The Terrible Test
The novel revolves around a young woman who returns to her hometown after being away for several years. She finds that the town has changed and that the people she once knew have also undergone transformations. The protagonist becomes disillusioned with the superficiality of the wealthy elite and begins to question the values of the society she lives in.
By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward · First published 1879 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Mythology · 290 words
First lines
Separate, upon the folded page Of myth or marvel, sad or glad, The test that gave the Lord to thee, And thee to us, O Galahad!
"Found pure in deed, and word, and thought," The creature of our dream and guess, The vision of the brain thou art, The eidolon of holiness.
Man with the power of the God, Man with the weaknesses of men, Whose lips the Sangreal leaned to feed, "Whose strength was the strength of ten,"
We read -- and smile; no man thou wast; No human pulses thine could be; With downcast eyes we read -- and sigh; So terrible is purity!
What this Textopian page supports
The Terrible Test is listed on Textopian as a poem by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, dated 1879 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: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Mythology, Inspirational, Historical
- Length: 290 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Terrible Test by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Religious — The themes revolve around purity, holiness, and references to religious figures and concepts.
- Mythology — The text references mythic figures like Galahad and the Sangreal, blending myth with moral lessons.
- Inspirational — The text aims to inspire through its depiction of purity and the ideal of holiness.
Tags
Feminism · Women's Rights · 19th Century · American Literature · Social Commentary · Marriage · Family · Domesticity · Gender Roles · Patriarchy · Oppression · Independence