Goblin Poetry by Lafcadio Hearn
The collection explores the folklore and mythology of Japan, focusing on supernatural creatures known as goblins or yōkai. It delves into their characteristics, behaviors, and interactions with humans, often highlighting their mischievous nature. The work also touches on the cultural significance of these creatures in Japanese society, examining their role in shaping the country's folklore and mythology.
By Lafcadio Hearn · First published 1867 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Folklore · 12,490 words
First lines
Recently, while groping about an old book shop, I found a collection of Goblin Poetry in three volumes, containing many pictures of goblins. The title of the collection is _Ky[ = o]ka Hyaku-Monogatari_, or "The Mad Poetry of the _Hyaku-Monogatari_. " The _Hyaku-Monogatari_, or "Hundred Tales," is a famous book of ghost stories. On the subject of each of the stories, poems were composed at different times by various persons, -- poems of the sort called _Ky[ = o]ka_, or Mad Poetry, -- and these were collected and edited to form the three volumes of which I became the fortunate possessor. The collecting was done by a certain Takumi Jingor[ = o], who wrote under the literary pseudonym "Temm['e]r R['e][ = o]jin" (Ancient of the Temm['e]r Era). Takumi died in the first year of Bunky[ = u] (1861), at the good age of eighty; and his collection seems to have been published in the sixth year of Ka['e][: i] (1853). The pictures were made by an artist called Masazumi, who worked under the pseudonym "Ry[ = o]sai Kanjin."
What this Textopian page supports
Goblin Poetry is listed on Textopian as a novella by Lafcadio Hearn, dated 1867 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Lafcadio Hearn
- Date: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Folklore, Horror, Literary Criticism
- Length: 12,490 words
- Structure: 1 section, 183 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Goblin Poetry by Lafcadio Hearn
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The primary format of the work is a collection of poems, specifically 'Kyōka', which are a form of Japanese poetry.
- Fantasy — The themes revolve around supernatural beings, goblins, and folklore, creating a fantastical atmosphere.
- Folklore — The content is deeply rooted in Japanese folklore, exploring traditional stories and beliefs about spirits and goblins.
- Horror — Some poems evoke a sense of terror and the grotesque, reflecting the darker aspects of folklore.
Tags
Japanese Folklore · Folk Tales · Anthology · Poetry Collection · Cultural Studies · Literary Nonfiction · 19th Century Literature · Asian Literature · Mythology · Legends · Fairy Tales · Supernatural Fiction