The Legend of St. Mark
The poem tells the story of Saint Mark, one of Jesus' twelve apostles, who was martyred by being dragged through the streets of Alexandria until he died. The narrative focuses on the saint's courage and faith in the face of persecution.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1867 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Legend · 805 words
First lines
"This legend [to which my attention was called by my friend Charles Sumner], is the subject of a celebrated picture by Tintoretto, of which Mr. Rogers possesses the original sketch. The slave lies on the ground, amid a crowd of spectators, who look on, animated by all the various emotions of sympathy, rage, terror; a woman, in front, with a child in her arms, has always been admired for the lifelike vivacity of her attitude and expression. The executioner holds up the broken implements; St. Mark, with a headlong movement, seems to rush down from heaven in haste to save his worshipper. The dramatic grouping in this picture is wonderful; the coloring, in its gorgeous depth and harmony, is, in Mr. Rogers's sketch, finer than in the picture. " -- MRS. JAMESON'S Sacred and Legendary Art, I. 154.
What this Textopian page supports
The Legend of St. Mark 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: Religious Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Legend, Romanticism, Dramatic Poetry
- Length: 805 words
- Structure: 1 section, 21 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Legend of St. Mark by John Greenleaf Whittier
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The work explores themes of faith, divine intervention, and the power of prayer, characteristic of religious poetry.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story with a clear plot involving a slave, a lord, and the intervention of St. Mark.
- Legend — It is based on a legend that combines historical and mythical elements, focusing on the character of St. Mark.
- Romanticism — The poem reflects Romantic ideals through its emphasis on emotion, nature, and individual experience.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Christianity · Religion · Mythology · Legend · Folklore · Symbolism · Allegory · Mystery