The Old World Moans and Topes
The poem reflects on the discontent and restlessness of the old world, which is struggling with a new, undefined ailment. The politicians of the old world attempt to address this new disease, but their efforts seem inadequate. The speaker listens to the world's moans and observes its condition, likening it to a patient suffering from fever. The world longs for noble goals and meaningful pursuits, akin to how the sick yearn for the relief of morning or night. Noble individuals, driven by this longing, search for these objectives with fervor. The poem suggests that these individuals, who either achieve these goals or define them, will become the heroes and guiding figures of the future.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1895 · Genre: Political Satire, Social Commentary, Poetry · 203 words
First lines
The old world moans and topes, / Is restless and ill at ease; / And the old-world politicians / Prescribe for the new disease.
I have stooped my head to listen / (Its voice is far from strong)39
For the burden of its moanings / As it topes all night long.
I have watched a patient vigil / Beside its fever bed, / And I think that I can tell you / The burden of what it said: --
What this Textopian page supports
The Old World Moans and Topes is listed on Textopian as an essay by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Satire, Social Commentary, Poetry
- Length: 203 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Old World Moans and Topes 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
Genres
- Political Satire — The poem employs irony and metaphor to critique old-world political institutions and their ineffectiveness.
- Social Commentary — It reflects on societal disillusionment and the decay of traditional values through its portrayal of a failing world.
- Poetry — The work is expressed in verse, utilizing poetic structure and stylistic devices to convey its themes.
Tags
Victorian literature · decadence · melancholy · societal critique · historical reflection · urban decay · cultural observation · existential musings · travel narrative · nostalgia · descriptive prose · social commentary
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