Doors of Daring (Songs for America)
The story revolves around a young American who travels to Europe and becomes disillusioned with the materialism and superficiality of modern life. He returns home determined to live a more authentic and meaningful existence.
By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1901 · Genre: Poetry, Inspirational, Philosophical · 163 words
Editions
First lines
The mountains that enfold the vale / With walls of granite, steep and high, / Invite the fearless foot to scale / Their stairway toward the sky.
The restless, deep, dividing sea / That flows and foams from shore to shore, / Calls to its sunburned chivalry, / "Push out, set sail, explore! " / And all the bars at which we fret, / That seem to prison and control, / Are but the doors of daring, set / Ajar before the soul.
Say not, "Too poor," but freely give; / Sigh not, "Too weak," but boldly try. / You never can begin to live / Until you dare to die.
What this Textopian page supports
Doors of Daring (Songs for America) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Van Dyke, 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: Henry Van Dyke
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Inspirational, Philosophical, American Literature
- Length: 163 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Doors of Daring (Songs for America) by Henry Van Dyke
- 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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Similar titles
- A Home Song Songs Of Hearth And Altar by Henry Van Dyke
- America Songs For America by Henry Van Dyke
- Doors Of Daring Songs For America by Henry Van Dyke
- The Land Of Love Poems From Mardi by Herman Melville
- The Men Of Old by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Mighty Wind by Taras Shevchenko
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Inspirational — The themes encourage courage, exploration, and overcoming limitations, aiming to inspire the reader.
- Philosophical — The text explores existential themes such as the nature of life and the concept of daring to live fully.
- American Literature — The work is part of a collection titled 'Songs for America,' indicating its relevance to American cultural and literary themes.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · 19th Century · Patriotic · Nationalism · Social Commentary · Historical Context · Symbolism · Imagery · Figurative Language · Metaphor · Allusion