New Year's Eve: a Waking Dream
New Year's Eve: a Waking Dream by George MacDonald is a short story about a man who falls asleep on New Year's Eve and dreams of a magical world where he meets various characters who teach him important lessons. The book explores themes such as the power of imagination, the importance of kindness, and the value of self-reflection.
By George MacDonald · First published 1875 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction · 1,985 words
First lines
I have not any fearful tale to tell / Of fabled giant or of dragon-claw, / Or bloody deed to pilfer and to sell / To those who feed, with such, a gaping maw; / But what in yonder hamlet there befell, / Or rather what in it my fancy saw, / I will declare, albeit it may seem / Too simple and too common for a dream.
Two brothers were they, and they sat alone / Without a word, beside the winter's glow; / For it was many years since they had known / The love that bindeth brothers, till the snow / Of age had frozen it, and it had grown / An icy-withered stream that would not flow; / And so they sat with warmth about their feet / And ice about their hearts that would not beat.
What this Textopian page supports
New Year's Eve: a Waking Dream is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1875 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: 1875 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 1,985 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for New Year's Eve: a Waking Dream 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
Similar titles
- A Dream Song by George Macdonald
- The Wakeful Sleeper by George Macdonald
- A Dream Song by George Macdonald
- In The Night by George Macdonald
- A Day Dream by Carolyn Wells
- Travellers Song by George Macdonald
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes elements of dream-like and fantastical imagery, such as the moonlight and the supernatural atmosphere.
- Philosophical Fiction — The themes explore existential and philosophical questions about life, death, and the passage of time.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting and mood evoke a gothic atmosphere with elements like graveyards and the supernatural.
Tags
fantasy · dream · new year · celebration · reflection · transformation · imagination · mystical · adventure · self-discovery · time · hope