Siege Perilous by Edwin Arlington Robinson
A man, repeatedly warned that the fearful seat no one has taken will bring terrors worse than hell, considers the cautions of older, wiser-seeming men and fears that defying them may be madness or invite God’s wrath. Though their examples have shaken his faith, an ethereal light comes to him, and he ceases to heed their voices or their disapproving heads. He pursues the end he sees before him, wins a crown that will later be granted to many others, and finds that neither heavenly fury nor destructive flame falls upon him.
By Edwin Arlington Robinson · First published 1916 · Genre: Narrative Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 201 words
First lines
LONG warned of many terrors more severe
To scorch him than hell's engines could awaken, / He scanned again, too far to be so near, / The fearful seat no man had ever taken.
So many other men with older eyes
Than his to see with older sight behind them
What this Textopian page supports
Siege Perilous is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson, dated 1916 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: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Narrative Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Arthurian Literature, Allegory
- Length: 201 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Siege Perilous by Edwin Arlington Robinson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Narrative Poetry — The poem presents a compact story of a man confronting the forbidden 'Siege Perilous,' enduring warnings, doubt, and ultimately attaining the seat without the expected supernatural punishment.
- Lyric Poetry — Its concentrated language, regular verse form, reflective mood, and emphasis on an individual's inward fear and resolve give it strong lyric qualities.
- Philosophical Poetry — The poem examines obedience to inherited authority, the uncertainty of conviction, the relation between fear and truth, and the consequences of challenging received wisdom.
- Arthurian Literature — The title invokes the Siege Perilous, the dangerous vacant seat at King Arthur's Round Table traditionally reserved for the knight destined to achieve the Grail quest.
Tags
poetry · American literature · narrative poetry · Arthurian legend · medievalism · chivalry · knights · King Arthur · Camelot · Holy Grail · quest · symbolism