The Old Man and Jim by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem tells the story of an old man who has spent his life working hard and accumulating wealth, but now he's dying and reflecting on his life. He thinks about Jim, a young boy who used to work for him, and how he was kind to him despite being poor himself. The old man realizes that he took advantage of Jim's kindness and exploited him for his own gain.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, War, Family · 921 words
First lines
Old man never had much to say -- / 'Ceptin' to Jim, -- / And Jim was the wildest boy he had -- / And the old man jes' wrapped up in him! / Never heerd him speak but once / Er twice in my life, -- and first time was / When the army broke out, and Jim he went, / The old man backin' him, fer three months; / And all 'at I heerd the old man say / Was, jes' as we turned to start away, -- / "Well, good-by, Jim: / Take keer o' yourse'f!"
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality, characteristic of poetry.
- War — The narrative centers around a young man's experiences in the army and his bravery in battle, highlighting themes of war.
- Family — The relationship between the old man and Jim is central, focusing on familial bonds and the father's pride and concern for his son.
- Historical — The setting and events are tied to a specific historical context, likely the American Civil War, providing a backdrop for the story.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry · Friendship · Old Age · Youth · Coming of Age · Nostalgia · Rural Life · Indiana · Regionalism · Realism · Social Commentary
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Man and Jim is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, War, Family, Historical, Tragedy
- Length: 921 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Old Man and Jim by James Whitcomb Riley
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