Unknown

Poetry

The narrator reflects on poetry and its meaning.

The Passing Show

The narrator recounts a dreamlike vision of a city and a desolate land, reflecting on life, death, and fame.

I

The narrator recounts a dreamlike vision of a city and reflects on life, death, and fame.

II

The narrator recounts a dream of a desolate landscape.

Elixir Vitae

The narrator who dreams of writing the elixir of life and sleeping through centuries.

Convalescent

The speaker who contemplates the implications of being 'out of danger' and equates it with death.

At the Close of the Canvass

The narrator encounters a venerable person who delivers a prophetic warning.

The Valley of Dry Bones

The narrator observes the scene and identifies the politician.

Polyphemus

The narrator who encounters and consoles the ailing cadet.

Two Socialists

Narrates the journey of Brand Whitlock and the encounter with the Thief.

A Morning Fancy

The narrator experiences a visionary dream of drifting on a translucent sea and observing a nether world.

Visions of Sin

The narrator, recovering sight in Siberia, reflects on the sins he will witness upon returning home.

Genius

The narrator reflects on the nature of genius, offering a satirical redefinition.

An Anarchist

The narrator describes the anarchist's fall from artistic grace.

An Offer of Marriage

The narrator who 'dipt into the future' and observes the Emancipated Woman's plight, then writes the poem.

A Demand

The speaker who demands a painted picture from Mat, offering rhyme as payment.

The Weather Wight

The narrator, lost in the dark and stormy night, seeks shelter and engages with the old weather forecaster.

T. A. H.

The narrator reflects on the life and death of a friend, claiming intimate knowledge of the friend's hidden suffering.

My Monument

The narrator muses on his own mortality and the legacy of his writing.

Mad

The speaker who castigates the crowd for their idolatry of a sinful performer.

For Coercion of Colombia

The narrator observes the fleet and engages the sailorman in conversation.

The Wooer

The narrator who recounts the tale and reveals a personal connection to the story.

Land of the Pilgrim's Pride

The dreamer who is accused of lacking love for his country and defends himself by detailing national corruption and violence.

In Cuba

The narrator observes the raven and reflects on the administration's actions in Cuba.

For a Certain Critic

The narrator critiques critics and their self-directed race of expounding.

To a Summer Poet

The narrator addresses the summer poet directly, critiquing their work.

Contemplation

The reflective voice observing the graveyard and contemplating death.

The Golden Age

The speaker who nostalgically recalls the golden age of his youth.

A Prophet of Peace

The narrator presents the prophet's chant and contextualizes his era.

An Unreformable Reformer

The narrator muses on spelling reform and presidential overreach.

The Word-Way in Panama

The dreamer who sails the tropic shore and witnesses the wordy river.

The Jack of Clubs

The narrator addresses Jerome directly, offering a mix of praise and criticism.

Another Aspirant

The narrator addresses George Dewey directly, offering cautionary advice.

A Learner

The speaker, a self-described learner in love, uses the metaphor of a mariner to express their awkwardness and devotion.

After Tennyson

The speaker who laments the state of the land and contemplates escape.

To My Bird

The speaker who addresses the parrot and reflects on the depletion of his own mind.

Business

The narrator recounts the tale and confesses to overdrawing and leaving.

To a Censor

The speaker who addresses the censor, advocating for personal accountability in satire.

The Whole World Kin

The narrator presents the poem and addresses the alien, welcoming him.

The Hesitating Veteran

The veteran narrator who recalls his youthful faith, his five-and-twenty wounds, and his current doubts about the war and its outcomes.

To-Day

The observer who hears the prayer and delivers the ironic final judgment.

An Alibi

The narrator recounts the satirical tale of a journalist's trial and escape.

A Meeting

Narrator describes the meeting between Garfield and Parnell.

The Dying Statesman

The narrator observes the dying politician and comments on the scene with satirical detachment.

The Death of Grant

The narrator reflects on Grant's death and the nature of duty and faith.

Laus Lucis

The narrator expresses personal disdain for occult mysteries and declares faith in the Revelations of St. John.

Nanine

The speaker who mourns the loss of Nanine and observes the change in the songbird's singing.

Technology

The narrator observes and converses with the old undertaker, reflecting on the encounter.

A Reply to a Letter

The narrator delivers a scathing reply to a parson, defending his sinful ways and mocking religious piety.

To Oscar Wilde

The speaker who derides Oscar Wilde.

Born Leaders of Men

The narrator delivers a biting satirical critique of political figures.

For Expulsion

The narrator speaks directly to Brig. Roberts, mocking his polygamous household and political aspirations.

The Tale of a Crime

The narrator recounts the tale of a king and his adviser.

To the Bartholdi Statue

The speaker of the poem, addressing the Statue of Liberty with ironic reverence.

An Unmerry Christmas

The narrator declares a personal anti-Christmas stance, refusing gifts and cheer, and embracing a role as a grim philosopher.

A "Mute Inglorious Milton"

The narrator hears the Unaverage Man's song and plunges into Oblivion's sea, ending up staying with him.

The Free Trader’s Lament

The narrator is the free trader who laments the loss of his paradise after Protection is imposed.

Subterranean Phantasies

The deceased narrator who lies in the earth, debating how to protect his body from worms and moles while his soul has fled.

In Memoriam

The narrator who mourns Beauty and reflects on mortality and his personal creed.

Brothers

The citizen who seeks legal counsel regarding his brother's estate.

Corrected News

The narrator who corrects the newspaper's false account with the true version of events.

Mr. Fink’s Debating Donkey

The narrator who humbly weaves the tale of Peters and the debating donkey.

To My Laundress

The speaker who both criticizes and romanticizes his laundress.

Fame

The narrator, who has been revived after a thousand-year sleep and is mistaken for a candidate for the Hall of Fame.

Omnes Vanitas

The narrator reflects on the vanity of ambition and fame.

The New “Ulalume”

The narrator describes the desolate scene, reflecting on a mournful memory.

Reminded

The narrator, reading a book by a dead hand, is struck by the phrase 'Poor Tom's a-cold' and reflects on grief and the cruelty of chance.

Another Way

The narrator, who experiences death and a dream of a woman mourning him.

To One Across the Way

The speaker who addresses the beloved from across the way, expressing conflicted emotions.

Liberty

The narrator observes a patriot descending Bunker Hill and contemplates the nature of liberty.

To Maude

The speaker who envisions a peaceful merging of inner worlds with Maude.

The Scurril Press

The speaker 'Tom Jonesmith' is the narrative persona, waking and reacting to the morning paper.

Stanley

The narrator observes and reflects on Stanley's character, embodying the wise perspective that discriminates between good and bad.

One of the Unfair Sex

The narrator describes the scene of the woman at the ticket window.

An Absurdum

The narrator addresses Congressman Rixey directly, critiquing political hypocrisy.

The Royal Jester

The narrator who tells the tale of the king and the jester.

The Following Pair

The narrator questions the remarkable mortal about his habits.

Political Economy

The man who plucks the goose and argues for the benefits of luxury consumption.

Tempora Mutantur

The narrator expresses despair over the world's dullness and invokes Father Time to restore ancient myths.

A False Alarm

The narrator delivers a satirical commentary on Gertrude Atherton's criticism and the ladies' reaction.

Contentment

The narrator dreams of Posterity's tribunal and attempts to speak in his own defense.

Constancy

The dreamer who joins the chase and ultimately kicks Bryan's head skyward before quitting.

An Average

The speaker who confesses a divided affection between blondes and brunettes.

To Nanine

The speaker of the poem, addressing Nanine with deep longing and philosophical reflection.

Vice Versa

The narrator reflects on a bizarre marriage story and contemplates metaphysical questions about life, death, and marital status.

A Blacklist

The narrator addresses a friend and comments on the blacklist and the roll of fame.

The Psoriad

The narrator recounts the satirical tale of the King of Scotland and his courtiers.

Thanksgiving

The pauper who refuses the Thanksgiving bird and laments his physical disabilities.

With Mine Own Petard

The narrator recounts his past as a critic who silenced local poets with violence and satire.

Restored

The narrator describes the woman's mourning and the restoration of her lover.

Two Shows

The narrator observes the show and comments on the irony of human spectators judging the apes.

A Poet’s Hope

The narrator addresses the weary mortal with reverence and offers a sardonic consolation.

Two Rogues

The sentry who stands guard and challenges Death, refusing to let it cross the line.

The Pied Piper of Brooklyn

The narrator reflects on the death of Beecher and the impact of his soul.

Presentiment

The speaker who walks among graves and experiences a presentiment of sorrow.

A Study in Gray

The narrator reflects on his past and present, feeling the weight of time and the pull of the sea.

A Bit of Science

The speaker who contemplates the nature of color and his beloved's eyes.

The Tables Turned

The speaker who confronts the driver about his lack of laughter.

To a Dejected Poet

The speaker who addresses the dejected poet, urging them to recognize the sacred nature of their craft.

Montefiore

The narrator recounts a dream in which he joins a crowd praising Montefiore.

Discretion

The male speaker who defends his discretion.

An Exile

The census enumerator, singing forlornly about his exile and bearing blood on his brow and hair.

The Division Superintendent

The narrator describes the superintendent's despair and sudden inspiration.

To a Professional Eulogist

The speaker of the poem, who addresses and criticizes the professional eulogist Newman.

The Militiaman

The speaker who questions the soldier about the allure of war.

A Serenade

The narrator presents the serenade and reflects on love and knowledge.

The Wise and Good

The narrator who observes and recounts the conversation between father and child.

The Lost Colonel

The listener who eagerly asks the sailor to continue the tale, expressing a burning desire to know the worst.

For Tat

The narrator observes and comments on the world's wonders and absurdities.

A Dilemma

The narrator, a critic who falls into the trap of publishing his own works and then faces condemnation for criticizing others in his profession.

A Whipper-in

The narrator delivers a scathing satirical attack on Dudley's religious coercion.

Judgment

The narrator who draws aside the veil of the future and observes the scene of Whitman's judgment.

Francine

The speaker who addresses Francine with profound love and fear of loss.

From the Minutes

The narrator recounts the event in a mock-heroic style.

A Woman in Politics

The male politician who speaks condescendingly to the female candidate.

A Ballad of Pikeville

The narrator recounts the ballad of Pikeville's founding and transformation.

An Augury

The narrator is the speaker, writing at his desk and addressing the flowers.

Lusus Politicus

The narrator hosts a strange visitor, engaging in a whimsical and satirical dialogue.

Bereavement

The narrator tells the tale of the countess and the scribe.

A Pickbrain

The speaker who contrasts his own natural folly with the imitator's forced style.

The Naval Constructor

The narrator observes the ships and the political machinations, then boards a ship and commits suicide.

Bimetalism

The narrator who recounts Ben Bulger's story and reflects on his crime.

Foundations of the State

The narrator observes and critiques the various cranks and their theories about the state.

An Imposter

The narrator delivers a bitter invective against Carnegie.

France

The narrator delivers a bitter commentary on France's condition.

A Guest

The speaker who invites Death in and engages in darkly humorous banter.

A False Prophecy

The narrator speaks directly to Dom Pedro, offering a sardonic prophecy about imperial mortality.

One Morning

The speaker, who is weak and ill, waiting for their beloved.

The King of Bores

The narrator who writes amorous verses and is tormented by a bore.

History

The narrator reveals himself as the secret cause of Rome's fall.

The Hermit

The hermit who speaks in the poem.

An Apologue

The narrator recounts the traveler's self-justifying theft.

Diagnosis

The narrator presents the scene of Allen Forman consulting a doctor.

Dies Irae

The narrator undertakes a new translation of the Dies Irae, emphasizing its ironic and humorous qualities.

Something in the Papers

The narrator reads the papers and reacts with dismay to Tom Jones's failure.

The Man Born Blind

The narrator observes the world through the eyes of a man born blind, offering a satirical critique of society.

A Nightmare

The dreamer who imagines his own death and posthumous obscurity.

A Wet Season

The speaker who bemoans the rain and longs for a different existence.

Again

The narrator who defies the woman's request to stay away, seeking her out again at the Mission.

Homo Podunkensis

The narrator delivers a satirical portrait of the provincial 'dull clown' who cannot transcend his narrow worldview.

A Social Call

The speaker reflects on his own five-and-twenty years as champion of good, his egotism, and his approaching death.

My Day of Life

The speaker of the poem, who recounts a day spent dreaming and then waking to find time has passed.

The Scrap Heap

The narrator who dies and descends to hell, observing the proceedings.

An Attorney-General

The narrator describes and critiques Philander Knox.

A Lacking Factor

The narrator who criticizes the other's decision.

Vanished at Cock-Crow

The narrator who expounds on the secret of charm.

Oneiromancy

The narrator experiences a dream of being thrown from the sky and waking to a troubling sight.

In Articulo Mortis

The narrator describes the scene of a man signing his will in a state of dying.

The Discoverers

The narrator boasts of fame but is dismissed by critics as unknown.

Justice

The narrator who was jilted and contemplates revenge.

Boycott

The narrator presents the scene of Gompers lighting the bomb.

Black Beetles in Amber

The narrator reflects on art, criticism, and the preservation of memory.

Avalon

The dreamer who explores the Isle of Bedeviled Noses, driven by the scent of roses.

Cain

The narrator delivers a moralizing address to the condemned murderer.

An Obituarian

The narrator describes the scene of the death-poet and the widower.

A Lifted Finger

The speaker who condemns de Young and recalls being called a friend by a murdered woman.

III

The narrator describes Sharon's torments and the reaction of the world around him.

At a “National Encampment”

The narrator addresses a grayer comrade, recalling a shared battle experience and the death of their major.

Theosophistry

The narrator delivers a sarcastic and confrontational poem directed at a Theosophist, expressing disbelief and mockery toward reincarnation beliefs.

Azrael

The narrator, who sings a death-song and is taken by Azrael; revealed as Fred Emerson Brooks.

A Vision of Doom

The narrator experiences a vision of doom, standing on a hill as a ghost in a dead poet's dream.

The Fall of Miss Larkin

The narrator who tells the story of Sally Larkin's fall.

A Rendezvous

The narrator who prays nightly for forgiveness.

Yorick

The speaker, Yorick, who addresses the skull and recalls past acquaintances.

Stanford's Welcome

The son in the dialogue, who explains the scene to his dying father.

Posterity's Award

The deceased narrator returns to earth to observe posterity's judgment.

An Art Critic

The narrator delivers a fierce, satirical critique of an art critic.

The Spirit of a Sponge

The dreamer who recounts the story of Stephen Massett.

Dennis Kearney

The speaker addresses Dennis Kearney directly.

Finis Aeternitatis

The narrator who crosses a shadow, encounters Azrael, and is revived to witness the end of Eternity.

An "Exhibit"

The narrator expresses personal shame and rage at the public exhibition of an execution.

Indictment on Evidence

The narrator describes Bruce Douglas's imprisonment and the constable's observation.

At the White House

The narrator recounts the encounter at the White House, poking fun at the vanity and hypocrisy of the two figures.

An Actor

The narrator observes and critiques the actor's performance and the audience's reaction.

Famine's Realm

The narrator describes his experience of eating dog at the Oakland restaurant and warns others of its dangers.

The Mackaiad

The narrator who invokes the muse and describes the epic conflict.

A Song in Praise

The speaker who praises Blunder and reflects on his own relationship with failure.

A Coward

The narrator reflects on the coward's plight, possibly speaking from personal experience.

To My Liars

The speaker who addresses his liars and enemies, defending his honor.

"Phil" Crimmins

The narrator observes and comments on Phil Crimmins's public image.

Codex Honoris

The narrator recounts the duel with ironic detachment.

Hell

The narrator dies, descends for twenty centuries, and arrives in Hell, initially mistaking it for a glorified Earth.

By False Pretenses

The narrator describes John S. Hittell with biting satire.

Lucifer of the Torch

The narrator addresses Reverend Ravlin directly, mocking his hypocrisy.

Died of a Rose

The reporter who writes 'floral tributes' and is corrected by the editor.

At the Eleventh Hour

The narrator describes the scene of Frank Hutchings and Miss Sims approaching Heaven.

Mendax

The narrator delivers a scathing poetic address to Mendax.

The Oakland Dog

The narrator recounts a dream about the death of all dogs and the resulting utopian world.

Couplets

The speaker of the poem, presenting the sword's perspective.

A Vision of Resurrection

The dreamer who witnesses the post-resurrection landscape and the final rising of Deacon Fitch.

Master of Three Arts

The narrator, a poet who reflects on his own craft and moral superiority over Goldenson.

Thersites

The speaker who publicly denounces the target as 'mendacity’s great hierarch'.

A Society Leader

The cynical observer who mocks the society leader and reflects on the emptiness of social fame.

Expositor Veritatis

The narrator dreams of a future world filled with statues of the dead.

Three Highwaymen

The narrator describes the robbery and the contractor's encounter with the Chief.

To “Colonel” Dan Burns

The speaker who addresses and criticizes Dan Burns.

George A. Knight

The narrator speaks directly to Knight and God, expressing moral outrage.

Unarmed

The narrator describes the scene at heaven's gate with ironic detachment.

Black Bart, Po8

The speaker who addresses Black Bart and reflects on crime, poetry, and Parnassus.

A "Scion of Nobility"

The narrator speaks as a collective 'we,' mourning the baron's departure and reflecting on his impact.

The Night of Election

The speaker who offers his overcoat to the venerable patriot.

The Convicts’ Ball

The narrator describes the scene at the San Quentin ball.

The Boss’s Choice

The narrator delivers a mocking critique of Gulielmus L. Jocosus.

An Interpretation

The narrator presents the interpretation of Hamlet's idiocy.

The Perverted Village

The speaker who laments the perverted village and wishes for death to escape its slander.

To the Fool-Killer

The narrator addresses the Fool-Killer directly, expressing a desire for the elimination of various fools.

In Dissuasion

The narrator addresses Dan Burns directly, warning him against political ambition.

A Prediction

The narrator delivers a series of absurd predictions.

A Political Apostate

The speaker who addresses the apostate with regret and scorn.

Tinker Dick

The narrator reflects on Parson Dickson's sermon and the state of the world.

A Peaceful Community

The narrator observes the cemetery and muses on the dead's peace versus societal turmoil.

A Competitor

The speaker, a self-described competitor who boasts of her father's praise and her own appeal despite not meeting conventional beauty standards.

Bats in Sunshine

The speaker who addresses Mr. Kemble and defends Renan's ideas.

A Word to the Unwise

The narrator addresses Charles Main directly, speaking as a humble friend and reflecting on mortality and the vanity of grand tombs.

On the Platform

The narrator attends the lecture, falls asleep, and dreams of the hanging.

Desperation

The speaker of the poem, expressing despair and exhaustion.

To a Grabber

The narrator addresses Prentiss Maslin directly, expressing disillusionment and critique.

A Dampened Ardor

The narrator describes the fire and the fate of the preacher.

Adair Welcker, Poet

The narrator speaks in first-person plural, addressing the reader about the poet Adair Welcker.

To One Acquitted

The speaker addressing the acquitted man, reflecting on the quirks of justice.

Llewellyn Powell

The speaker who condemns Llewellyn Powell and pronounces his doom.

The Sunset Gun

The narrator describes the scene of Sir Walter Turnbull and the failed sunset gun.

The Viduate Dame

The narrator recounts the ballad of the widow of Thomas Blythe.

Robert F. Morrow

The speaker of the poem, expressing conflicted affection toward Robert F. Morrow.

Alfred Clarke, Jr.

The speaker of the poem, addressing Alfred Clarke, Jr. with a cautionary tone.

A Vision of Climate

The dreamer who laments his poverty and illness, confronts the personified Climate, and ultimately rejects its platitudes.

A “Mass” Meeting

The narrator observes and questions the ritual.

The New Dennis

The narrator observes and satirizes the political transformation of Dennis Kearney.

Fig Leaf

The narrator describes the fig leaf as a device and recounts the prude crusade and its aftermath.

For Mayor

The narrator, who refuses to lend voice or influence to Abner Doble's campaign.

A Cheating Preacher

The narrator directly addresses the preacher Munhall, critiquing his methods and accusing him of hypocrisy.

A Crocodile

The narrator speaks directly to Peter Robertson, expressing contempt for his intellect and celebrating the silence of death.

A Land Fight

The narrator presents a satirical account of a land fight between Dewey and Grip.

A Holiday

The narrator describes Master Barry's holiday and his interactions with the countryside.

Judex Judicatus

The narrator delivers a scathing poetic indictment of Judge Armstrong and the California judiciary.

A Voluptuary

The speaker who addresses the voluptuary and offers to join the revels.

Ad Cattonum

The narrator who confronts Mr. Catton directly.

The National Guardsman

The speaker of the poem, a National Guardsman boasting of his heroic role.

The Barking Weasel

The narrator directly addresses John Irish, offering a critical and mocking commentary on his appearance and behavior.

In Upper San Francisco

The narrator wakes from death and enters Heaven, observing its decay.

Ultra Crepidam

The narrator addresses the misunderstanding and offers advice on communication.

Censor Literarum

The narrator speaks directly to Parson Stebbins, defending the press and critiquing clerical hypocrisy.

Borrowed Brains

The narrator observes and mocks the writer folk's frantic search for Joaquin Miller's hair.

Over the Border

The speaker who laments the flight of Justice and comments on the state of society.

To an Insolent Attorney

The speaker who defends the press and excoriates the lawyer's hypocrisy.

A Promised Fast Train

The narrator who observes the prophetic vision of the train's rise and fall.

One of the Saints

The narrator who describes Big Smith's actions and character.

California

The narrator delivers a satirical critique of California's moral hypocrisy.

To Either

The narrator reflects on the lives and deaths of a wealthy man and a beggar.

Disappointment

The narrator describes the scene in the Senate.

The Valley of the Shadow of Theft

The voice lamenting the theft and corruption in Yosemite.

Down Among the Dead Men

The deceased narrator, buried in a grave, who speaks from beyond the grave.

Fame

The monarch figure who reads the chronicle and mourns his exclusion from lasting fame.

One of the Redeemed

The narrator describes the scene and the characters' actions and dialogue.

A Critic

The narrator delivers a harsh poetic critique of the Cleveland Leader.

Reciprocity

The weary narrator who climbs to the observatory and converses with Holden.

Californian Summer Pictures

The observing narrator who describes the scenes and characters.

The Foot-Hill Resort

The narrator observes and describes the assembled guests at the resort.

To the Happy Hunting Grounds

The narrator describes the scene of the hunting accident.

The Van Nessiad

The epic narrator who invokes the muse and recounts the battle in grand poetic style.

To a Stray Dog

The speaker who addresses the stray dog and renames it.

A Demagogue

The speaker of the poem, a demagogue lamenting his role.

Ignis Fatuus

The narrator delivers a mocking elegy for Buckley.

To One Out of Favor

The speaker addressing Miles, reflecting on political favor and retirement.

Privation

The narrator observes and describes the widow's actions and the scene.

For a Revised Version

The speaker who petitions God to revise His law, adding positive commands to expose hypocrites.

The Mormon Question

The narrator resolves to strip away his clothes and venture into Mormon territory, rejecting Gentile norms.

Two Guides

The narrator judges between two guides, expressing preference for Ingersoll's clarity over Fitch's obscurantism.

In Warning

The speaker of the poem, addressing Rudyard Kipling directly.

An Emigrant

The narrator expresses discontent with the current land and a desire to emigrate to continue his corrupt practices.

A Partial Eclipse

The risen person of consequence who questions the nature of fame.

I: George Francis Train

The narrator delivers a scornful epitaph for George Francis Train.

III: Stephen Dorsey

The narrator describes Stephen Dorsey's character and methods.

IX: Disjunctus

The narrator presents the epitaph.

XV: C. P. Berry

The narrator delivers a mocking epitaph for C. P. Berry.

XVI: The Rev. Joseph Hemphill

The narrator recounts the ironic tale of Rev. Joseph Hemphill.

XXIX

The narrator addresses the reader as 'rash mortal' and warns about the impending burial of Jim Fair.

XXXII

The narrator delivers the epitaph for Fred Emerson Brooks.

XLI

The narrator describes the death of Joe Russel.

Basilica

The narrator who strolls along the ocean, discovers the gem, and is horrified to find it is a Cockatrice.

A Mystery

The speaker of the poem, reflecting on life, pain, and the human condition.

Rosalie

The speaker, presumably a parent or older figure, addresses Rosalie with deep affection and reflects on the fleeting nature of youth.

To Thee, My Darling

The speaker who dedicates the poetic reflections to 'my darling'.

Serenade

The speaker of the serenade, a lover pleading at his beloved's window.

The Mummery

The narrator observes and critiques the mummery of life, serving as the central consciousness of the chapter.

Slickens

The narrator is not present; the chapter is a play with distinct characters.

Peaceful Expulsion

The narrator is not directly present; the chapter is a dramatic scene.

The Fiend's Delight

The narrator recounts his vision of Hell and the torments he observes.

Ye Idyll of Ye Hippopopotamus

The narrator who describes the scene and the Hippopotamus's song.

Jerusalem, Old and New

The narrator observes and contrasts the parson's sermons with the villagers' cynical reality.

Communing with Nature

The narrator communes with nature on a hill, observing children, the sun, stars, and the city before a rainstorm interrupts.

Inter Arma Silent Leges

The narrator recounts the election incident and the violent suppression of freedmen.

Musings, Philosophical and Theological

The narrator, referred to as Mr. Grile, is seated in his den, reflecting on philosophical and theological matters.

Chapter XXX

The narrator reflects on impossibility, suggesting a moment of existential or philosophical crisis.

Chapter XXXIV

The narrator, Grile, speaks in first person, arranging primal truths and then turning to eat a pudding.

I

The narrator reflects on the inconsistency of kindness and recalls a battlefield request for mercy.

IX

The narrator recalls two men from his past, one who mapped the moon's opposite hemisphere and one who taught him about the other side of the grave.

XII

The narrator reflects on the nature of falsehood and belief.

XX

The narrator delivers a philosophical observation on human nature and the consequences of provocation.

XII

The philosopher who delivers the curse.

XVIII

The conqueror who arises from the dead and speaks of his past rule.

XXII

The narrator reflects on the motivations of a humorist seeking posterity's admiration.

Chapter XXX

The narrator reflects on the philosophical certainty of death as proof of life.

L

The narrator muses on the nature of antiquity and posterity.

LXXXVII

The weeping figure who identifies as 'Man' and is called 'Egotism' by the Scheme of the Universe.

XCVII

The narrator observes the sky as a mirror reflecting humanity's distorted self-image.

CXIV

The narrator reflects on personal memories and emotional states.

CXX

The narrator stands as a sentry challenged by Death, then invited to desert life.

CXXIX

The traveler who answers the angel's questions with 'I know not'.

CL

The speaker who asks 'Why dost thou weep?' and offers a paradoxical consolation.

CLII

The passerby who questions Contentment, shivering in fine attire.

CLXIV

The narrator speaks as a debtor, defending his character against assumptions of poverty.

CLXVI

The narrator may be the philanthropist or the pauper in this dialogue.

CLXXXIV

The narrator is addressed by Satan as the source of trouble in the afterlife.

CCXIX

The narrator addresses Death in a poetic plea.

CCXXXV

Appears as the figure claiming to be Memory.

CCLII

The narrator speaks in first person, pleading with the oceans for escape.