Pardoned Out by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The story revolves around a wrongly convicted man who is pardoned after serving his sentence. He returns to his hometown seeking revenge against those who wronged him, but instead finds redemption and forgiveness through the love of a good woman.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1899 · Genre: Poetry, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 339 words
First lines
I'm pardoned out. Again the stars Shine on me with their myriad eyes. So long I've peered 'twixt iron bars, I'm awed by this expanse of skies. The world is wider than I thought, And yet 'tis not so wide, I know, But into its remotest spot My tale of shame can go.
I'm pardoned out. Old Father Time Who seemed to halt in horror, when I stained my manhood by a crime, With steady step moves on again, And through the black appalling night, That walled me in a gloom accurst, The wonder of the morning light In sudden glory burst.
What this Textopian page supports
Pardoned Out 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, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary
- Length: 339 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Pardoned Out 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 Pardoned Out?
- 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
- After The Engagement by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Met by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- To Marry Or Not To Marry A Girls Reverie by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- A Successful Man by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- A Chariot Of Fire by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- Love Well The Hour by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse with a clear rhyme scheme and meter.
- Drama — The themes of crime, shame, and redemption are central to the narrative.
- Psychological Fiction — The work delves deeply into the emotional and mental state of the protagonist.
- Social Commentary — The text reflects on societal reactions to crime and the stigma faced by former convicts.
Tags
Romance · Historical Fiction · American Literature · Prison Reform · Social Justice · Women's Rights · Feminism · Love Story · Tragic Love · Injustice · Wrongful Conviction · Pardon