To the Honourable t. H. Esq.; on the Death of hi
The poem is a lamentation of the death of T.H.'s daughter, with the speaker expressing sorrow and regret at her passing. The tone is somber and reflective, with the speaker acknowledging the pain of loss and the impermanence of life. The poem explores themes of mortality, grief, and the transience of human existence.
By Phillis Wheatley · First published 1738 · Genre: Elegy, Lyric Poetry, Religious Poetry · 452 words
First lines
While deep you mourn beneath the cypress-shade
The hand of Death, and your dear daughter laid
What this Textopian page supports
To the Honourable t. H. Esq.; on the Death of his Daughter is listed on Textopian as a poem by Phillis Wheatley, dated 1738 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Phillis Wheatley
- Date: 1738 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Elegy, Lyric Poetry, Religious Poetry, Inspirational Poetry, Narrative Poetry
- Length: 452 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for To the Honourable t. H. Esq.; on the Death of his Daughter by Phillis Wheatley
- 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 To the Honourable t. H. Esq.; on the Death of his Daughter?
- How does this poem by Phillis Wheatley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Elegy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- On The Death Of Dr Samuel Marshall 1771 by Phillis Wheatley
- In Memoriam by James Mcintyre
- To A Gentleman And Lady On The Death Of The Ladys Brother And Sister And A Child Of The Name Of Avis Aged One Year by Phillis Wheatley
- To A Lady And Her Children On The Death Of Her Son And Their Brother by Phillis Wheatley
- To A Clergyman On The Death Of His Lady by Phillis Wheatley
- Now Let The Mouth Of Wailing For A Time by Edna St Vincent Millay
Genres
- Elegy — The work expresses deep sorrow and mourning for the loss of a loved one, characteristic of elegiac poetry.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem conveys personal emotions and reflections, typical of lyric poetry, focusing on grief and remembrance.
- Religious Poetry — The themes of divine comfort and the afterlife suggest a strong religious undertone, common in poetry that addresses loss.
- Inspirational Poetry — The poem aims to uplift the grieving by highlighting the virtues of the deceased and the hope of reunion in the afterlife.
Tags
Elegy · Poetry · Mourning · Grief · Loss · Death · Childhood · Parental Love · Tribute · Condolence · Formal Address · Epistolary Form
More by Phillis Wheatley
- To Maecenas (1733)
- On Virtue (1773)
- To the University of Cambridge, in New-England (1737)
- To the King's most Excellent Majesty. 1768 (1773)
- On being Brought from Africa to America (1773)
- On the Death of the Rev. Dr. Sewell. 1769 (1773)
- On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. 1770 (1770)
- On the Death of a Young Lady of Five Years of Age (1773)
- All works by Phillis Wheatley