Oliver Wendell Holmes
The poem is a tribute to Oliver Wendell Holmes, a physician and writer who was a friend of Whittier's. It portrays him as a man of great intellect and wit, with a strong sense of morality and social justice. The poem highlights his contributions to literature and medicine, and expresses admiration for his character and accomplishments.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1840 · Genre: Biography, Literary Criticism, Poetry · 321 words
First lines
On the occasion of the seventy-fifth birthday of Dr. Holmes _The Critic of New York_ collected personal tributes from friends and admirers of that author. My own contribution was as follows: --
Poet, essayist, novelist, humorist, scientist, ripe scholar, and wise philosopher, if Dr. Holmes does not, at the present time, hold in popular estimation the first place in American literature, his rare versatility is the cause. In view of the inimitable prose writer, we forget the poet; in our admiration of his melodious verse, we lose sight of _Elsie Venner_ and _The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table_. We laugh over his wit and humor, until, to use his own words,
What this Textopian page supports
Oliver Wendell Holmes is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1840 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: 1840 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Literary Criticism, Poetry, Essays, Humor
- Length: 321 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Biography — The work reflects on the life and contributions of a significant literary figure, providing insights into his character and achievements.
- Literary Criticism — It offers an analysis of the author's versatility and impact on American literature, discussing various aspects of his writing.
- Poetry — The text acknowledges the author's poetic contributions and style, highlighting his ability to evoke emotion through verse.
- Essays — The reflective nature of the writing aligns with the essay genre, as it contemplates the author's life and work.
Tags
Biography · Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Historical Figure · Philosopher · Lawyer · Judge · Autobiographical · Memoir · Nonfiction · Essay Collection