The Prophet by George MacDonald
The Prophet is a novel by George MacDonald that tells the story of a young man named Alister who sets out on a journey to find his true purpose in life. Along the way, he meets a wise old prophet who teaches him about love, faith, and the meaning of life. The book explores themes such as spirituality, self-discovery, and the power of human connection.
By George MacDonald · First published 1875 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Philosophical · 169 words
First lines
Speak, Prophet of the Lord! We may not start / To find thee with us in thine ancient dress, / Haggard and pale from some bleak wilderness, / Empty of all save God and thy loud heart, / Nor with like rugged message quick to dart / Into the hideous fiction mean and base; / But yet, O prophet man, we need not less / But more of earnest, though it is thy part / To deal in other words, if thou wouldst smite / The living Mammon, seated, not as then / In bestial quiescence grimly dight, / But _robed as priest, and honoured of good men / Yet_ thrice as much an idol-god as when / He stared at his own feet from morn to night.
What this Textopian page supports
The Prophet 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, Religious, Philosophical, Social Critique
- Length: 169 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Prophet by George MacDonald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, employing poetic devices and a lyrical style.
- Religious — The text addresses themes of prophecy and spiritual discourse, invoking religious imagery and concepts.
- Philosophical — The content explores deep philosophical questions about society, morality, and human nature.
- Social Critique — The narrative critiques societal norms and the worship of materialism, reflecting on contemporary issues.
Tags
philosophy · spirituality · poetry · wisdom · faith · love · humanity · nature · self-discovery · morality · life lessons · transcendence