Hyde and Seeke by Oliver Herford
The narrative unfolds in a pastoral setting where Love engages with a beautiful maiden beneath a willow tree. Love proposes a game of hide and seek, and the maiden eagerly agrees. As Love binds a scarf around his eyes, he begins to seek her, moving around the willow trees. Despite his efforts, the maiden remains elusive, leading to Love's frustration. Eventually, Love peeks and discovers the maiden hiding, accusing her of cheating. In turn, he insists that she must now seek him. The maiden, complying, binds her eyes and begins her search. However, Love has already taken flight, leaving her to lament his absence and reflect on her loss. The poem captures themes of love, playfulness, and the fleeting nature of affection, illustrating how love can be both enchanting and elusive. The playful game ultimately leads to a poignant realization of love's transience and the heartache that follows.
By Oliver Herford · First published 1910 · Genre: Poetry, Romantic, Allegory · 244 words
First lines
One day beneathe a willowe tree, Love met a mayde moste faire to see; "Come play at hyde and seeke," cried he.
"With alle my hearte! " -- quoth she.
"I'm it! " Love cries, and rounde hys eyes A scarfe the maiden bindeth, And inne and oute and rounde aboute Ye willowe trees he windeth -- Yette ne'er the maiden findeth.
Stille inne and oute and rounde aboute, And stille no maiden meetinge; Till, piqued, ye rogue unbinds hys eyes, And, perched upon a branch, espies Ye mayde retreatinge; "Fie! Fie! " cries Love -- "you're cheetinge!"
What this Textopian page supports
Hyde and Seeke is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oliver Herford
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romantic, Allegory, Children's Literature, Fantasy
- Length: 244 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Hyde and Seeke by Oliver Herford
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Hyde and Seeke?
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Similar titles
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- Annunciata by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen
- Tom Norton by James Mcintyre
- The Hare And The Harrier by Leo Tolstoy
- The Lion And The Fox by Leo Tolstoy
- The Conceited Apple Branch by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Romantic — The themes revolve around love and the playful pursuit between the characters.
- Allegory — The narrative serves as an allegory for the nature of love and the challenges it presents.
- Children's Literature — The playful tone and simple language make it suitable for a younger audience.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Classic · Literary Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Mystery · Crime · Social Commentary · Satire · Dark Humor · Philosophical · Existential