The Peter-Bird by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a bird that builds its nest on St. Peter's Church in Prague. The bird's nest is seen as a symbol of hope and freedom. The poem explores themes of beauty, nature, and spirituality.
By Eugene Field · First published 1894 · Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Coming-of-Age · 2,439 words
First lines
Out of the woods by the creek cometh a calling for Peter, / And from the orchard a voice echoes and echoes it over; / Down in the pasture the sheep hear that strange crying for Peter, / Over the meadows that call is aye and forever repeated. / So let me tell you the tale, when, where, and how it all happened, / And, when the story is told, let us pay heed to the lesson.
Similar titles
- The Cat And The Fiddle by L. Frank Baum
- Shuffle Shoon And Amber Locks by Eugene Field
- The Laughing Prince The Story Of The Boy Who Could Talk Nonsense by Parker Fillmore
- Two In A Zoo by Oliver Herford
- Old King Cole by L. Frank Baum
- The Miser Elf by Oliver Herford
Genres
- Fantasy — The presence of a witch, magical spells, and supernatural elements defines the fantastical nature of the story.
- Folklore — The narrative is structured as a legend, incorporating traditional themes and moral lessons typical of folklore.
- Coming-of-Age — The protagonist, Peter, experiences a journey of self-discovery and the consequences of neglecting responsibilities.
- Adventure — Peter's venture into the woods and the ensuing search for him create an adventurous plot.
Tags
Fantasy · Children's Literature · Poetry · Imagination · Adventure · Humor · Whimsy · Nonsense Verse · Playful Language · Wordplay · Rhyming Story · Quirky Characters
What this Textopian page supports
The Peter-Bird is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1894 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: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Folklore, Coming-of-Age, Adventure, Moral Tale
- Length: 2,439 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Peter-Bird 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