Smoke by George MacDonald (1867)
"Smoke", by George MacDonald, is a novel that explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption through the story of two young lovers who are separated by tragedy. The book follows their journey as they navigate the challenges of life and ultimately find their way back to each other.
By George MacDonald · First published 1867 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 133 words
First lines
Lord, I have laid my heart upon thy altar But cannot get the wood to burn; It hardly flares ere it begins to falter And to the dark return.
Old sap, or night-fallen dew, makes damp the fuel; In vain my breath would flame provoke; Yet see -- at every poor attempt's renewal To thee ascends the smoke!
'Tis all I have -- smoke, failure, foiled endeavour, Coldness and doubt and palsied lack: Such as I have I send thee! -- perfect Giver, Send thou thy lightning back.
What this Textopian page supports
Smoke 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, Reflective
- Length: 133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Smoke 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 Smoke?
- 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 a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Religious — The themes revolve around spiritual struggle and a plea to a higher power, common in religious literature.
- Philosophical — The work explores existential themes such as doubt and human imperfection, typical of philosophical writings.
- Reflective — The introspective nature of the text, focusing on personal failure and contemplation, aligns with reflective literature.
Tags
fantasy · allegory · moral · philosophy · society · critique · imagination · spirituality · adventure · narrative · character development · mysticism