Absinthe at the Cheshire Cheese by Joyce Kilmer
The poem describes a scene of debauchery and excess at an old London tavern. The speaker observes the patrons' drunken behavior, their loud laughter, and their reckless abandon. The atmosphere is one of chaos and disorder, with the absinthe fueling their wild antics. The poem critiques the excesses of modern life and the dangers of unchecked hedonism.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1908 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Biography, Essays · 1,267 words
First lines
Belonging rather to gossip than to literary history, the following anecdote is nevertheless significant when considered merely as an illustrative legend. A certain London publisher, it is said, recently had in his possession a notebook that had been found, after his death, among the effects of Lionel Johnson. The poet had scribbled in it memoranda of all sorts: notes for essays, stray epigrams, rough drafts of poems. He had also copied into it, from books and magazines, bits of prose and verse that gave him pleasure. Well, one day this friend said to Johnson's loyal friend, Miss Louise Imogen Guiney -- and, by the way, Miss Guiney is not my authority for this story -- "Do you know, I have found in this notebook an unpublished poem by Lionel Johnson! It is very beautiful, far better than any of Johnson's published poems. I'll read it to you. " Thereupon he opened the notebook and began to declaim:
What this Textopian page supports
Absinthe at the Cheshire Cheese is listed on Textopian as a short story by Joyce Kilmer, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Joyce Kilmer
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Criticism, Biography, Essays, Poetry, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,267 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Absinthe at the Cheshire Cheese by Joyce Kilmer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Literary Criticism — The work analyzes and critiques the poetry and themes of a specific poet, focusing on the intersection of faith and artistic expression.
- Biography — It provides insights into the life and influences of a poet, detailing personal anecdotes and historical context.
- Essays — The format and style resemble an essay, presenting arguments and reflections on literary themes and figures.
- Poetry — While primarily critical, it discusses poetic works and styles, reflecting on the nature of poetry itself.
Tags
Literary Fiction · Poetry Collection · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Verse Novel · Free Verse · Symbolism · Imagery · Figurative Language · Allegory · Mythology · Folklore