A Jewish Legend
The story revolves around a young Jewish woman named Rachel who lives in a small village in Poland during the late 19th century. She is an outcast among her own people due to her illegitimate birth and her mother's supposed sin. Rachel falls deeply in love with a Christian man, but their social differences and the prejudices of their communities make their love impossible. The novel explores themes of religious intolerance, social class, and the struggles of women during that time period.
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward · First published 1886 · Genre: Religious Fiction, Christian Allegory, Children's Literature · 452 words
First lines
I like that old, kind legend Not found in Holy Writ, And wish that John or Matthew Had made Bible out of it.
But though it is not Gospel, There is no law to hold The heart from growing better That hears the story told: --
What this Textopian page supports
A Jewish Legend is listed on Textopian as a poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, dated 1886 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Date: 1886 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Fiction, Christian Allegory, Children's Literature, Poetry, Historical Fiction
- Length: 452 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Jewish Legend by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- 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 A Jewish Legend?
- How does this poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Religious Fiction — The story revolves around a legend involving the Child Christ and Jewish children, emphasizing religious themes and miraculous events.
- Christian Allegory — The narrative uses symbolic elements to convey Christian teachings and moral lessons, particularly the transformation of earthly things into heavenly ones.
- Children's Literature — The story features children as central characters and is written in a simple, accessible style suitable for young readers.
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form, with a rhythmic and lyrical quality that is characteristic of poetry.
Tags
Jewish culture · legend · faith · spirituality · morality · tradition · storytelling · community · identity · history · mythology · values