Raschi in Prague by Emma Lazarus
The story revolves around a young Jewish woman who travels from New York to Prague to claim her family's ancestral home. She becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding the building and uncovers dark secrets about her own family's past.
By Emma Lazarus · First published 1887 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Drama · 4,430 words
First lines
Raschi of Troyes, the Moon of Israel, The authoritative Talmudist, returned From his wide wanderings under many skies, To all the synagogues of the Orient, Through Spain and Italy, the isles of Greece, Beautiful, dolorous, sacred Palestine, Dead, obelisked Egypt, floral, musk-breathed Persia, Laughing with bloom, across the Caucasus, The interminable sameness of bare steppes, Through dark luxuriance of Bohemian woods, And issuing on the broad, bright Moldau vale, Entered the gates of Prague. Here, too, his fame, Being winged, preceded him. His people swarmed Like bees to gather the rich honey-dew Of learning from his lips. Amazement filled All eyes beholding him. No hoary sage, He who had sat in Egypt at the feet Of Moses ben-Maimuni, called him friend; Raschi the scholiast, poet, and physician, Who bore the ponderous Bible's storied wisdom, The Mischna's tangled lore at tip of tongue, Light as a garland on a lance, appeared In the just-ripened glory of a man.
What this Textopian page supports
Raschi in Prague is listed on Textopian as a poem by Emma Lazarus, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Emma Lazarus
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Drama, Religious Fiction, Social Commentary
- Length: 4,430 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Raschi in Prague by Emma Lazarus
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Raschi in Prague?
- How does this poem by Emma Lazarus fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a historical context, focusing on the life of Raschi, a Jewish scholar in Prague, and explores themes of cultural identity and historical events.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is rich and poetic, emphasizing character development and thematic depth, typical of literary fiction.
- Drama — The story contains intense emotional conflicts and dramatic interactions between characters, particularly in the context of societal tensions.
- Religious Fiction — The work delves into Jewish religious themes, exploring the significance of faith and cultural heritage.
Tags
Jewish Heritage · Historical Fiction · 19th Century · Prague Setting · Czech History · Rabbinic Legend · Mysticism · Spirituality · Religious Themes · Philosophical Debates · Talmudic Studies · Kabbalistic Symbolism