This Man Jones. (Sweet-Knot and Galamus)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his rural home after years away and reconnects with an old flame, Galamus. He finds her married but still in love with him. The narrative explores themes of unrequited love, nostalgia, and the complexities of human relationships.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Drama, Tragedy · 791 words
First lines
This man Jones was what you'd call A feller 'at had no sand at all; Kind o' consumpted, and undersize, And sailor-complected, with big sad eyes, And a kind-of-a sort-of-a hang-dog style, And a sneakin' sort-of-a half-way smile 'At kind o' give him away to us As a preacher, maybe, er somepin' wuss.
Didn't take with the gang -- well, no -- But still we managed to use him, though, -- Coddin' the gilly along the rout', And drivin' the stakes 'at he pulled out -- Far I was one of the bosses then, And of course stood in with the canvasmen; And the way we put up jobs, you know, On this man Jones jes' beat the show!
What this Textopian page supports
This Man Jones. (Sweet-Knot and Galamus) 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, Drama, Tragedy, Adventure, Romance
- Length: 791 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for This Man Jones. (Sweet-Knot and Galamus) by James Whitcomb Riley
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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- How does this poem by James Whitcomb Riley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming structure typical of poetry.
- Drama — The narrative involves dramatic elements such as tension, conflict, and a climactic event involving danger and heroism.
- Tragedy — The story concludes with the death of a character, evoking themes of sacrifice and loss.
- Adventure — The setting and events involve a circus environment with elements of risk and excitement.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · Humorous Verse · Satire · Social Commentary · Regionalism · Midwestern Fiction · Folklore · Mythology · Symbolism · Character Study · Comedic Tone