By the River
The novella revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after years abroad and becomes infatuated with a woman he had previously known. His obsession with her leads him to reevaluate his life choices and ultimately results in a tragic confrontation with reality.
By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe · First published 1784 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy · 69 words
First lines
FLOW on, ye lays so loved, so fair,
On to Oblivion's ocean flow! May no rapt boy recall you e'er,
No maiden in her beauty's glow!
My love alone was then your theme,
What this Textopian page supports
By the River is listed on Textopian as a poem by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, dated 1784 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
- Date: 1784 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 69 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for By the River by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work primarily expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of love, nature, and individual emotion align with the Romantic movement.
- Elegy — The tone reflects mourning and loss, typical of elegiac poetry.
- Nature Poetry — Nature imagery is prominent, emphasizing the connection between human emotion and the natural world.
Tags
Romanticism · Poetry · Nature · Philosophy · Existentialism · Meditation · Solitude · River · Symbolism · Allegory · Mythology · Folklore