The Pumpkin
The poem tells the story of a young woman who is forced to marry an old man due to her family's financial situation. She is unhappy with the arrangement and feels trapped in her new life. The pumpkin serves as a symbol of her longing for freedom and youth.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1826 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Thanksgiving Literature · 448 words
First lines
Oh, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun, The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run, And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold, With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold, Like that which o'er Nineveh's prophet once grew, While he waited to know that his warning was true, And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pumpkin is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1826 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: 1826 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Thanksgiving Literature, Nostalgia, Regional Literature
- Length: 448 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pumpkin 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
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and imagery typical of poetry.
- Nature Writing — The poem vividly describes natural elements, focusing on the pumpkin and its surroundings.
- Thanksgiving Literature — The themes of harvest and Thanksgiving are central to the poem's narrative.
- Nostalgia — The poem evokes memories of childhood and past traditions associated with pumpkins.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Autumn · Seasonal · Symbolism · Imagery · Literary Device · Figurative Language · Metaphor · Personification · Simile · Alliteration