Overtasked
The novel explores the lives of three women who work as teachers in a small Massachusetts town during the late 19th century. The story revolves around their struggles with poverty, limited career opportunities, and societal expectations that restrict their personal freedoms. Through the characters' experiences, the novel highlights the difficulties faced by women in the teaching profession and the need for social and economic reform to improve their working conditions and lives.
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward · First published 1891 · Genre: Poetry, Inspirational, Religious · 173 words
First lines
It was a weary hour, I looked in the lily-bell. How holy is the flower! It leaned like an angel against the light; "O soul! " it said, sighing, "be white, be white!"
I stretched my arms for rest, I turned to the evening cloud -- A vision how fair, how blest! "Low heart," it called, softly, "arise and fly. It were yours to reach levels as high as I."
I stooped to the hoary wave That wept on the darkening shore. It sobbed to me: "Oh, be brave! Whatever you do, or dare, or will, Like me to go striving, unresting still. "
What this Textopian page supports
Overtasked is listed on Textopian as a poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Inspirational, Religious, Nature, Philosophical
- Length: 173 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Overtasked by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Overtasked?
- How does this poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Inspirational — Themes of aspiration, purity, and perseverance are central to the work.
- Religious — The text contains spiritual and moral exhortations, invoking a sense of holiness and divine guidance.
- Nature — Imagery and references to natural elements like flowers, clouds, and waves are prominent.
Tags
Feminism · Social Commentary · Women's Rights · Labor Movement · Industrialization · Capitalism · Economic Inequality · Working Class · Exploitation · Factory Life · Urbanization · Poverty