Robert Browning (in Praise of Poets)
The poem is a tribute to the poet's art and its ability to transcend time and mortality. It explores the idea that poetry is a form of immortality, allowing the poet's spirit to live on through their words. The speaker argues that poets are not just craftsmen, but seers who have the power to reveal hidden truths about the human condition.
By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1886 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Criticism, Biography · 177 words
First lines
How blind the toil that burrows like the mole, In winding graveyard pathways under- ground, For Browning's lineage! What if men have found Poor footmen or rich merchants on the roll Of his forbears? Did they beget his soul? Nay, for he came of ancestry renowned Through all the world, -- the poets laurel- crowned With wreaths from which the autumn takes no toll.
The blazons on his coat-of-arms are these: The flaming sign of Shelley's heart on fire, The golden globe of Shakespeare's human stage, The staff and scrip of Chaucer's pilgrimage, The rose of Dante's deep, divine desire, The tragic mask of wise Euripides.
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Robert Browning (in Praise of Poets) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Van Dyke, dated 1886 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Van Dyke
- Date: 1886 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Criticism, Biography, Philosophy
- Length: 177 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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- Shelley In Praise Of Poets by Henry Van Dyke
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices such as metaphor and imagery.
- Literary Criticism — The text analyzes and praises the poetic lineage and influence of Robert Browning.
- Biography — The work references Browning's ancestry and personal background in relation to his poetic identity.
- Philosophy — The text explores themes of legacy, influence, and the nature of artistic creation.
Tags
Poetry · Literary Criticism · Biography · Critique · Analysis · Praise · Appreciation · Celebration · Victorian Era · English Literature · Poetic Style · Language