Poetry · Chapter
Lines on the Death of a Farmer’s Wife explained
A tribute to a deceased farmer's wife, celebrating her life as a devoted mother, diligent homemaker, and loving spouse.
What happens
A tribute to a deceased farmer's wife, celebrating her life as a devoted mother, diligent homemaker, and loving spouse. The poem emphasizes her cheerful work ethic, the family she raised, and her reward in heaven.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the boy’s childish joy and naive belief that he can see Ameri…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Mortality and Loss
The poem directly addresses the death of the farmer's wife and her transition to an afterlife.
- Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue
Praises the woman's domestic virtues—kindness, care, hard work—as a model for others.
Characters to notice
- James McIntyre
Author of the poem, reflecting on the life and death of a farmer's wife.
Key passages
“This good woman when in this life, She was kind mother and good wife, And managed her household with care, She and her husband happy pair.”
During her life, this woman was a kind mother and good wife, carefully managing her household and living happily with her husband.
Summarizes the woman's role and marital harmony.
“She laid up treasures in the skies, And now enjoys the Heavenly prize.”
She stored up spiritual riches in heaven and now enjoys her eternal reward.
Religious consolation for her death.
“She rose each morn with happy smile, And ardent all the day did toil, For work it to her had a charm, And busy was each hand and arm.”
She woke each morning with a smile and worked eagerly all day, finding charm in labor and keeping her hands and arms busy.
Highlights her cheerful and industrious nature.
