The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 06
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019
Rating 3.4- Word count
- 98K words
- Chapters
- 10
Tags
English Originals Foreign Literature Social ObservationLife PhilosophyHumor ReliefLyric PoetryBeautiful EssaysSatirical StyleMusical RhythmSummary
Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971, and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 06 by Oliver Wendell Holmes. Author: Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: Sep 30, 2004Editor's review
This is Volume 06 of Holmes's complete poetical works, a public-domain eBook suited to readers who wish to study or enjoy nineteenth-century American poetry. Holmes was at once a physician, poet, and essayist; his verse is often marked by wit and gentle humor, with careful attention to meter and sound. This volume continues in that vein and includes pieces well suited to reading aloud and close reading. As a free Project Gutenberg eBook, it is easy to obtain and convenient to dip into on a tablet or e-reader. Readers can use it to gain an overview of Holmes's poetry or as supplementary material for American literature courses or English poetry reading. When reading, focus on his rhetorical playfulness and historical context rather than expecting sustained narrative.Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers who enjoy nineteenth-century American poetry and want to broaden their reading
- English majors or students in American literature courses
- Teachers and self-learners who need free public-domain English poetry materials
- Readers who like reading aloud or copying passages and prefer metrical verse
Not a good fit for
- Readers who only want contemporary popular fiction and have no interest in poetry
- Beginning English learners who need detailed notes and systematic introductions
- Advanced researchers who expect a complete collection or an authoritative scholarly edition
Reading tips
- Start with the table of contents and pick poems whose titles or first lines appeal to you; you need not read from beginning to end.
- Read each poem twice: the first time for rhythm, the second for unfamiliar words and for metaphor and humor.
- Read aloud or listen along to appreciate Holmes's sound and colloquial feel.
- Keep notes on recurring themes and diction so you can compare poems within the volume.
About the publisher
Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.
Contents
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
FAQ
Is this a complete collection or one volume of it?
It is Volume 06 of Holmes's complete poetical works, not a standalone book or a single-volume complete set. Before reading, familiarize yourself with how the set is divided and choose pieces from the table of contents; do not expect a continuous narrative or a complete selected edition.How difficult is the English, and what background is needed?
The diction leans toward nineteenth-century literary English and includes allusions and period context. College English proficiency (CET-4 or above) and a dictionary are recommended. Beginners can start with short poems and need not parse every word.Can it be used directly in class or a reading group?
Yes, but you will need to supply biographical and historical background yourself. Choose two or three short poems per session and discuss meter, humor, and theme; avoid assigning too many poems at once.This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894 AuthorOliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894) was an American writer whose 34 works are included in this collection. His representative works include The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, The Professor at the Breakfast-Table, and The Poet at the Breakfast-Table, as well as The One Hoss Shay and several collections of poetry. These works show him at home in both prose and verse: he is known for informal essays in the manner of breakfast-table talk, witty and observant, blending discussion with humor; his poems are carefully crafted and lively in rhythm, often carrying domestic humor and reflective notes. He also wrote on Ralph Waldo Emerson, showing his attention to the thinkers of his day. Public information is limited, so biographical details are not developed here; readers may sense his style and influence through the works mentioned above.