The Circus by Joyce Kilmer (1908)
This poem describes a circus scene where the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and beauty. The circus is portrayed as a microcosm of society, with its performers and spectators alike being subject to the whims of fate. The speaker notes how the beautiful and exotic animals are confined within their cages, much like people are trapped in their own lives.
By Joyce Kilmer · First published 1908 · Genre: Essay, Literary Criticism, Philosophical · 3,625 words
First lines
I
Restraint is perhaps the most conspicuous literary virtue of the artists in words who have the pleasant task of describing in programs, in newspaper advertisements, and on posters the excellences of circuses. The litterateur who, possessed of an intimate knowledge of the circus, merely calls it "a new, stupendous, dazzling, magnificent, spectacular, educational, and awe-inspiring conglomeration of marvels, mysteries, mirth, and magic," deserves praise for a verbal economy almost Greek. For he is not verbose and extravagant, he is taciturn and thrifty; he deliberately uses the mildest instead of the strongest of the adjectives at his disposal.
What this Textopian page supports
The Circus 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: Essay, Literary Criticism, Philosophical, Non-fiction, Cultural Commentary
- Length: 3,625 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Circus?
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Similar titles
- Daily Traveling by Joyce Kilmer
- Here In This Spring by Dylan Thomas
- The Runaway by Robert Frost
- Place For A Third by Robert Frost
- Verses From Quite Early One Morning by Dylan Thomas
- The Desert Road by Marjorie Pickthall
Genres
- Essay — The work presents a reflective analysis of the circus, exploring its cultural significance and philosophical implications.
- Literary Criticism — It critiques the representation of the circus in literature and its relationship to poetry and art.
- Philosophical — The text delves into themes of faith, reality versus illusion, and the nature of art and experience.
- Non-fiction — It provides factual observations and insights about the circus as a social and artistic phenomenon.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Circus · Travel · Adventure · Joy · Freedom · Escape · Illusion · Reality