The Ballad Of Reading Gaol
The Ballad of Reading Gaol is a poem by Oscar Wilde, written in 1898 while he was in prison in Reading Gaol. The poem is a reflection on the harshness of prison life and the suffering of the prisoners. It is written in the form of a ballad, with a chorus repeating the refrain “Yet each man kills the thing he loves”. The poem begins with a description of the prison, its walls and its inhabitants. It then moves on to describe the execution of a fellow prisoner, and the effect it has on the other inmates. The poem ends with a plea for mercy and understanding for those who have been wronged. The poem is a powerful indictment of the prison system and a plea for compassion and understanding for those who have been wronged. It is a reminder of the human cost of imprisonment and a call for reform.
By Oscar Wilde · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Drama, Historical Fiction · 7,758 words
What this Textopian page supports
The Ballad Of Reading Gaol is listed on Textopian as a novel by Oscar Wilde, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Oscar Wilde
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Drama, Historical Fiction, Romance
- Length: 7,758 words
- Structure: 12 chapters, 1,164 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Ballad Of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Love Song Of Har Dyal by Rudyard Kipling
- The Spirit And The Flesh by Charles Kingsley
- The Attack by D. H. Lawrence
- The Punisher by D. H. Lawrence
- A Novel In Nine Letters by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- A Time To Love And A Time To Die by Erich Maria Remarque
Genres
- Poetry — The Ballad of Reading Gaol is a poem written by Oscar Wilde, making it a work of poetry.
- Drama — The poem is a narrative of a man's experience in prison, making it a work of drama.
- Historical Fiction — The poem is set in the late 19th century, making it a work of historical fiction.
- Romance — The poem is a story of love and loss, making it a work of romance.
Tags
prison · poetry · guilt · love · death · suffering · justice · society · redemption · humanity · isolation · morality