The Choice by Helen Hay Whitney
The novel revolves around a young woman who returns to her hometown after being away for several years and becomes involved with an older man. The story explores themes of love, identity, and the complexities of relationships between people from different social classes.
By Helen Hay Whitney · First published 1916 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Philosophical · 136 words
First lines
The long well rose above me, a slim shaft, With wet, black walls, and high aloft the light Round as a moon intensified my night. I ate the air and bitterly I quaffed The death damp; nor my pleading nor my craft Availed to aid me in my desperate plight: The vista of high heaven the only sight To see, and at my woe high heaven had laughed.
Suddenly the darkness deepened, and a face Gloomed on the opening, terrible and grim An Afreet! In his hands he held disgrace And direst poverty and ruinous strife. "Choose now between," he cried, "calm Death by him And Life empoisoned," yet I cried, "Give Life. "
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The presence of an Afreet, a supernatural being, places the work within the fantasy genre.
- Philosophical — The narrative explores existential themes such as life, death, and choice, common in philosophical literature.
- Horror — The imagery of darkness, death, and a grim supernatural figure contributes to a horror atmosphere.
Tags
Memoir · Autobiography · Biographical · Nonfiction · Self-Discovery · Personal Growth · Spirituality · Philosophy · Existentialism · Psychology · Mental Health · Trauma
What this Textopian page supports
The Choice is listed on Textopian as a poem by Helen Hay Whitney, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Helen Hay Whitney
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Philosophical, Horror, Drama
- Length: 136 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Choice by Helen Hay Whitney
- 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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More by Helen Hay Whitney
- Sonnets (1905)
- Songs (1905)
- Some Verses: Sonnets: THE DAYS (1898)
- Some Verses: Sonnets: THE EVERLASTING SNOWS (1898)
- Some Verses: Sonnets: THRONE AND ALTAR (1898)
- Some Verses: Sonnets: EAST AND WEST (1898)
- Some Verses: Sonnets: THE BATTLE (1898)
- Some Verses: Sonnets: WATER AND WINE (1898)
- All works by Helen Hay Whitney