The Minister's Daughter
The story revolves around a young woman who is the daughter of a minister and struggles with her own faith after witnessing a tragic event involving her family's servant girl. The narrative explores themes of morality, guilt, and redemption in a small New England town during the early 19th century.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1829 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Narrative Poetry · 558 words
First lines
In the minister's morning sermon He had told of the primal fall, And how thenceforth the wrath of God Rested on each and all.
And how of His will and pleasure, All souls, save a chosen few, Were doomed to the quenchless burning, And held in the way thereto.
What this Textopian page supports
The Minister's Daughter is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1829 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: 1829 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Philosophical Poetry, Narrative Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Didactic Poetry
- Length: 558 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Minister's Daughter by John Greenleaf Whittier
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — The poem explores themes of faith, divine love, and the nature of God, making it central to religious poetry.
- Philosophical Poetry — It delves into deep philosophical questions about morality, the nature of good and evil, and the human condition.
- Narrative Poetry — The poem tells a story through the dialogue between the minister and his daughter, illustrating a moral lesson.
- Lyric Poetry — It expresses personal emotions and reflections, particularly the minister's internal struggle and realization.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry · Romance · Fiction · 19th Century · New England · Family Drama · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Coming of Age · Love Story · Tragedy