St. Martin's Lane by Eugene Field
The story revolves around a young boy who lives with his uncle and aunt in a small village. The boy's parents died when he was an infant, and his uncle and aunt took him in. The uncle is a kind and gentle man, while the aunt is cruel and abusive. The boy struggles to find his place in the world and to understand the complexities of human relationships.
By Eugene Field · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Historical · 459 words
First lines
ST. MARTIN'S LANE winds up the hill, And trends a devious way; I walk therein amid the din Of busy London day: I walk where wealth and squalor meet, And think upon a time When others trod this saintly sod, And heard St. Martin's chime.
But when those solemn bells invoke The midnight's slumbrous grace, The ghosts of men come back again To haunt that curious place: The ghosts of sages, poets, wits, Come back in goodly train; And all night long, with mirth and song, They walk St. Martin's Lane.
What this Textopian page supports
St. Martin's Lane 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, Literary Fiction, Historical, Romanticism, Urban
- Length: 459 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for St. Martin's Lane by Eugene Field
- 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 St. Martin's Lane?
- How does this poem by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Some Time by Eugene Field
- Mlle Prudhommes Book by Eugene Field
- Beard And Baby by Eugene Field
- Horace I 22 by Eugene Field
- Yvytot by Eugene Field
- Georges Birthday by Eugene Field
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and rhyme, characteristic of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The themes explore nostalgia, memory, and the intersection of past and present, typical of literary fiction.
- Historical — The poem references historical figures and evokes a sense of time and place in London.
- Romanticism — The work reflects romantic themes of longing and the beauty of memory.
Tags
Children's literature · Poetry · Nostalgia · Childhood memories · Imagination · Fantasy · Whimsy · Humor · Lighthearted · Playful · Innocence · Youth