O May I Join the Choir Invisible!
George Eliot's poem "May I Join the Choir Invisible?" is a reflection on mortality and the afterlife. The poem begins with the speaker asking if they may join the "choir invisible" of those who have passed away. The speaker reflects on the beauty of life and the joy of living, but also acknowledges the inevitability of death. They express a desire to join the choir of those who have gone before them, and to be reunited with their loved ones in the afterlife. The poem ends with the speaker expressing a hope that they will be welcomed into the choir invisible, and that they will be able to join in the song of the angels.
By George Eliot · First published 1884 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 383 words
First lines
O may I join the choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live again In minds made better by their presence; live In pulses stirred to generosity, In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn Of miserable aims that end with self, In thoughts sublime that pierce the night like stars, And with their mild persistence urge men's minds To vaster issues.
So to live is heaven: To make undying music in the world, Breathing a beauteous order that controls With growing sway the growing life of man.
What this Textopian page supports
O May I Join the Choir Invisible! is listed on Textopian as a short story by George Eliot, dated 1884 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: George Eliot
- Date: 1884 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 383 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for O May I Join the Choir Invisible! by George Eliot
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Realistic Fiction — The book is a realistic fiction novel that follows the life of a young woman in Victorian England, exploring themes of religion, morality, and social class.
- Romance — The novel follows the romantic relationship between the protagonist and her love interest, exploring themes of love, loss, and longing.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in Victorian England and explores the social and political issues of the time period.
- Literary Fiction — The novel is written in a literary style, with complex characters and themes that explore the human condition.
Tags
19th century · English poetry · aims · air · ardor · beauteous · child · choir · cup · deeds · diffused · ease