To Oliver Wendell Holmes
The poem is a tribute to the American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. It portrays him as a champion of justice and equality, with a strong sense of morality and compassion. The speaker praises his commitment to the abolition of slavery and his defense of individual rights. The tone is one of admiration and respect for Holmes' dedication to the principles of liberty and human dignity.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1845 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Lyric · 426 words
First lines
8TH Mo. 29TH, 1892.
This, the last of Mr. Whittier's poems, was written but a few weeks before his death.
What this Textopian page supports
To Oliver Wendell Holmes is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1845 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: 1845 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Elegy, Lyric, Philosophical, Reflections
- Length: 426 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for To Oliver Wendell Holmes by John Greenleaf Whittier
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem reflecting on friendship, life, and mortality, characteristic of the poetic form.
- Elegy — It serves as a tribute, expressing sorrow and reverence for a friend, fitting the elegiac tradition.
- Lyric — The personal and emotional nature of the poem aligns with the lyric genre, focusing on the speaker's feelings.
- Philosophical — The themes of life, death, and the human experience suggest a philosophical exploration of existence.
Tags
Poem · Ode · American Literature · 19th Century Poetry · Friendship · Tribute · Eulogy · Holmesian Tribute · Literary Tribute · Poetic Ode · Verse · Free Verse