The Truce of Christmas by G.K. Chesterton
The Truce of Christmas is a short story by G.K. Chesterton that tells the tale of two soldiers who put aside their differences during World War I to celebrate Christmas together. The story highlights the power of human connection and the importance of peace, even in times of conflict.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1905 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 398 words
First lines
Passionate peace is in the sky -- / And in the snow in silver sealed / The beasts are perfect in the field, / And men seem men so suddenly -- / (But take ten swords and ten times ten / And blow the bugle in praising men; / For we are for all men under the sun, / And they are against us every one; / And misers haggle and madmen clutch, / And there is peril in praising much.
And we have the terrible tongues uncurled / That praise the world to the sons of the world.)
Similar titles
- Christmas Meditation by George Macdonald
- Christmas Prayer by George Macdonald
- Christmas by G. K. Chesterton
- A Christmas Prayer by George Macdonald
- Brownings Christmas Eve by George Macdonald
- More Thoughts On Christmas by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Religious — Themes of sacred birth and Christmastide suggest religious undertones.
- Philosophical — Explores deep themes of peace, love, and human nature, indicative of philosophical inquiry.
- Social Commentary — Addresses societal issues such as conflict, greed, and unity, reflecting social critique.
Tags
Christmas · truce · peace · war · humanity · sacrifice · faith · hope · redemption · spirituality · tradition · celebration
What this Textopian page supports
The Truce of Christmas is listed on Textopian as a short story by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical, Social Commentary
- Length: 398 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Truce of Christmas by G.K. Chesterton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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