Over the Banisters by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The story revolves around a romantic triangle between three main characters: Kathleen, a beautiful and charming Irish girl; Dr. Robert Merrick, a wealthy and successful doctor; and Harold Wynne, a poor but talented poet. The novel explores themes of love, class, and social status as the characters navigate their relationships with each other.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1896 · Genre: Romance, Poetry, Drama · 268 words
First lines
Over the banisters bends a face, / Daringly sweet and beguiling. / Somebody stands in careless grace / And watching the picture, smiling.
The light burns dim in the hall below, / Nobody sees her standing, / Saying good-night again, soft and low, / Halfway up to the landing.
Nobody only the eyes of brown, / Tender and full of meaning, / That smile on the fairest face in town, / Over the banisters leaning.
Tired and sleepy, with drooping head, / I wonder why she lingers; / Now, when the good-nights all are said, / Why, somebody holds her fingers.
What this Textopian page supports
Over the Banisters 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: Romance, Poetry, Drama, Victorian Literature
- Length: 268 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Over the Banisters 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
Similar titles
- Loves Coming by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Red Carnations by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- To Iris by Edith Nesbit
- Loves Mirage by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Helena by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- To The Beloved by Alice Meynell
Genres
- Romance — The poem centers on a romantic interaction between two individuals, highlighting themes of love and affection.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form, employing poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Drama — The narrative contains elements of dramatic tension and emotional expression.
- Victorian Literature — The style and themes are characteristic of the Victorian era, focusing on romantic and sentimental elements.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Victorian Era · American Literature · Women Authors · Feminist Themes · Emotional Expression · Personal Reflections