Burlesque Sonnet by Robert Louis Stevenson
The poem is a playful and exaggerated tribute to Aeneas William Mackintosh, celebrating his invention of the safety match. It humorously elevates Mackintosh to the status of a Promethean figure, crediting him with the power to conquer darkness and extend daylight. The sonnet uses grandiose language to mockingly praise the mundane act of creating light, highlighting the match's significance to various people, including smokers, students, and sailors. The tone is both reverent and tongue-in-cheek, blending admiration with satire.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1885 · Genre: Burlesque Poetry, Satirical Poetry, Parody · 172 words
First lines
To Aeneas William Mackintosh / Thee, Mackintosh, artificer of light, / Thee, the lone smoker hails! the student, thee; / Thee, oft upon the ungovernable sea, / The seaman, conscious of approaching night; / Thou, with industrious fingers, hast outright / Mastered that art, of other arts the key, / That bids thick night before the morning flee, / And lingering day retains for mortal sight.
O Promethean workman, thee I hail, / Thee hallowed, thee unparalleled, thee bold / To affront the reign of sleep and darkness old, / Thee William, thee Aeneas, thee I sing; / Thee by the glimmering taper clear and pale, / Of light, and light's purveyance, hail, the king.
Genres
- Burlesque Poetry — The work subverts the traditional sonnet form with humorous exaggeration and playful mockery, exemplifying burlesque style.
- Satirical Poetry — It uses irony and wit to critique conventional heroic themes and elevate the mundane, aligning with a satirical approach.
- Parody — The poem imitates and exaggerates classical verse conventions for comic effect, characteristic of parody.
- Light Verse — Its playful tone and non-serious treatment of lofty subjects position it within light verse.
Tags
poetry · sonnet · humor · satire · parody · irony · classic · verse · witty · burlesque · mockery · literary
What this Textopian page supports
Burlesque Sonnet is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1885 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Date: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Burlesque Poetry, Satirical Poetry, Parody, Light Verse, Sonnet
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Burlesque Sonnet by Robert Louis Stevenson
- 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
More by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Treasure Island (1883)
- The Pavilion on the Links (1909)
- Olalla (1885)
- A Child's Garden of Verses (1885)
- Father Damien, An Open Letter To The Reverend Doctor Hyde Of Honolulu (1914)
- A Lowden Sabbath Morn (1916)
- Songs of Travel and Other Verses (1908)
- Prayers Written At Vailima (1916)
- All works by Robert Louis Stevenson