The King by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem describes a monarch who has lost his power and influence, now reduced to a mere figurehead. He sits on his throne, surrounded by the remnants of his former glory, but his authority is no longer respected. The people have turned against him, and he is left with nothing but memories of his past greatness.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1880 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Romanticism · 434 words
First lines
They rode right out of the morning sun -- / A glimmering, glittering cavalcade / Of knights and ladies and every one / In princely sheen arrayed; / And the king of them all, O he rode ahead, / With a helmet of gold, and a plume of red / That spurted about in the breeze and bled / In the bloom of the everglade.
And they rode high over the dewy lawn, / With brave, glad banners of every hue / That rolled in ripples, as they rode on / In splendor, two and two; / And the tinkling links of the golden reins / Of the steeds they rode rang such refrains / As the castanets in a dream of Spain's / Intensest gold and blue.
What this Textopian page supports
The King is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1880 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: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Romanticism, Allegory
- Length: 434 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The King by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and vivid imagery.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as a king, knights, and a dream-like procession.
- Romanticism — The text emphasizes emotion, nature, and a nostalgic, idealized past.
- Allegory — The poem can be interpreted as an allegory for the passage of time and the changing seasons.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Folklore · Mythology · King Figure · Symbolism · Allegory · Social Commentary · Satire · Humor · Irony