feels disillusioned and disconnected from the world around him. The speaker expresses feelings of regret, sorrow, and despair, longing for a sense of purpose and direction that he once had.
By Edward William Thomson · First published 1899 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Literary Fiction · 4,521 words
First lines
"Hark to Angus! Man, his heart will be sore the night! In five years I have not heard him playing 'Great Godfrey's Lament," said old Alexander McTavish, as with him I was sitting of a June evening, at sundown, under a wide apple-tree of his orchard-lawn.
When the sweet song-sparrows of the Ottawa valley had ceased their plaintive strains, Angus McNeil began on his violin. This night, instead of "Tullochgorum" or "Roy's Wife" or "The March of the McNeils," or any merry strathspey, he crept into an unusual movement, and from a distance came the notes of an exceeding strange strain blent with the meditative murmur of the Rataplan Rapids.
What this Textopian page supports
Great Godfrey's Lament is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward William Thomson, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edward William Thomson
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Literary Fiction, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 4,521 words
- Structure: 1 section, 72 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Great Godfrey's Lament by Edward William Thomson
- 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 Great Godfrey's Lament?
- How does this short story by Edward William Thomson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Valley Of The Moon by Jack London
- Mcgraths Bad Night by Edward William Thomson
- Dicks Desertion by Marjorie Pickthall
- A Long Ago Affair by John Galsworthy
- The Spur by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Painted Veil by William Somerset Maugham
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The plot is set in a specific historical period with accurate historical details.
- Drama — The narrative focuses on intense character development and emotional themes.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style emphasizes complex characters and sophisticated prose.
- Romance — There are significant romantic relationships that drive the plot.
Tags
Canadian Literature · Historical Fiction · 19th Century · Rural Life · Family Saga · Social Commentary · Tragedy · Drama · Romance · Marriage · Infidelity · Guilt