Custer by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1896)
The poem tells the story of George Armstrong Custer's last stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn from a sympathetic perspective. It portrays Custer as a heroic figure who knowingly rides to his death, surrounded by his loyal soldiers. The poem emphasizes Custer's bravery and patriotism, describing him as a martyr who dies for his country.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Biographical · 10,448 words
First lines
BOOK FIRST
I. All valor died not on the plains of Troy. / Awake, my Muse, awake! be thine the joy / To sing of deeds as dauntless and as brave / As e'er lent luster to a warrior's grave. / Sing of that noble soldier, nobler man, / Dear to the heart of each American. / Sound forth his praise from sea to listening sea -- / Greece her Achilles claimed, immortal Custer, we.
Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The book is primarily composed of poetic verses.
- Historical — The content revolves around historical events and figures.
- Biographical — The narrative focuses on the life and experiences of a specific historical figure.
- War — Themes of battle and conflict are central to the work.
Tags
American History · Biography · Military · War · Battle · Native American · Colonialism · Imperialism · Tragedy · Heroism · Leadership · Strategy
What this Textopian page supports
Custer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1896 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: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical, Biographical, War, American Literature
- Length: 10,448 words
- Structure: 1 section, 111 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Custer by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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