A Lay of Old Time
The poem is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the passing of time and the decline of traditional values. It describes a rural landscape where old customs and ways of life are being eroded by modernity. The speaker laments the loss of simplicity, honesty, and community that once characterized the region.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1820 · Genre: Poetry, Allegory, Religious · 357 words
First lines
Written for the Essex County Agricultural Fair, and sung at the banquet at Newburyport, October 2, 1856.
One morning of the first sad Fall, Poor Adam and his bride Sat in the shade of Eden's wall -- But on the outer side.
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A Lay of Old Time is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1820 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1820 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Allegory, Religious, Romanticism, Historical
- Length: 357 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and meter typical of poetry.
- Allegory — The narrative uses symbolic figures and actions to convey deeper moral and philosophical meanings.
- Religious — Themes of divine intervention and spiritual redemption are central to the narrative.
- Romanticism — The work reflects ideals of nature, emotion, and the human experience, characteristic of the Romantic movement.
Tags
Poetry · Nineteenth Century Literature · American Literature · Romanticism · Historical Fiction · Narrative Poetry · Free Verse · Ballad Form · Folklore · Mythology · Medievalism · Chivalry