Thomas Ellwood
The poem portrays Thomas Ellwood, a Quaker, who was imprisoned for his faith and refused to take the oath of allegiance to King Charles II. The speaker describes Ellwood's steadfastness in the face of persecution and his refusal to compromise his principles.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1867 · Genre: Biography, Historical Fiction, Religious Literature · 10,275 words
First lines
Commend us to autobiographies! Give us the veritable notchings of Robinson Crusoe on his stick, the indubitable records of a life long since swallowed up in the blackness of darkness, traced by a hand the very dust of which has become undistinguishable. The foolishest egotist who ever chronicled his daily experiences, his hopes and fears, poor plans and vain reachings after happiness, speaking to us out of the Past, and thereby giving us to understand that it was quite as real as our Present, is in no mean sort our benefactor, and commands our attention, in spite of his folly. We are thankful for the very vanity which prompted him to bottle up his poor records, and cast them into the great sea of Time, for future voyagers to pick up. We note, with the deepest interest, that in him too was enacted that miracle of a conscious existence, the reproduction of which in ourselves awes and perplexes us. He, too, had a mother; he hated and loved; the light from old-quenched hearths shone over him; he walked in the sunshine over the dust of those who had gone before him, just as we are now walking over his. These records of him remain, the footmarks of a long-extinct life, not of mere animal organism, but of a being like ourselves, enabling us, by studying their hieroglyphic significance, to decipher and see clearly into the mystery of existence centuries ago. The dead generations live again in these old self-biographies.
What this Textopian page supports
Thomas Ellwood is listed on Textopian as an essay 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: Essay
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Historical Fiction, Religious Literature, Memoir, Philosophical Literature
- Length: 10,275 words
- Structure: 1 section, 75 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Thomas Ellwood 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
- Biography — The work primarily recounts the life and experiences of Thomas Ellwood, detailing his personal journey and interactions with notable figures.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set against the backdrop of significant historical events, particularly the Quaker movement and the political climate of 17th century England.
- Religious Literature — The text explores themes of faith, religious persecution, and the Quaker belief system, reflecting the spiritual struggles of the time.
- Memoir — It includes personal reflections and insights from Ellwood, providing a subjective account of his life and thoughts.
Tags
Biography · Poetry · Autobiographical · Memoir · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Quakerism · Religious Themes · Spirituality · Self-Discovery · Personal Growth · Historical Figure