Consider the Ravens
The novel tells the story of a young man named Robert Falconer who struggles to find his place in life and comes to terms with his own mortality. Along the way, he encounters various characters who help him on his journey, including a mysterious raven that appears throughout the book. The novel explores themes of faith, love, and death, and is considered one of MacDonald's most important works.
By George MacDonald · First published 1867 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 579 words
First lines
Lord, according to thy words, I have considered thy birds; And I find their life good, And better the better understood: Sowing neither corn nor wheat They have all that they can eat; Reaping no more than they sow They have more than they could stow; Having neither barn nor store, Hungry again, they eat more.
Considering, I see too that they Have a busy life, and plenty of play; In the earth they dig their bills deep And work well though they do not heap; Then to play in the air they are not loath, And their nests between are better than both.
What this Textopian page supports
Consider the Ravens is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1867 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: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical, Nature
- Length: 579 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Consider the Ravens 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 Consider the Ravens?
- 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
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, focusing on lyrical expression.
- Religious — The themes revolve around divine providence and spiritual reflection, referencing religious texts and concepts.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential themes such as life, death, and the nature of contentment.
- Nature — The text uses birds and their natural behaviors as central metaphors to convey its themes.
Tags
fantasy · allegory · spirituality · nature · morality · imagination · faith · self-discovery · philosophy · metaphor · Christianity · narrative