Lines on the Death of s. Oliver Torrey
The poem is a lamentation of the death of a young man who died suddenly and unexpectedly. It expresses the speaker's grief and shock at the loss, and reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The poem explores themes of mortality, youth, and the fragility of human existence. The speaker describes the deceased as having been full of promise and potential, but now lost to the world. The tone is one of sorrow and regret, with a sense of irony that the young man's life was cut short just as it was beginning. The poem also touches on the idea that death can be a cruel and arbitrary force, taking people from us at random. Overall, the poem is a powerful expression of grief and a meditation on the human experience of mortality.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1848 · Genre: Elegy, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism · 347 words
First lines
SECRETARY OF THE BOSTON YOUNG MEN'S ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
Gone before us, O our brother, To the spirit-land! Vainly look we for another In thy place to stand. Who shall offer youth and beauty On the wasting shrine Of a stern and lofty duty, With a faith like thine?
What this Textopian page supports
Lines on the Death of s. Oliver Torrey is listed on Textopian as a poem 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: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1848 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Elegy, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Social Commentary, Spiritual Reflection
- Length: 347 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Elegy — The work mourns the death of a young individual, reflecting on loss and remembrance.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyrical expression.
- Romanticism — Themes of nature, emotion, and individualism align with Romantic ideals.
- Social Commentary — The poem touches on themes of duty and moral responsibility, reflecting societal values.
Tags
Poem · Elegy · Mourning · Death · Loss · Grief · Tribute · Friendship · Memorial · Verse · Lyric · American Literature