The Father by Pablo Neruda (1950)
The poem explores the speaker's complex and ambivalent feelings towards their father, who is portrayed as a distant, authoritarian figure. The speaker describes their father's physical presence, his smell, and his voice, but also conveys a sense of disconnection and emotional distance. The poem touches on themes of identity, family dynamics, and the struggle to reconcile love and resentment towards a parental figure.
By Pablo Neruda · First published 1950 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Autobiographical · 349 words
First lines
My blunt father comes back from the trains.
We recognize in the night the whistle of the locomotive perforating the rain with a wandering moan, lament of the night, and later the door shivering open.
What this Textopian page supports
The Father is listed on Textopian as a poem by Pablo Neruda, dated 1950 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Pablo Neruda
- Date: 1950 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Autobiographical, Coming-of-Age, Historical Fiction
- Length: 349 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Father by Pablo Neruda
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Father?
- How does this poem by Pablo Neruda fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Rooming House On The Calle Maruri by Pablo Neruda
- Now We Are Leaving Paita by Pablo Neruda
- The House by Pablo Neruda
- Family Portrait by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Childhood by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Cristobal Miranda Shoveler Tocopilla by Pablo Neruda
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in a poetic style, utilizing imagery and emotional depth characteristic of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores complex themes of family, loss, and the human experience, typical of literary fiction.
- Autobiographical — The text reflects personal experiences and memories, suggesting autobiographical elements related to the author's life.
- Coming-of-Age — The themes of childhood and the relationship with the father indicate a coming-of-age perspective.
Tags
Poetry · Chilean Literature · Family Relationships · Patriarchy · Autobiographical · Memoir · Father-Son Relationship · Childhood Memories · Nostalgia · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis
More by Pablo Neruda
- Body of a Woman (1959)
- The Light Wraps You (1954)
- Ah Vastness of Pines (1975)
- The Morning Is Full (1954)
- So That You Will Hear Me (1976)
- I Remember You As You Were (1952)
- Leaning Into The Afternoons Leaning into the afternoons I cast my sad nets towards your oceanic eyes (1954)
- White Bee (1974)
- All works by Pablo Neruda