The Doings of Delsarte
The poem tells the story of a knight who falls in love with a lady and becomes obsessed with her. He builds a tomb for her after she dies, and then kills himself to join her in death. The poem explores themes of love, beauty, mortality, and the transience of human life.
By Eugene Field · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Satire, Humor · 790 words
First lines
IN former times my numerous rhymes excited general mirth, And I was then of all good men the merriest man on earth; And my career From year to year Was full of cheer And things, Despite a few regrets, perdieu! which grim dyspepsia brings; But now how strange and harsh a change has come upon the scene! Horrors appall the life where all was formerly so serene: Yes, wasting care hath cast its snare about my honest heart, Because, alas! it hath come to pass my daughter's learned Delsarte.
What this Textopian page supports
The Doings of Delsarte is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Satire, Humor, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary
- Length: 790 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Doings of Delsarte 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 The Doings of Delsarte?
- How does this short story by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Akond Of Swat by Edward Lear
- Societys Next Craze by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- The Conversazzhyony by Eugene Field
- Pernicious Peaches by Oliver Herford
- Lord Hippo by Hilaire Belloc
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices, reflecting the author's style and thematic concerns.
- Satire — The poem critiques societal trends and the Delsarte movement, using humor and irony to convey its message.
- Humor — The tone and content are comedic, highlighting the absurdity of the situation and the author's frustrations.
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deeper themes of identity and generational conflict through a personal narrative.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Fantasy · Adventure · Fiction · Whimsy · Quirky · Imagination · Tall_tale · Exaggeration · Comedy · Absurdity