The Henchman by John Greenleaf Whittier
This poem tells the story of a henchman who has been loyal to his lord for many years but is now old and tired. He reflects on his past service and the hardships he endured, including being wounded in battle. Despite this, he remains devoted to his lord and feels a sense of pride in having served him faithfully. The poem explores themes of loyalty, duty, and the passing of time.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1835 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Poetry · 517 words
First lines
MY lady walks her morning round, / My lady's page her fleet greyhound, / My lady's hair the fond winds stir, / And all the birds make songs for her.
Her thrushes sing in Rathburn bowers, / And Rathburn side is gay with flowers; / But ne'er like hers, in flower or bird, / Was beauty seen or music heard.
Similar titles
- June On The Merrimac by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Ballad by Olive Tilford Dargan
- Ballad Of Low Lie Down by Madison Cawein
- The Bridal Of Pennacook by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Wood Giant by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Telling The Bees by John Greenleaf Whittier
Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The work expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — Themes of love, nature, and individual emotion align with Romantic ideals.
- Nature Poetry — The vivid imagery of nature and its connection to the speaker's feelings highlights the genre.
- Elegiac Poetry — The tone of longing and unrequited love suggests elements of elegy.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry · 19th Century · New England · Regionalism · Social Commentary · Labor Rights · Working Class · Industrialization · Poetic Form · Ballad · Narrative Verse
What this Textopian page supports
The Henchman is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1835 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: 1835 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Nature Poetry, Elegiac Poetry, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 517 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Henchman 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