Death-Lament of the Noble Wife of Asan Aga
The poem is a lamentation of the death of a noble wife, Asan Aga's wife. It describes her beauty and virtues, and how she was taken from her husband too soon. The speaker mourns her loss and expresses regret that she did not live to see old age. The poem explores themes of mortality, love, and the transience of life.
By Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe · First published 1823 · Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Poetry · 867 words
First lines
WHAT is yonder white thing in the forest? Is it snow, or can it swans perchance be? Were it snow, ere this it had been melted, Were it swans, they all away had hastend. Snow, in truth, it is not, swans it is not, 'Tis the shining tents of Asan Aga. He within is lying, sorely wounded; To him come his mother and his sister; Bashfully his wife delays to come there. When the torment of his wounds had lessen'd, To his faithful wife he sent this message: "At my court no longer dare to tarry, At my court, or e'en amongst my people."
What this Textopian page supports
Death-Lament of the Noble Wife of Asan Aga is listed on Textopian as a poem by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, dated 1823 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: 1823 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Drama, Poetry, Romanticism, Folklore
- Length: 867 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for Death-Lament of the Noble Wife of Asan Aga by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Isabella Or The Pot Of Basil by John Keats
- Lucy Gray by William Wordsworth
- Alcestis To Her Husband by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Loves Burial by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- The Giaour by Lord Byron
- Lara by Lord Byron
Genres
- Tragedy — The narrative centers on profound themes of loss, sorrow, and the emotional turmoil of a wife facing separation from her husband and children.
- Drama — The work presents intense emotional conflicts and character interactions that drive the plot forward, typical of dramatic literature.
- Poetry — The text employs lyrical language and structured verse, characteristic of poetic forms, enhancing its emotional resonance.
- Romanticism — The focus on individual emotion, nature, and the tragic aspects of love aligns with the themes of Romantic literature.
Tags
Epic · Tragic · Poem · Ballad · Folklore · Mythology · Love · Loss · Grief · Mourning · Death · Lamentation