A Visit from the Cricket
The story revolves around a young boy who befriends a cricket that has come to life. The cricket possesses magical powers and takes the boy on a journey through various realms, including a fantastical forest and an underwater kingdom. Along the way, they encounter strange creatures and experience numerous adventures. Ultimately, the boy learns valuable lessons about courage, friendship, and the importance of following one's heart.
By Irving Sidney Dix · First published 1946 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Pastoral · 485 words
First lines
I. Thou shrill-voiced cricket there In yonder corner, Thou remindest me Of joys departed, and of fair And fallen summer. O little mourner, Cease thy pensive fluting, Lest a flood of melancholy, Sad as thine, That to my heart is suiting, Encompass me -- it is unholy Thus to pine For fallen joys or days departed, E'en though thou art so broken-hearted, For moments are divine.
II. Silent art thou? -- thanks to thee, O little cricket Underneath my chair; Thanks to thee -- yet would I see Thy shadow less -- out to yon thicket!
What this Textopian page supports
A Visit from the Cricket is listed on Textopian as a poem by Irving Sidney Dix, dated 1946 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Irving Sidney Dix
- Date: 1946 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Pastoral, Elegy, Symbolism
- Length: 485 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Visit from the Cricket by Irving Sidney Dix
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Visit from the Cricket?
- How does this poem by Irving Sidney Dix fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verses and stanzas, employing rhyme and meter, which are characteristic of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, typical of lyric poetry, focusing on themes of melancholy and nostalgia.
- Pastoral — The poem references nature, such as the cricket and summer, which aligns with pastoral themes that idealize the natural world.
- Elegy — The tone of mourning and lamentation for 'fallen summer' and 'departed glory' is reminiscent of an elegy.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Short Story Collection · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Poetic Prose · Symbolism · Nature Imagery