The Knight of St. John
This poem tells the story of a knight who has been wounded and left to die on the battlefield. He is found by a group of monks from the Order of St. John, who nurse him back to health. The knight is grateful for their kindness and decides to join the order as a way of repaying them.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1837 · Genre: Romanticism, Religious Poetry, Narrative Poetry · 508 words
First lines
ERE down yon blue Carpathian hills The sun shall sink again, Farewell to life and all its ills, Farewell to cell and chain!
These prison shades are dark and cold, But, darker far than they, The shadow of a sorrow old Is on my heart alway.
What this Textopian page supports
The Knight of St. John is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1837 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: 1837 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romanticism, Religious Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Historical Poetry, Lyric Poetry
- Length: 508 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Knight of St. John by John Greenleaf Whittier
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Romanticism — The work explores deep emotional experiences, nostalgia, and the conflict between personal desire and duty, characteristic of Romantic literature.
- Religious Poetry — The poem reflects themes of faith, penance, and the relationship between the individual and the divine, common in religious poetry.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story of a knight's internal struggle and journey, fitting the narrative poetry genre.
- Historical Poetry — The references to historical and religious contexts place the work within the historical poetry genre.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Poetry · Romance · Nautical · Adventure · Coming-of-Age · Social Class · Love Triangle · Family Drama · Marriage · Sacrifice · Loyalty