Brookland Road by Rudyard Kipling
The narrative unfolds through the perspective of a speaker reflecting on a transformative encounter with a maiden on a road. Initially self-assured, the speaker's confidence is shattered by the profound impact of this meeting. The setting is a sultry June night, marked by thunder, which enhances the emotional intensity of the moment. The maiden, illuminated by a mystical light, captivates the speaker without uttering a word, leaving him heartbroken and disoriented after her departure. The speaker expresses a deep sense of longing and despair, pleading for the tolling bells to cease, as they remind him of his unfulfilled love. He vows that he will not marry anyone else, emphasizing his devotion to the maiden who has captured his heart. The imagery of the landscape, including references to Old Goodman's Farm and Fairfield Church, serves to illustrate the speaker's emotional state and the permanence of his feelings. He believes that the land itself will change before he can move on from his love. The refrain highlights the speaker's fixation on the maiden, underscoring his sense of loss and the impossibility of their union. The narrative captures themes of love, longing, and the transformative power of a fleeting encounter, set against a backdrop of nature's elements that mirror the speaker's inner turmoil. The work concludes with a sense of resignation, as the speaker continues to walk the road, hoping for another glimpse of the maiden who has irrevocably altered his life.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1894 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Lyric · 388 words
First lines
I was very well pleased with what I knowed, I reckoned myself no fool -- Till I met with a maid on the Brookland Road, That turned me back to school.
_Low down -- low down! Where the liddle green lanterns shine -- O maids, I've done with 'ee all but one, And she can never be mine! _
What this Textopian page supports
Brookland Road is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Lyric, Narrative, Folklore
- Length: 388 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Brookland Road by Rudyard Kipling
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Brookland Road?
- How does this short story by Rudyard Kipling fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around unrequited love and longing for a maid.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and feelings, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Narrative — The poem tells a story of a personal experience along the Brookland Road.
Tags
Rudyard Kipling · poetry · love · heartbreak · nostalgia · nature · youth · longing · regret · romance · loss · memory