Reid, the Candidate by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a candidate who is running for office and is trying to win over the hearts of the voters by making grand promises. The tone is satirical, criticizing the empty rhetoric of politicians.
By Eugene Field · First published 1896 · Genre: Political Satire, Poetry, Social Commentary · 272 words
First lines
I saw a brave compositor Go hustling o'er the mead, Who bore a banner with these words: "Hurrah for Whitelaw Reid!"
"Where go you, brother slug," I asked, "With such unusual speed? " He quoth: "I go to dump my vote For gallant Whitelaw Reid!"
"But what has Whitelaw done," I asked, "That now he should succeed? " Said he: "The stanchest, truest friend We have is Whitelaw Reid!
"There are no terms we can suggest That he will not concede; He is converted to our faith, Is gallant Whitelaw Reid!
What this Textopian page supports
Reid, the Candidate 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: Political Satire, Poetry, Social Commentary, Humor, Historical Fiction
- Length: 272 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Reid, the Candidate 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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- Where does Political Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Political Satire — The poem critiques political figures and the electoral process, using humor and irony to comment on the political climate.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure typical of poetry.
- Social Commentary — It reflects on societal attitudes towards politics and voting, highlighting the collective behavior of voters.
- Humor — The light-hearted tone and playful language contribute to its humorous nature.
Tags
Politics · Satire · Humor · Election · Campaign · Candidate · Corruption · Scandal · Government · Democracy · Power · Ambition