The Stevedores
The poem explores the theme of social class and inequality through the contrast between the wealthy elite and the working-class stevedores. The speaker describes the luxurious lives of the rich, who are oblivious to the struggles of the poor, while the stevedores toil in harsh conditions for meager wages. The poem critiques the exploitation of the working class and highlights the need for social change.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, War Literature, Historical · 287 words
First lines
We are the army stevedores, lusty and virile and strong, We are given the hardest work of the war, and the hours are long. We handle the heavy boxes, and shovel the dirty coal; While soldiers and sailors work in the light, we burrow below like a mole. But somebody has to do this work, or the soldiers could not fight! And whatever work is given a man, is good if he does it right.
What this Textopian page supports
The Stevedores 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, War Literature, Historical, Labor Literature, Patriotic Literature
- Length: 287 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Stevedores 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 The Stevedores?
- 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
- The Song Of The Wage Slave by Robert W. Service
- Johannesburg Mines by Langston Hughes
- Hymn Of Labor by Henry Van Dyke
- The Cable Hymn by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The White Man by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- A Song Inscribed To The Fremont Clubs by John Greenleaf Whittier
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse and employs rhyme and meter.
- War Literature — The themes revolve around the experiences and contributions of stevedores during wartime.
- Historical — The content reflects historical events and the roles of specific groups during a war.
- Labor Literature — The focus is on the labor and hard work of the stevedores, highlighting their physical toil and contributions.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Social Commentary · Labor Rights · Industrialization · Urban Life · Working Class · Stevedores · Dockworkers · Maritime Industry · Economic Inequality