Over the Hills and Far Away
The story revolves around a young boy who lives with his cruel and abusive aunt. He escapes to the countryside where he finds solace and comfort in nature and the company of a kind old man. The old man teaches him about the beauty of life, and the boy learns valuable lessons about courage, perseverance, and the importance of following one's heart.
By Eugene Field · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Children's Literature, Romanticism · 289 words
First lines
Over the hills and far away, A little boy steals from his morning play And under the blossoming apple-tree He lies and he dreams of the things to be: Of battles fought and of victories won, Of wrongs o'erthrown and of great deeds done -- Of the valor that he shall prove some day, Over the hills and far away -- Over the hills, and far away!
Over the hills and far away It's, oh, for the toil the livelong day! But it mattereth not to the soul aflame With a love for riches and power and fame! On, O man! while the sun is high -- On to the certain joys that lie Yonder where blazeth the noon of day, Over the hills and far away -- Over the hills, and far away!
What this Textopian page supports
Over the Hills and Far Away is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, 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: Eugene Field
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Children's Literature, Romanticism, Fantasy, Nostalgia
- Length: 289 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Over the Hills and Far Away by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Oh Little Child by Eugene Field
- The Childs Letter by Eugene Field
- Hugos Child At Play by Eugene Field
- Lollyby Lolly Lollyby by Eugene Field
- To A Child Rosamund by Edith Nesbit
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Children's Literature — The themes of childhood dreams and adventures appeal to a young audience.
- Romanticism — The poem expresses idealistic themes of nature, nostalgia, and emotional depth.
- Fantasy — The imaginative elements of dreaming and envisioning battles and victories suggest a fantastical aspect.
Tags
Nostalgia · Childhood · Imagination · Fantasy · Adventure · Exploration · Discovery · Youth · Innocence · Curiosity · Wanderlust · Romanticism