On a Child who Died
The poem explores the theme of mortality and the inevitability of death through the eyes of a child who has died. The speaker reflects on the child's life and how it was cut short, highlighting the senselessness and tragedy of their passing. The poem also touches on the idea that even in death, the child remains innocent and pure, untouched by the complexities and cruelties of the adult world.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1907 · Genre: Satire, Biography, Tragedy · 2,844 words
First lines
There was once a little Whig.
Ugh! The oiliness, the public theft, the cowardice, the welter of sin! One cannot conceive the product save under shelter and in the midst of an universal corruption.
What this Textopian page supports
On a Child who Died is listed on Textopian as an essay by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Biography, Tragedy, Social Commentary, Fiction
- Length: 2,844 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for On a Child who Died by Hilaire Belloc
- 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering On a Child who Died?
- How does this essay by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Epitaph On Edward Purdon by Oliver Goldsmith
- A Grief Ago by Dylan Thomas
- A Dirge by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Epitaph On Mrs Mason by Thomas Gray
- To A Little Lover Lass Dead by Langston Hughes
- After The Funeral by Dylan Thomas
Genres
- Satire — The work employs humor, irony, and exaggeration to critique societal norms and political figures.
- Biography — The narrative follows the life story of a fictional character, Joseph, detailing his upbringing and untimely death.
- Tragedy — The story ends with the premature death of the protagonist, highlighting the loss of potential and the impact of societal pressures.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques the expectations and values of the upper class and political society.
Tags
Poem · Lamentation · Loss · Grief · Childhood · Death · Mortality · Elegy · Funeral · Memorial · Tribute · Condolence