Ferishtah's Fancies by Robert Browning
After misreading an eagle's feeding of orphaned ravens as permission for idleness, Ferishtah learns to work and help others, then becomes a teacher in Nishapur. Through parables and arguments with pupils, he defends prayer, bodily enjoyment and compassion, and places love and gratitude above claims to certain knowledge. Interspersed love lyrics culminate in a speaker's fear that his hopeful view of human life may owe its radiance to his beloved.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Philosophical Poetry, Didactic Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 14 chapters · 23,148 words
First lines
His genius was jocular, but, when disposed, he could be very / serious. -- Article "Shakespear," JEREMY COLLIER'S _Historical etc. / Dictionary_, 2d edition, 1701.
You, Sir, I entertain you for one of my Hundred; only, I do not / like the fashion of your garments: you will say they are Persian: / but let them be changed. -- _King Lear_, Act III. Sc. 6.
Genres
- Philosophical Poetry — Ferishtah's verse dialogues examine the limits of knowledge, the relation between human judgment and divine power, and the grounds for love and gratitude.
- Didactic Poetry — The hungry ravens, two camels preparing for a journey, and three sons responding to their mother's proposed amputation provide lessons about helping others, bodily needs and prayer.
- Lyric Poetry — Short lyrics interspersed with the teachings address a beloved through scenes of touch, trust, illness and shared life.
Tags
parables · faith and doubt · prayer · suffering · compassion · gratitude · love · limits of knowledge
What this Textopian page supports
Ferishtah's Fancies 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, Didactic Poetry, Lyric Poetry
- Length: 23,148 words
- Structure: 14 chapters, 157 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ferishtah's Fancies 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
Contents
- Prologue
- The Eagle
- The Melon-Seller
- Shah Abbas
- The Family
- The Sun
- Mihrab Shah
- A Camel-Driver
- Two Camels
- Cherries
- Plot-Culture
- A Pillar at Sebzevar
- A Bean-Stripe: Also Apple-Eating
- Epilogue