Red Carnations
The novel revolves around the life of a young and ambitious poet who becomes disillusioned with the harsh realities of the world. He falls in love with a beautiful woman who is already engaged to marry a wealthy man. The poet's passion for the woman inspires him to write magnificent poetry, but their social differences and the pressure from her fiancé drive them apart.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Classical Literature · 270 words
First lines
One time in Arcadie's fair bowers There met a bright immortal band, To choose their emblems from the flowers That made an Eden of that land.
Sweet Constancy, with eyes of hope, Strayed down the garden path alone And gathered sprays of heliotrope, To place in clusters at her zone.
True Friendship plucked the ivy green, Forever fresh, forever fair. Inconstancy with flippant mien The fading primrose chose to wear.
One moment Love the rose paused by; But Beauty picked it for her hair. Love paced the garden with a sigh He found no fitting emblem there.
What this Textopian page supports
Red Carnations is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Classical Literature, Symbolism, Pastoral
- Length: 270 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Red Carnations 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 Red Carnations?
- How does this poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Romance — The themes revolve around love, passion, and emotional connections.
- Classical Literature — The style and language are reminiscent of classical literary traditions.
- Symbolism — The use of flowers as symbols to represent various human qualities and emotions is central to the text.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · Love · Passion · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Feminine · Emotional · Introspective · Personal · Autobiographical