The Cities of the Plain
This novel is a historical romance set during the California Gold Rush era. It revolves around the lives of two men, one a prospector and the other a clergyman, who become embroiled in a complex web of relationships with women. The story explores themes of love, morality, and redemption amidst the backdrop of the gold rush's lawlessness and greed.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1867 · Genre: Poetry, Religious, Allegory · 389 words
First lines
"Get ye up from the wrath of God's terrible day! Ungirded, unsandalled, arise and away! 'T is the vintage of blood, 't is the fulness of time, And vengeance shall gather the harvest of crime!"
The warning was spoken -- the righteous had gone, And the proud ones of Sodom were feasting alone; All gay was the banquet -- the revel was long, With the pouring of wine and the breathing of song.
What this Textopian page supports
The Cities of the Plain 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: Poetry, Religious, Allegory, Historical, Tragedy
- Length: 389 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Cities of the Plain 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 The Cities of the Plain?
- How does this poem by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetic form.
- Religious — Themes of divine judgment, morality, and the consequences of sin are central to the narrative.
- Allegory — The text serves as a moral lesson, using symbolic elements to convey deeper meanings about virtue and vice.
- Historical — References to biblical events and figures situate the work within a historical context.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · 19th Century · Verse Novel · Romance · Tragedy · Love Story · Historical Fiction · Western Frontier · Native American · Colonialism · Settlement