Edwin Percy Whipple
The poem portrays Edwin Percy Whipple as a man who has lost his faith and sense of purpose after being disillusioned by the world's cruelty and injustice. He is depicted as a melancholic figure, struggling to find meaning in life. The speaker describes him as having been once full of hope and idealism, but now he is empty and cynical.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1848 · Genre: Biography, Essay, Literary Criticism · 559 words
First lines
I have been pained to learn of the decease of nay friend of many years, Edwin P. Whipple. Death, however expected, is always something of a surprise, and in his case I was not prepared for it by knowing of any serious failure of his health. With the possible exception of Lowell and Matthew Arnold, he was the ablest critical essayist of his time, and the place he has left will not be readily filled.
What this Textopian page supports
Edwin Percy Whipple is listed on Textopian as an essay by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1848 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1848 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Essay, Literary Criticism, Memoir, Historical
- Length: 559 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Edwin Percy Whipple by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Edwin Percy Whipple?
- How does this essay by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Biography first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Thomas Bailey Aldrich In Praise Of Poets by Henry Van Dyke
- Oliver Wendell Holmes by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Jean Ingelow by Helen C. Black
- Thomas Carlyle And His Works by Henry David Thoreau
- James Russell Lowell by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Georg Brandes by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen
Genres
- Biography — The text reflects on the life and contributions of Edwin P. Whipple, detailing his character, achievements, and impact on literature.
- Essay — The work is a reflective essay that discusses the qualities and legacy of Whipple as a critical essayist.
- Literary Criticism — It evaluates Whipple's contributions to literary criticism and his approach to discussing other authors.
- Memoir — The personal recollections and emotional reflections indicate a memoir-like quality, focusing on personal experiences with Whipple.
Tags
Biography · Memoir · Literary Criticism · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Poetry · Critique · Eulogy · Tribute · Intellectual History · Cultural Commentary · Historical Figure