The Poet and the Children
This poem tells the story of a poet who visits a group of children and shares his work with them. The children are initially unimpressed by the poet's words but eventually come to appreciate their beauty and meaning. Through the poet's interactions with the children, the poem explores themes of creativity, imagination, and the power of art to connect people across generations.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1866 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Inspirational · 283 words
First lines
LONGFELLOW.
WITH a glory of winter sunshine Over his locks of gray, In the old historic mansion He sat on his last birthday;
With his books and his pleasant pictures, And his household and his kin, While a sound as of myriads singing From far and near stole in.
It came from his own fair city, From the prairie's boundless plain, From the Golden Gate of sunset, And the cedarn woods of Maine.
What this Textopian page supports
The Poet and the Children is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1866 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Inspirational, Religious, Historical
- Length: 283 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Poet and the Children 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 Poet and the Children?
- How does this short story by John Greenleaf Whittier fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Twins by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Child World by James Whitcomb Riley
- The Christmas Of 1888 by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Untutored Giraffe by Oliver Herford
- Teacher by Langston Hughes
- Hope For Ingersoll by James Mcintyre
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Literary Fiction — The themes explore deep emotional and philosophical reflections on life, death, and legacy.
- Inspirational — The text conveys uplifting messages about the impact of art and the connection between generations.
- Religious — It incorporates spiritual themes and references to divine concepts, particularly regarding children and the afterlife.
Tags
Poetry · Children's Literature · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Social Commentary · Education · Childhood Innocence · Nostalgia · Family Dynamics · Societal Critique · Morality Tale · Coming of Age