Africa by G.K. Chesterton (1935)
Africa is a poem written by G.K. Chesterton that explores the beauty and mystery of Africa. The poem describes the continent's vastness, its wildlife, and its people. It also touches on themes such as colonialism and the impact of European intervention in Africa.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1935 · Genre: Poetry, Colonial Literature, Philosophical Literature · 171 words
First lines
A sleepy people, without priests or kings, Dreamed here, men say, to drive us to the sea: O let us drive ourselves! For it is free And smells of honour and of English things.
How came we brawling by these bitter springs, We of the North? -- two kindly nations -- we?
Though the dice rattles and the clear coin rings, Here is no place for living men to be.
Leave them the gold that worked and whined for it, Let them that have no nation anywhere Be native here, and fat and full of bread; But we, whose sins were human, we will quit The land of blood, and leave these vultures there, Noiselessly happy, feeding on the dead.
What this Textopian page supports
Africa is listed on Textopian as a poem by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1935 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1935 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Colonial Literature, Philosophical Literature, Historical Literature, Social Commentary
- Length: 171 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Africa by G.K. Chesterton
- 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 Africa?
- How does this poem by G.K. Chesterton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Memorial Of Africa by George Macdonald
- The Sultan by G. K. Chesterton
- On The Great Wall by Rudyard Kipling
- The Reformers by Rudyard Kipling
- What Happened by Rudyard Kipling
- On The City Wall by Rudyard Kipling
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality, characteristic of poetry.
- Colonial Literature — Themes of colonialism and the presence of foreign nations in Africa are evident, reflecting the historical context of colonial literature.
- Philosophical Literature — The text explores existential and moral questions, such as the nature of sin and the human condition, typical of philosophical literature.
- Historical Literature — References to historical events and the interaction between different nations suggest a historical context.
Tags
exploration · colonialism · philosophy · culture · identity · nature · adventure · history · society · politics · religion · ethics