Ben Karshook's Wisdom by Robert Browning
Rabbi Ben Karshook advises turning to God the day before death; when the narrator objects that its timing is unknown, he urges turning today. Asked by a young Sadducee whether people certainly have souls, the Rabbi asserts that he has one but sneers that they may not.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Philosophical Poetry, Satirical Poetry · 189 words
First lines
I
"Would a man 'scape the rod? " / Rabbi Ben Karshook saith, / "See that he turn to God / The day before his death."
"Ay, could a man inquire / When it shall come! " I say. / The Rabbi's eye shoots fire -- / "Then let him turn to-day!"
II
Genres
- Philosophical Poetry — Two exchanges in rhymed verse address the uncertainty of death and whether people possess souls.
- Satirical Poetry — The Rabbi's sneering distinction between his own soul and others' souls gives his teaching a pointed, mocking turn.
Tags
repentance · mortality · souls · religious skepticism · rabbinic teaching
What this Textopian page supports
Ben Karshook's Wisdom is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Poetry, Satirical Poetry
- Length: 189 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ben Karshook's Wisdom by Robert Browning
- 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