Father William. a New Version by Lee o. Harris a
This poem is a humorous retelling of Lewis Carroll's classic character Father William from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It presents an older and wiser version of the character who has learned to navigate the absurdities of life with greater ease. The poem explores themes of wisdom, experience, and the importance of learning from one's mistakes.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1881 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Parody · 430 words
First lines
"You are old, Father William, and though one would think All the veins in your body were dry, Yet the end of your nose is red as a pink; I beg your indulgence, but why?"
"You see," Father William replied, "in my youth -- 'Tis a thing I must ever regret -- It worried me so to keep up with the truth That my nose has a flush on it yet."
What this Textopian page supports
Father William. a New Version by Lee o. Harris and James Whitcomb Riley is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1881 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1881 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Parody, Satire, Children's Literature
- Length: 430 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Father William. a New Version by Lee o. Harris and James Whitcomb Riley by James Whitcomb Riley
- 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
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations are crafted to be amusing and witty, reflecting a humorous tone.
- Parody — The work mimics and humorously alters the style of a well-known poem, serving as a parody.
- Satire — The text uses irony and exaggeration to critique societal norms and human behavior.
Tags
Poetry · Children's Literature · Nonsense Verse · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Literary Parody · Wordplay · Language Play · Rhetorical Device · Alliteration · Assonance