Christmas Fancies
The story revolves around a wealthy and beautiful woman who is unhappy in her marriage. She meets a poor but talented poet and falls deeply in love with him. Despite the societal pressures and expectations, she decides to leave her husband and marry the poet. However, on their wedding day, the poet dies suddenly, leaving the woman heartbroken and alone.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1899 · Genre: Poetry, Holiday, Romance · 434 words
First lines
When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, And etched on vacant places Are half-forgotten faces Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know- When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow.
Uprising from the ocean of the present surging near, We see, with strange emotion, that is not free from fear, That continent Elysian Long vanished from our vision, Youth's lovely lost Atlantis, so mourned for and so dear, Uprising from the ocean of the present surging near.
What this Textopian page supports
Christmas Fancies is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Holiday, Romance, Nostalgia, Philosophical
- Length: 434 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Christmas Fancies by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- 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 Christmas Fancies?
- How does this poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Christmas Fancies by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Christmas Hymn by Edith Nesbit
- Holiday Songs by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- A Christmas Prayer For The Home by Henry Van Dyke
- Birthday Verses by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Words by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a focus on rhythm and rhyme.
- Holiday — The themes and imagery are centered around Christmas and its associated traditions.
- Romance — There are references to love, memories of past loves, and the emotional impact of these memories.
- Nostalgia — The text evokes a sense of longing for the past and reminisces about youth and past experiences.
Tags
Christmas · Poetry · American Literature · Holiday · Seasonal · Winter · Festive · Joyful · Heartwarming · Inspirational · Uplifting · Spiritual