Skipper Ireson's Ride
The poem tells the story of a young man who rides to his death on horseback, rather than submit to the shame of being hanged for murder. The speaker reflects on the bravery and dignity of the young man's actions, comparing him favorably to those who would have preferred to live in shame.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1842 · Genre: Ballad, Narrative Poetry, Historical Fiction · 1,137 words
First lines
In the valuable and carefully prepared History of Marblehead, published in 1879 by Samuel Roads, Jr., it is stated that the crew of Captain Ireson, rather than himself, were responsible for the abandonment of the disabled vessel. To screen themselves they charged their captain with the crime. In view of this the writer of the ballad addressed the following letter to the historian: --
OAK KNOLL, DANVERS, 5 mo. 18, 1880.
What this Textopian page supports
Skipper Ireson's Ride is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1842 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: 1842 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Ballad, Narrative Poetry, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary, Tragedy
- Length: 1,137 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Skipper Ireson's Ride 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Skipper Ireson's Ride?
- How does this poem by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Ballad first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Ballad — The work is structured as a narrative poem that tells a story, characteristic of the ballad form.
- Narrative Poetry — It combines poetic elements with a storytelling approach, focusing on a specific event and characters.
- Historical Fiction — The poem is based on a historical event and incorporates real-life figures and settings.
- Social Commentary — It critiques societal norms and the consequences of individual actions within a community context.
Tags
Nautical · Poetry · Ballad · Folklore · Maritime · Shipwreck · Tragedy · Loss · Grief · Mourning · Sea · Ocean