John Evereldown by Edwin Arlington Robinson
John Evereldown is questioned as he sets out at night for Tilbury Town through a starless darkness, far from any nearby lamp. His fixed stare and gesture away from the light suggest an ominous compulsion. Though urged to come inside, wait by the fire, and avoid the late journey of two leagues, he insists that women in Tilbury Town are calling him. He believes he must follow them whenever they call, even though he longs to be free of the burden and feels abandoned by God. Neither rain, shadows, nor even crawling dead men will stop him from going.
By Edwin Arlington Robinson · First published 1897 · Genre: Gothic Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Psychological Poetry · 349 words
First lines
"WHERE are you going to-night, to-night, -
Where are you going, John Evereldown?
What this Textopian page supports
John Evereldown is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edwin Arlington Robinson
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Psychological Poetry, Dramatic Monologue, Dark Romanticism
- Length: 349 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for John Evereldown by Edwin Arlington Robinson
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Genres
- Gothic Poetry — The poem creates a nocturnal, ominous atmosphere through darkness, forest imagery, distant lights, creeping shadows, and references to dead men crawling.
- Narrative Poetry — Its dialogue-driven structure tells a compact story of John Evereldown leaving at night in response to an irresistible summons from the women of Tilbury Town.
- Psychological Poetry — John's fixed stare, chattering, compulsion, and belief that he cannot be free suggest mental disturbance, obsession, or inner torment.
- Dramatic Monologue — Although another speaker questions him, John's repeated replies reveal his fears, desires, and fatalistic state of mind in a theatrical voice.
Tags
American poetry · early twentieth century · lyric poetry · character study · psychological portraiture · alienation · isolation · melancholy · disillusionment · mortality · despair · introspection