The Divine Tragedy by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

An angel carries Habakkuk toward Babylon to feed an imprisoned prophet, and John the Baptist calls for repentance. Jesus resists Lucifer, teaches and heals, faces betrayal and condemnation, dies on the cross, and returns to Mary Magdalene and his disciples, entrusting Peter with his flock. In a closing scene at a Calabrian convent, Joachim sets out his doctrine of three divine ages and proclaims love as the Holy Ghost within.

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Genre: Religious Drama, Dramatic Poetry, Scriptural Retelling · 36 chapters · 34,215 words

First lines

The ANGEL bearing the PROPHET HABAKKUK through the air.

PROPHET. / Why dost thou bear me aloft, / O Angel of God, on thy pinions / O'er realms and dominions? / Softly I float as a cloud / In air, for thy right hand upholds me, / Thy garment enfolds me!

• Open reader

Genres

• Religious Drama — Jesus' ministry, condemnation, crucifixion, and return unfold through dialogue and stage directions, followed by Joachim's declaration of religious doctrine.
• Dramatic Poetry — Named speakers deliver verse speeches, songs, and monologues, while stage directions mark entrances, gestures, sleep, violence, and recognition.
• Scriptural Retelling — The scenes dramatize Jesus' temptations, healings, parables, betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection, with disciples and other witnesses speaking their responses.

Tags

verse drama · miracles · repentance · betrayal · crucifixion · resurrection · Christian theology

What this Textopian page supports

The Divine Tragedy is listed on Textopian as a play by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, dated Date unknown.

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• Work type: Play
• Author: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• Date: Date unknown
• Language: English
• Genres: Religious Drama, Dramatic Poetry, Scriptural Retelling
• Length: 34,215 words
• Structure: 36 chapters, 685 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Divine Tragedy by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• 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

Contents

• Christus: Introitus
• The First Passover, I. Vox Clamantis
• The First Passover, II. Mount Quarantania
• The First Passover, III. the Marriage in Cana
• The First Passover, IV. in the Cornfields
• The First Passover, V. Nazareth
• The First Passover, VI. the Sea of Galilee
• The First Passover, VII. the Demoniac of Gadara
• The First Passover, VIII. Talitha Cumi
• The First Passover, IX. the Tower of Magdala
• The First Passover, X. the House of Simon the Pharisee
• The Second Passover, I. before the Gates of Machaerus
• The Second Passover, II. Herod's Banquet-Hall
• The Second Passover, III. under the Walls of Machaerus
• The Second Passover, IV. Nicodemus at Night
• The Second Passover, V. Blind Bartimeus
• The Second Passover, VI. Jacob's Well
• The Second Passover, VII. the Coasts of Caesarea Philippi
• The Second Passover, VIII. the Young Ruler
• The Second Passover, IX. at Bethany
• The Second Passover, X. Born Blind
• The Second Passover, XI. Simon Magus and Helen of Tyre
• The Third Passover, I. the Entry into Jerusalem
• The Third Passover, II. Solomon's Porch
• The Third Passover, III. Lord, is it I?
• The Third Passover, IV. the Garden of Gethsemane
• The Third Passover, V. the Palace of Caiaphas
• The Third Passover, VI. Pontius Pilate
• The Third Passover, VII. Barabbas in Prison
• The Third Passover, VIII. Ecce Homo
• The Third Passover, IX. Aceldama
• The Third Passover, X. the Three Crosses
• The Third Passover, XI. the Two Maries
• The Third Passover, XII. the Sea of Galilee
• Epilogue: Symbolum Apostolorum
• First Interlude: the Abbot Joachim

More by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• Pleasant it was, when Woods were Green
• Hymn to the Night
• A Psalm of Life
• The Reaper and the Flowers
• The Light of Stars
• Footsteps of Angels
• Flowers
• The Beleaguered City
• All works by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow