Bluebeard (other Verses) by Harry Graham
The story revolves around a man who marries a woman and then murders her after she discovers his dark secret: he has multiple wives buried in the garden. The narrative explores themes of marriage, deception, and the darker aspects of human nature.
By Harry Graham · First published 1901 · Genre: Dark Comedy, Satire, Narrative Poetry · 2,105 words
First lines
Yes, I am Bluebeard, and my name / Is one that children cannot stand; / Yet once I used to be so tame / I'd eat out of a person's hand; / So gentle was I wont to be, / A Curate might have played with me.
People accord me little praise, / Yet I am not the least alarming; / I can recall, in bygone days, / A maid once said she thought me charming. / She was my friend, -- no more I vow, -- / And -- she's in an asylum now.
Similar titles
- The Vain King Legends by Henry Van Dyke
- Santa Decca by Oscar Wilde
- The Devil In The Belfry by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Lion And The Sun by Anton Chekhov
- The Atavism Of John Tom Little Bear by O. Henry
- Advising Chloe by Franklin P. Adams
Genres
- Dark Comedy — The poem uses humor and irony to explore macabre themes, such as murder and crime, in a lighthearted manner.
- Satire — The work satirizes societal norms and the concept of marriage by exaggerating the protagonist's actions and attitudes.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story through verse, detailing the protagonist's experiences and relationships.
- Gothic — The themes of murder, deception, and dark humor align with elements commonly found in Gothic literature.
Tags
Dark Fantasy · Poetry Collection · Satire · Humor · Fictionalized History · Literary Fiction · Verse Novel · Absurdist · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Psychological Insight · Character Study
What this Textopian page supports
Bluebeard (other Verses) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Harry Graham, dated 1901 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Harry Graham
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Dark Comedy, Satire, Narrative Poetry, Gothic, Parody
- Length: 2,105 words
- Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Bluebeard (other Verses) by Harry Graham
- 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
More by Harry Graham
- More Misrepresentative Men (1905)
- What's in a Name? (1927)
- Nobody's Darling! (Rhymes for the Times) (1902)
- Roses all the Way (Rhymes for the Times) (1925)
- The Triumph of Jam (Rhymes for the Times) (1902)
- Egregious Eastbourne (Rhymes for the Times) (1907)
- Sarah Owen (Rhymes for the Times) (1902)
- The Last Horsed 'Bus (Rhymes for the Times) (1925)
- All works by Harry Graham