The Girl of the U. S. A by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The story revolves around a young American woman who travels to Europe and becomes disillusioned with the aristocracy and social conventions she encounters. She meets a wealthy American expatriate who is disillusioned with his own life, and together they form a connection that challenges their perspectives on love, class, and identity.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1898 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Patriotic · 277 words
First lines
Oh! the maidens of France are certainly fine, / And I think every fellow will state / That the ‘what-you-may-call-it' coiffured way / They put up their hair is great! / And they know how to dress, and they wear their clothes / In a fetching, Frenchy way; / And yet to me, there is just one girl- / The girl of the U. S. A.
I like to listen when French girls talk, / Though I'm weak in the ‘parlez-vous' game; / But the language of youth in every land / Is somehow about the same, / And I've learned a regular code of shrugs, / And they seem to know what I say! / But the girl whose voice goes straight to my heart / Is the girl of the U. S. A.
What this Textopian page supports
The Girl of the U. S. A is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1898 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: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Patriotic, Cultural Commentary
- Length: 277 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Girl of the U. S. A by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming structure.
- Romance — The themes revolve around admiration and affection for women, particularly focusing on the idealization of a specific girl.
- Patriotic — The content emphasizes national pride and preference for women from the U.S.A.
- Cultural Commentary — The text compares cultural aspects of French and American women, highlighting differences in style and communication.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Feminism · Love Story · Social Commentary · Historical Fiction · Women's Rights · Suffrage Movement · Marriage · Relationships