St. Martin's Summer by John Greenleaf Whittier
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her hometown after being away for several years. She is met with a mix of nostalgia and resentment from the townspeople, who are wary of outsiders. The protagonist's past mistakes and relationships come back to haunt her as she tries to rebuild her life in the community.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1867 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism · 574 words
First lines
This name in some parts of Europe is given to the season we call Indian Summer, in honor of the good St. Martin. The title of the poem was suggested by the fact that the day it refers to was the exact date of that set apart to the Saint, the 11th of November.
Though flowers have perished at the touch Of Frost, the early comer, I hail the season loved so much, The good St. Martin's summer.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and reflections on nature, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature Poetry — The poem vividly describes natural scenes and seasonal changes, focusing on the beauty of the environment.
- Romanticism — The themes of nature, emotion, and individual experience align with Romantic literary ideals.
- Seasonal Poetry — The poem specifically addresses the transition between seasons, particularly autumn and winter.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Nature Poetry · Summer · Seasonal Themes · Rural Life · Farmer's Life · Agriculture · Labor · Class Struggle · Social Commentary
What this Textopian page supports
St. Martin's Summer is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1867 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: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Seasonal Poetry, Spiritual Poetry
- Length: 574 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for St. Martin's Summer by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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