Overruled by John Greenleaf Whittier
The story revolves around a young woman who seeks to reunite with her lover after he has been wrongly accused of murder and imprisoned. She visits him in prison, where she finds him broken by his confinement and the loss of his freedom. Despite the hardships they face, their love remains strong, and they continue to see each other secretly until he is eventually released from prison.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1827 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious · 157 words
First lines
The threads our hands in blindness spin No self-determined plan weaves in; The shuttle of the unseen powers Works out a pattern not as ours.
Ah! small the choice of him who sings What sound shall leave the smitten strings; Fate holds and guides the hand of art; The singer's is the servant's part.
The wind-harp chooses not the tone That through its trembling threads is blown; The patient organ cannot guess What hand its passive keys shall press.
Through wish, resolve, and act, our will Is moved by undreamed forces still; And no man measures in advance His strength with untried circumstance.
What this Textopian page supports
Overruled is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1827 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: 1827 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious, Literary, Inspirational
- Length: 157 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Overruled 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 Overruled?
- How does this poem by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Book by John Greenleaf Whittier
- At Washington by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Curse Of The Charter Breakers by John Greenleaf Whittier
- R S S by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Problem by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Disenthralled by John Greenleaf Whittier
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetic form.
- Philosophical — The themes explore fate, free will, and the nature of artistic expression, prompting deep reflection.
- Religious — The text references divine guidance and the role of a higher power in human affairs.
- Literary — The writing style is rich in imagery and metaphor, typical of literary works.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · 19th Century · Free Verse · Social Commentary · Politics · Slavery · Abolitionism · Civil War Era · American History · Prose Poetry · Satire