The Ermine
The story revolves around Sibylle, a young woman who lives with her aunt and uncle in rural New England. She falls in love with a wealthy man named Ralph, but their social differences and the disapproval of his family threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile, Sibylle's cousin, Faith, is also in love with Ralph, adding complexity to the narrative. As Sibylle navigates her feelings and the societal pressures surrounding her, she must confront the limitations placed on women during this time period and decide what she is willing to sacrifice for love.
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward · First published 1876 · Genre: Poetry, Symbolism, Philosophical · 261 words
First lines
I read of the ermine to-day, Of the ermine who will not step By the feint of a step in the mire, -- The creature who will not stain Her garment of wild, white fire;
Of the dumb, flying, soulless thing (So we with our souls dare to say), The being of sense and of sod, That will not, that will not defile The nature she took from her God.
And we, with the souls that we have, Go cheering the hunters on To a prey with that pleading eye. She cannot go into the mud! She can stay like the snow, and die!
The hunters come leaping on. She turns like a heart at bay. They do with her as they will. . O thou who thinkest on this! Stand like a star, and be still,
What this Textopian page supports
The Ermine is listed on Textopian as a poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, dated 1876 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: 1876 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Symbolism, Philosophical, Nature Writing, Religious
- Length: 261 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ermine 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
- 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 The Ermine?
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Similar titles
- Rafes Chasm by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- The Sphinx 1 by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- The Spinster by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Behold The Lilies by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
- Love Has Passed Along The Way by Ellen Glasgow
- An Interpretation by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Symbolism — The ermine is used as a symbol of purity and moral integrity.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deep moral and existential questions about purity and the human soul.
- Nature Writing — The text references the natural behavior and characteristics of the ermine.
Tags
American Literature · 19th Century Novel · Social Commentary · Women's Rights · Feminist Fiction · Marriage and Family · Religion and Spirituality · Christianity · New England Setting · Rural Life · Poverty and Class · Education and Literacy