A Gift by George MacDonald (1863)
"A Gift" by George MacDonald is a novel about the power of love and forgiveness. The story follows the life of a young woman named Lucy, who is struggling to find her place in the world after being abandoned by her father at a young age. As she navigates through various relationships and experiences, she learns valuable lessons about the importance of compassion and understanding towards others. Throughout the novel, MacDonald explores themes such as redemption, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love.
By George MacDonald · First published 1863 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Romanticism · 250 words
First lines
My gift would find thee fast asleep, And arise a dream in thee; A violet sky o'er the roll and sweep Of a purple and pallid sea; And a crescent moon from my sky should creep In the golden dream to thee.
Thou shouldst lay thee down, and sadly list To the wail of our cold birth-time; And build thee a temple, glory-kissed, In the heart of the sunny clime; Its columns should rise in a music-mist, And its roofs in a spirit-rhyme.
Its pillars the solemn hills should bind 'Neath arches of starry deeps; Its floor the earth all veined and lined; Its organ the ocean-sweeps; And, swung in the hands of the grey-robed wind, Its censers the blossom-heaps.
What this Textopian page supports
A Gift is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1863 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Romanticism, Symbolism
- Length: 250 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Gift by George MacDonald
- 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 A Gift?
- How does this poem by George MacDonald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Dawn by George Macdonald
- The Holy Midnight by George Macdonald
- Born Of Water by George Macdonald
- Come Down by George Macdonald
- Hame by George Macdonald
- The Journey by George Macdonald
Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, rhyme, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The use of dream-like imagery and fantastical elements such as a 'violet sky' and 'crescent moon' suggests a fantasy genre.
- Romanticism — The emphasis on nature, emotion, and the sublime aligns with themes common in Romantic literature.
- Symbolism — The text employs symbolic imagery, such as 'temple' and 'music-mist,' to convey deeper meanings.
Tags
fantasy · allegory · spirituality · redemption · love · self-discovery · imagination · morality · childhood · adventure · friendship · faith