The Younger Born
The poem explores the idea that younger generations are often more enlightened and progressive than their predecessors, having benefited from the struggles and sacrifices of those who came before them. The speaker argues that the younger born are more open-minded, tolerant, and just, possessing a deeper understanding of humanity and the world.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1894 · Genre: Poetry, Social Commentary, Philosophical · 847 words
First lines
The modern English-speaking young girl is the astonishment of the world and the despair of the older generation. Nothing like her has ever been seen or heard before. Alike in drawing-rooms and the amusement places of the people, she defies conventions in dress, speech, and conduct. She is bold, yet not immoral. She is immodest, yet she is chaste. She has no ideals, yet she is kind and generous. She is an anomaly and a paradox.
_WE are the little daughters of Time and the World his wife_, _We are not like the children_, _born in their younger life_, _We are marred with our mother's follies and torn with our father's strife_.
What this Textopian page supports
The Younger Born is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1894 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: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Social Commentary, Philosophical, Psychological, Feminist Literature
- Length: 847 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse and employs poetic devices such as rhyme and meter.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques and analyzes the behaviors and attitudes of modern young women in society.
- Philosophical — The text explores themes of time, societal change, and the nature of modernity.
- Psychological — The work delves into the mindset and internal conflicts of the younger generation.
Tags
Romance · Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Love · Youth · Beauty · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Free Verse · Lyric Poetry