Punishment by George MacDonald
The novel Punishment by George MacDonald tells the story of a young man named Robert Falconer who struggles with his faith and morality after committing a crime. The book explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of love to transform lives.
By George MacDonald · First published 1869 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 170 words
First lines
Mourner, that dost deserve thy mournfulness, / Call thyself punished, call the earth thy hell; / Say, "God is angry, and I earned it well -- / I would not have him smile on wickedness:"
Say this, and straightway all thy grief grows less: -- / "God rules at least, I find as prophets tell, / And proves it in this prison! " -- then thy cell / Smiles with an unsuspected loveliness.
-- "A prison -- and yet from door and window-bar / I catch a thousand breaths of his sweet air!
Even to me his days and nights are fair!
What this Textopian page supports
Punishment is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1869 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: 1869 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical, Inspirational
- Length: 170 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Punishment by George MacDonald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Religious — The themes revolve around divine justice, punishment, and spiritual reflection, common in religious literature.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential themes such as suffering, divine will, and the human condition, typical of philosophical texts.
- Inspirational — Despite the somber themes, the text offers a message of hope and redemption, aligning with inspirational literature.
Tags
morality · redemption · forgiveness · guilt · suffering · spirituality · faith · human nature · consequences · justice · love · sacrifice