# Unknown — Poetry character guide > Unknown in Poetry by Ambrose Bierce. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Thy, Myself, Your, mine, Mine, thy **First appearance:** 0000-poetry ## Who they are The restless 'I' of Bierce's verse, by turns wounded cadet, jilted suitor, and scourge of critics, forever buttonholing the reader as 'you.' ## In the story ### [Poetry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/poetry) The narrator reflects on poetry and its meaning. ### [The Passing Show](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-passing-show) The narrator recounts a dreamlike vision of a city and a desolate land, reflecting on life, death, and fame. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/i) The narrator recounts a dreamlike vision of a city and reflects on life, death, and fame. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ii) The narrator recounts a dream of a desolate landscape. ### [Elixir Vitae](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/elixir-vitae) The narrator who dreams of writing the elixir of life and sleeping through centuries. ### [Convalescent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/convalescent) The speaker who contemplates the implications of being 'out of danger' and equates it with death. ### [At the Close of the Canvass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/at-the-close-of-the-canvass) The narrator encounters a venerable person who delivers a prophetic warning. ### [The Valley of Dry Bones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-valley-of-dry-bones) The narrator observes the scene and identifies the politician. ### [Polyphemus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/polyphemus) The narrator who encounters and consoles the ailing cadet. ### [Two Socialists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/two-socialists) Narrates the journey of Brand Whitlock and the encounter with the Thief. ### [A Morning Fancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-morning-fancy) The narrator experiences a visionary dream of drifting on a translucent sea and observing a nether world. ### [Visions of Sin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/visions-of-sin) The narrator, recovering sight in Siberia, reflects on the sins he will witness upon returning home. ### [Genius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/genius) The narrator reflects on the nature of genius, offering a satirical redefinition. ### [An Anarchist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-anarchist) The narrator describes the anarchist's fall from artistic grace. ### [An Offer of Marriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-offer-of-marriage) The narrator who 'dipt into the future' and observes the Emancipated Woman's plight, then writes the poem. ### [A Demand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-demand) The speaker who demands a painted picture from Mat, offering rhyme as payment. ### [The Weather Wight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-weather-wight) The narrator, lost in the dark and stormy night, seeks shelter and engages with the old weather forecaster. ### [T. A. H.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/my-monument) The narrator muses on his own mortality and the legacy of his writing. ### [Mad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/mad) The speaker who castigates the crowd for their idolatry of a sinful performer. ### [For Coercion of Colombia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/for-coercion-of-colombia) The narrator observes the fleet and engages the sailorman in conversation. ### [The Wooer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-wooer) The narrator who recounts the tale and reveals a personal connection to the story. ### [Land of the Pilgrim's Pride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-cuba) The narrator observes the raven and reflects on the administration's actions in Cuba. ### [For a Certain Critic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/for-a-certain-critic) The narrator critiques critics and their self-directed race of expounding. ### [To a Summer Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-a-summer-poet) The narrator addresses the summer poet directly, critiquing their work. ### [Contemplation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/contemplation) The reflective voice observing the graveyard and contemplating death. ### [The Golden Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-golden-age) The speaker who nostalgically recalls the golden age of his youth. ### [A Prophet of Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-prophet-of-peace) The narrator presents the prophet's chant and contextualizes his era. ### [An Unreformable Reformer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-unreformable-reformer) The narrator muses on spelling reform and presidential overreach. ### [The Word-Way in Panama](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-word-way-in-panama) The dreamer who sails the tropic shore and witnesses the wordy river. ### [The Jack of Clubs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-jack-of-clubs) The narrator addresses Jerome directly, offering a mix of praise and criticism. ### [Another Aspirant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/another-aspirant) The narrator addresses George Dewey directly, offering cautionary advice. ### [A Learner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-learner) The speaker, a self-described learner in love, uses the metaphor of a mariner to express their awkwardness and devotion. ### [After Tennyson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/after-tennyson) The speaker who laments the state of the land and contemplates escape. ### [To My Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-my-bird) The speaker who addresses the parrot and reflects on the depletion of his own mind. ### [Business](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/business) The narrator recounts the tale and confesses to overdrawing and leaving. ### [To a Censor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-a-censor) The speaker who addresses the censor, advocating for personal accountability in satire. ### [The Whole World Kin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-whole-world-kin) The narrator presents the poem and addresses the alien, welcoming him. ### [The Hesitating Veteran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-day) The observer who hears the prayer and delivers the ironic final judgment. ### [An Alibi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-alibi) The narrator recounts the satirical tale of a journalist's trial and escape. ### [A Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-meeting) Narrator describes the meeting between Garfield and Parnell. ### [The Dying Statesman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-dying-statesman) The narrator observes the dying politician and comments on the scene with satirical detachment. ### [The Death of Grant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-death-of-grant) The narrator reflects on Grant's death and the nature of duty and faith. ### [Laus Lucis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/laus-lucis) The narrator expresses personal disdain for occult mysteries and declares faith in the Revelations of St. John. ### [Nanine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/nanine) The speaker who mourns the loss of Nanine and observes the change in the songbird's singing. ### [Technology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/technology) The narrator observes and converses with the old undertaker, reflecting on the encounter. ### [A Reply to a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-oscar-wilde) The speaker who derides Oscar Wilde. ### [Born Leaders of Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/born-leaders-of-men) The narrator delivers a biting satirical critique of political figures. ### [For Expulsion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/for-expulsion) The narrator speaks directly to Brig. Roberts, mocking his polygamous household and political aspirations. ### [The Tale of a Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-tale-of-a-crime) The narrator recounts the tale of a king and his adviser. ### [To the Bartholdi Statue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-the-bartholdi-statue) The speaker of the poem, addressing the Statue of Liberty with ironic reverence. ### [An Unmerry Christmas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-free-trader-s-lament) The narrator is the free trader who laments the loss of his paradise after Protection is imposed. ### [Subterranean Phantasies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-memoriam) The narrator who mourns Beauty and reflects on mortality and his personal creed. ### [Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/brothers) The citizen who seeks legal counsel regarding his brother's estate. ### [Corrected News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/corrected-news) The narrator who corrects the newspaper's false account with the true version of events. ### [Mr. Fink’s Debating Donkey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/mr-fink-s-debating-donkey) The narrator who humbly weaves the tale of Peters and the debating donkey. ### [To My Laundress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-my-laundress) The speaker who both criticizes and romanticizes his laundress. ### [Fame](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/omnes-vanitas) The narrator reflects on the vanity of ambition and fame. ### [The New “Ulalume”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-new-ulalume) The narrator describes the desolate scene, reflecting on a mournful memory. ### [Reminded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/another-way) The narrator, who experiences death and a dream of a woman mourning him. ### [To One Across the Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-one-across-the-way) The speaker who addresses the beloved from across the way, expressing conflicted emotions. ### [Liberty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/liberty) The narrator observes a patriot descending Bunker Hill and contemplates the nature of liberty. ### [To Maude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-maude) The speaker who envisions a peaceful merging of inner worlds with Maude. ### [The Scurril Press](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-scurril-press) The speaker 'Tom Jonesmith' is the narrative persona, waking and reacting to the morning paper. ### [Stanley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/one-of-the-unfair-sex) The narrator describes the scene of the woman at the ticket window. ### [An Absurdum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-absurdum) The narrator addresses Congressman Rixey directly, critiquing political hypocrisy. ### [The Royal Jester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-royal-jester) The narrator who tells the tale of the king and the jester. ### [The Following Pair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-following-pair) The narrator questions the remarkable mortal about his habits. ### [Political Economy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/political-economy) The man who plucks the goose and argues for the benefits of luxury consumption. ### [Tempora Mutantur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/tempora-mutantur) The narrator expresses despair over the world's dullness and invokes Father Time to restore ancient myths. ### [A False Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-false-alarm) The narrator delivers a satirical commentary on Gertrude Atherton's criticism and the ladies' reaction. ### [Contentment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/contentment) The narrator dreams of Posterity's tribunal and attempts to speak in his own defense. ### [Constancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/constancy) The dreamer who joins the chase and ultimately kicks Bryan's head skyward before quitting. ### [An Average](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-average) The speaker who confesses a divided affection between blondes and brunettes. ### [To Nanine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-nanine) The speaker of the poem, addressing Nanine with deep longing and philosophical reflection. ### [Vice Versa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/vice-versa) The narrator reflects on a bizarre marriage story and contemplates metaphysical questions about life, death, and marital status. ### [A Blacklist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-blacklist) The narrator addresses a friend and comments on the blacklist and the roll of fame. ### [The Psoriad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-psoriad) The narrator recounts the satirical tale of the King of Scotland and his courtiers. ### [Thanksgiving](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/thanksgiving) The pauper who refuses the Thanksgiving bird and laments his physical disabilities. ### [With Mine Own Petard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/with-mine-own-petard) The narrator recounts his past as a critic who silenced local poets with violence and satire. ### [Restored](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/restored) The narrator describes the woman's mourning and the restoration of her lover. ### [Two Shows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/two-shows) The narrator observes the show and comments on the irony of human spectators judging the apes. ### [A Poet’s Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-poet-s-hope) The narrator addresses the weary mortal with reverence and offers a sardonic consolation. ### [Two Rogues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/two-rogues) The sentry who stands guard and challenges Death, refusing to let it cross the line. ### [The Pied Piper of Brooklyn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-pied-piper-of-brooklyn) The narrator reflects on the death of Beecher and the impact of his soul. ### [Presentiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/presentiment) The speaker who walks among graves and experiences a presentiment of sorrow. ### [A Study in Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-bit-of-science) The speaker who contemplates the nature of color and his beloved's eyes. ### [The Tables Turned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-tables-turned) The speaker who confronts the driver about his lack of laughter. ### [To a Dejected Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-a-dejected-poet) The speaker who addresses the dejected poet, urging them to recognize the sacred nature of their craft. ### [Montefiore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/montefiore) The narrator recounts a dream in which he joins a crowd praising Montefiore. ### [Discretion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/discretion) The male speaker who defends his discretion. ### [An Exile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-exile) The census enumerator, singing forlornly about his exile and bearing blood on his brow and hair. ### [The Division Superintendent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-division-superintendent) The narrator describes the superintendent's despair and sudden inspiration. ### [To a Professional Eulogist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-a-professional-eulogist) The speaker of the poem, who addresses and criticizes the professional eulogist Newman. ### [The Militiaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-militiaman) The speaker who questions the soldier about the allure of war. ### [A Serenade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-serenade) The narrator presents the serenade and reflects on love and knowledge. ### [The Wise and Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-wise-and-good) The narrator who observes and recounts the conversation between father and child. ### [The Lost Colonel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-lost-colonel) The listener who eagerly asks the sailor to continue the tale, expressing a burning desire to know the worst. ### [For Tat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/for-tat) The narrator observes and comments on the world's wonders and absurdities. ### [A Dilemma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-whipper-in) The narrator delivers a scathing satirical attack on Dudley's religious coercion. ### [Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/judgment) The narrator who draws aside the veil of the future and observes the scene of Whitman's judgment. ### [Francine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/francine) The speaker who addresses Francine with profound love and fear of loss. ### [From the Minutes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/from-the-minutes) The narrator recounts the event in a mock-heroic style. ### [A Woman in Politics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-woman-in-politics) The male politician who speaks condescendingly to the female candidate. ### [A Ballad of Pikeville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-ballad-of-pikeville) The narrator recounts the ballad of Pikeville's founding and transformation. ### [An Augury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-augury) The narrator is the speaker, writing at his desk and addressing the flowers. ### [Lusus Politicus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/lusus-politicus) The narrator hosts a strange visitor, engaging in a whimsical and satirical dialogue. ### [Bereavement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/bereavement) The narrator tells the tale of the countess and the scribe. ### [A Pickbrain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-pickbrain) The speaker who contrasts his own natural folly with the imitator's forced style. ### [The Naval Constructor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-naval-constructor) The narrator observes the ships and the political machinations, then boards a ship and commits suicide. ### [Bimetalism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/bimetalism) The narrator who recounts Ben Bulger's story and reflects on his crime. ### [Foundations of the State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/foundations-of-the-state) The narrator observes and critiques the various cranks and their theories about the state. ### [An Imposter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-imposter) The narrator delivers a bitter invective against Carnegie. ### [France](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/france) The narrator delivers a bitter commentary on France's condition. ### [A Guest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-guest) The speaker who invites Death in and engages in darkly humorous banter. ### [A False Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-false-prophecy) The narrator speaks directly to Dom Pedro, offering a sardonic prophecy about imperial mortality. ### [One Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/one-morning) The speaker, who is weak and ill, waiting for their beloved. ### [The King of Bores](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-king-of-bores) The narrator who writes amorous verses and is tormented by a bore. ### [History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/history) The narrator reveals himself as the secret cause of Rome's fall. ### [The Hermit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-hermit) The hermit who speaks in the poem. ### [An Apologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-apologue) The narrator recounts the traveler's self-justifying theft. ### [Diagnosis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/diagnosis) The narrator presents the scene of Allen Forman consulting a doctor. ### [Dies Irae](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/dies-irae) The narrator undertakes a new translation of the Dies Irae, emphasizing its ironic and humorous qualities. ### [Something in the Papers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/something-in-the-papers) The narrator reads the papers and reacts with dismay to Tom Jones's failure. ### [The Man Born Blind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-nightmare) The dreamer who imagines his own death and posthumous obscurity. ### [A Wet Season](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-wet-season) The speaker who bemoans the rain and longs for a different existence. ### [Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/again) The narrator who defies the woman's request to stay away, seeking her out again at the Mission. ### [Homo Podunkensis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/homo-podunkensis) The narrator delivers a satirical portrait of the provincial 'dull clown' who cannot transcend his narrow worldview. ### [A Social Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-scrap-heap) The narrator who dies and descends to hell, observing the proceedings. ### [An Attorney-General](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-attorney-general) The narrator describes and critiques Philander Knox. ### [A Lacking Factor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-lacking-factor) The narrator who criticizes the other's decision. ### [Vanished at Cock-Crow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/vanished-at-cock-crow) The narrator who expounds on the secret of charm. ### [Oneiromancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/oneiromancy) The narrator experiences a dream of being thrown from the sky and waking to a troubling sight. ### [In Articulo Mortis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-articulo-mortis) The narrator describes the scene of a man signing his will in a state of dying. ### [The Discoverers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-discoverers) The narrator boasts of fame but is dismissed by critics as unknown. ### [Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/justice) The narrator who was jilted and contemplates revenge. ### [Boycott](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/boycott) The narrator presents the scene of Gompers lighting the bomb. ### [Black Beetles in Amber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/black-beetles-in-amber) The narrator reflects on art, criticism, and the preservation of memory. ### [Avalon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/avalon) The dreamer who explores the Isle of Bedeviled Noses, driven by the scent of roses. ### [Cain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cain) The narrator delivers a moralizing address to the condemned murderer. ### [An Obituarian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-obituarian) The narrator describes the scene of the death-poet and the widower. ### [A Lifted Finger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-lifted-finger) The speaker who condemns de Young and recalls being called a friend by a murdered woman. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/iii) The narrator describes Sharon's torments and the reaction of the world around him. ### [At a “National Encampment”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/at-a-national-encampment) The narrator addresses a grayer comrade, recalling a shared battle experience and the death of their major. ### [Theosophistry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/theosophistry) The narrator delivers a sarcastic and confrontational poem directed at a Theosophist, expressing disbelief and mockery toward reincarnation beliefs. ### [Azrael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/azrael) The narrator, who sings a death-song and is taken by Azrael; revealed as Fred Emerson Brooks. ### [A Vision of Doom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-fall-of-miss-larkin) The narrator who tells the story of Sally Larkin's fall. ### [A Rendezvous](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-rendezvous) The narrator who prays nightly for forgiveness. ### [Yorick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/yorick) The speaker, Yorick, who addresses the skull and recalls past acquaintances. ### [Stanford's Welcome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/stanford-s-welcome) The son in the dialogue, who explains the scene to his dying father. ### [Posterity's Award](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/posterity-s-award) The deceased narrator returns to earth to observe posterity's judgment. ### [An Art Critic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-art-critic) The narrator delivers a fierce, satirical critique of an art critic. ### [The Spirit of a Sponge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-spirit-of-a-sponge) The dreamer who recounts the story of Stephen Massett. ### [Dennis Kearney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/dennis-kearney) The speaker addresses Dennis Kearney directly. ### [Finis Aeternitatis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/finis-aeternitatis) The narrator who crosses a shadow, encounters Azrael, and is revived to witness the end of Eternity. ### [An "Exhibit"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-exhibit) The narrator expresses personal shame and rage at the public exhibition of an execution. ### [Indictment on Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/indictment-on-evidence) The narrator describes Bruce Douglas's imprisonment and the constable's observation. ### [At the White House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-actor) The narrator observes and critiques the actor's performance and the audience's reaction. ### [Famine's Realm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/famine-s-realm) The narrator describes his experience of eating dog at the Oakland restaurant and warns others of its dangers. ### [The Mackaiad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-mackaiad) The narrator who invokes the muse and describes the epic conflict. ### [A Song in Praise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-song-in-praise) The speaker who praises Blunder and reflects on his own relationship with failure. ### [A Coward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-coward) The narrator reflects on the coward's plight, possibly speaking from personal experience. ### [To My Liars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-my-liars) The speaker who addresses his liars and enemies, defending his honor. ### ["Phil" Crimmins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/phil-crimmins) The narrator observes and comments on Phil Crimmins's public image. ### [Codex Honoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/codex-honoris) The narrator recounts the duel with ironic detachment. ### [Hell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/hell) The narrator dies, descends for twenty centuries, and arrives in Hell, initially mistaking it for a glorified Earth. ### [By False Pretenses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/by-false-pretenses) The narrator describes John S. Hittell with biting satire. ### [Lucifer of the Torch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/lucifer-of-the-torch) The narrator addresses Reverend Ravlin directly, mocking his hypocrisy. ### [Died of a Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/died-of-a-rose) The reporter who writes 'floral tributes' and is corrected by the editor. ### [At the Eleventh Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/at-the-eleventh-hour) The narrator describes the scene of Frank Hutchings and Miss Sims approaching Heaven. ### [Mendax](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/mendax) The narrator delivers a scathing poetic address to Mendax. ### [The Oakland Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-oakland-dog) The narrator recounts a dream about the death of all dogs and the resulting utopian world. ### [Couplets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/couplets) The speaker of the poem, presenting the sword's perspective. ### [A Vision of Resurrection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-vision-of-resurrection) The dreamer who witnesses the post-resurrection landscape and the final rising of Deacon Fitch. ### [Master of Three Arts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/master-of-three-arts) The narrator, a poet who reflects on his own craft and moral superiority over Goldenson. ### [Thersites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/thersites) The speaker who publicly denounces the target as 'mendacity’s great hierarch'. ### [A Society Leader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-society-leader) The cynical observer who mocks the society leader and reflects on the emptiness of social fame. ### [Expositor Veritatis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/expositor-veritatis) The narrator dreams of a future world filled with statues of the dead. ### [Three Highwaymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/three-highwaymen) The narrator describes the robbery and the contractor's encounter with the Chief. ### [To “Colonel” Dan Burns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-colonel-dan-burns) The speaker who addresses and criticizes Dan Burns. ### [George A. Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/george-a-knight) The narrator speaks directly to Knight and God, expressing moral outrage. ### [Unarmed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/unarmed) The narrator describes the scene at heaven's gate with ironic detachment. ### [Black Bart, Po8](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/black-bart-po8) The speaker who addresses Black Bart and reflects on crime, poetry, and Parnassus. ### [A "Scion of Nobility"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-night-of-election) The speaker who offers his overcoat to the venerable patriot. ### [The Convicts’ Ball](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-convicts-ball) The narrator describes the scene at the San Quentin ball. ### [The Boss’s Choice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-boss-s-choice) The narrator delivers a mocking critique of Gulielmus L. Jocosus. ### [An Interpretation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-interpretation) The narrator presents the interpretation of Hamlet's idiocy. ### [The Perverted Village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-perverted-village) The speaker who laments the perverted village and wishes for death to escape its slander. ### [To the Fool-Killer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-the-fool-killer) The narrator addresses the Fool-Killer directly, expressing a desire for the elimination of various fools. ### [In Dissuasion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-dissuasion) The narrator addresses Dan Burns directly, warning him against political ambition. ### [A Prediction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-prediction) The narrator delivers a series of absurd predictions. ### [A Political Apostate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-political-apostate) The speaker who addresses the apostate with regret and scorn. ### [Tinker Dick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/tinker-dick) The narrator reflects on Parson Dickson's sermon and the state of the world. ### [A Peaceful Community](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-peaceful-community) The narrator observes the cemetery and muses on the dead's peace versus societal turmoil. ### [A Competitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/bats-in-sunshine) The speaker who addresses Mr. Kemble and defends Renan's ideas. ### [A Word to the Unwise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/on-the-platform) The narrator attends the lecture, falls asleep, and dreams of the hanging. ### [Desperation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/desperation) The speaker of the poem, expressing despair and exhaustion. ### [To a Grabber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-a-grabber) The narrator addresses Prentiss Maslin directly, expressing disillusionment and critique. ### [A Dampened Ardor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-dampened-ardor) The narrator describes the fire and the fate of the preacher. ### [Adair Welcker, Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/adair-welcker-poet) The narrator speaks in first-person plural, addressing the reader about the poet Adair Welcker. ### [To One Acquitted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-one-acquitted) The speaker addressing the acquitted man, reflecting on the quirks of justice. ### [Llewellyn Powell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/llewellyn-powell) The speaker who condemns Llewellyn Powell and pronounces his doom. ### [The Sunset Gun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-sunset-gun) The narrator describes the scene of Sir Walter Turnbull and the failed sunset gun. ### [The Viduate Dame](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-viduate-dame) The narrator recounts the ballad of the widow of Thomas Blythe. ### [Robert F. Morrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/robert-f-morrow) The speaker of the poem, expressing conflicted affection toward Robert F. Morrow. ### [Alfred Clarke, Jr.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/alfred-clarke-jr) The speaker of the poem, addressing Alfred Clarke, Jr. with a cautionary tone. ### [A Vision of Climate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-vision-of-climate) The dreamer who laments his poverty and illness, confronts the personified Climate, and ultimately rejects its platitudes. ### [A “Mass” Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-mass-meeting) The narrator observes and questions the ritual. ### [The New Dennis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-new-dennis) The narrator observes and satirizes the political transformation of Dennis Kearney. ### [Fig Leaf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/fig-leaf) The narrator describes the fig leaf as a device and recounts the prude crusade and its aftermath. ### [For Mayor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/for-mayor) The narrator, who refuses to lend voice or influence to Abner Doble's campaign. ### [A Cheating Preacher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-cheating-preacher) The narrator directly addresses the preacher Munhall, critiquing his methods and accusing him of hypocrisy. ### [A Crocodile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-crocodile) The narrator speaks directly to Peter Robertson, expressing contempt for his intellect and celebrating the silence of death. ### [A Land Fight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-land-fight) The narrator presents a satirical account of a land fight between Dewey and Grip. ### [A Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-holiday) The narrator describes Master Barry's holiday and his interactions with the countryside. ### [Judex Judicatus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/judex-judicatus) The narrator delivers a scathing poetic indictment of Judge Armstrong and the California judiciary. ### [A Voluptuary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-voluptuary) The speaker who addresses the voluptuary and offers to join the revels. ### [Ad Cattonum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ad-cattonum) The narrator who confronts Mr. Catton directly. ### [The National Guardsman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-national-guardsman) The speaker of the poem, a National Guardsman boasting of his heroic role. ### [The Barking Weasel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-barking-weasel) The narrator directly addresses John Irish, offering a critical and mocking commentary on his appearance and behavior. ### [In Upper San Francisco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-upper-san-francisco) The narrator wakes from death and enters Heaven, observing its decay. ### [Ultra Crepidam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ultra-crepidam) The narrator addresses the misunderstanding and offers advice on communication. ### [Censor Literarum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/censor-literarum) The narrator speaks directly to Parson Stebbins, defending the press and critiquing clerical hypocrisy. ### [Borrowed Brains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/borrowed-brains) The narrator observes and mocks the writer folk's frantic search for Joaquin Miller's hair. ### [Over the Border](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/over-the-border) The speaker who laments the flight of Justice and comments on the state of society. ### [To an Insolent Attorney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-an-insolent-attorney) The speaker who defends the press and excoriates the lawyer's hypocrisy. ### [A Promised Fast Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-promised-fast-train) The narrator who observes the prophetic vision of the train's rise and fall. ### [One of the Saints](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/one-of-the-saints) The narrator who describes Big Smith's actions and character. ### [California](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/california) The narrator delivers a satirical critique of California's moral hypocrisy. ### [To Either](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-either) The narrator reflects on the lives and deaths of a wealthy man and a beggar. ### [Disappointment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/disappointment) The narrator describes the scene in the Senate. ### [The Valley of the Shadow of Theft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-theft) The voice lamenting the theft and corruption in Yosemite. ### [Down Among the Dead Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/down-among-the-dead-men) The deceased narrator, buried in a grave, who speaks from beyond the grave. ### [Fame](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/fame) The monarch figure who reads the chronicle and mourns his exclusion from lasting fame. ### [One of the Redeemed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/one-of-the-redeemed) The narrator describes the scene and the characters' actions and dialogue. ### [A Critic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-critic) The narrator delivers a harsh poetic critique of the Cleveland Leader. ### [Reciprocity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/reciprocity) The weary narrator who climbs to the observatory and converses with Holden. ### [Californian Summer Pictures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/californian-summer-pictures) The observing narrator who describes the scenes and characters. ### [The Foot-Hill Resort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-foot-hill-resort) The narrator observes and describes the assembled guests at the resort. ### [To the Happy Hunting Grounds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-the-happy-hunting-grounds) The narrator describes the scene of the hunting accident. ### [The Van Nessiad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-van-nessiad) The epic narrator who invokes the muse and recounts the battle in grand poetic style. ### [To a Stray Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-a-stray-dog) The speaker who addresses the stray dog and renames it. ### [A Demagogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-demagogue) The speaker of the poem, a demagogue lamenting his role. ### [Ignis Fatuus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ignis-fatuus) The narrator delivers a mocking elegy for Buckley. ### [To One Out of Favor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-one-out-of-favor) The speaker addressing Miles, reflecting on political favor and retirement. ### [Privation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/privation) The narrator observes and describes the widow's actions and the scene. ### [For a Revised Version](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/for-a-revised-version) The speaker who petitions God to revise His law, adding positive commands to expose hypocrites. ### [The Mormon Question](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-mormon-question) The narrator resolves to strip away his clothes and venture into Mormon territory, rejecting Gentile norms. ### [Two Guides](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/two-guides) The narrator judges between two guides, expressing preference for Ingersoll's clarity over Fitch's obscurantism. ### [In Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-warning) The speaker of the poem, addressing Rudyard Kipling directly. ### [An Emigrant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-emigrant) The narrator expresses discontent with the current land and a desire to emigrate to continue his corrupt practices. ### [A Partial Eclipse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-partial-eclipse) The risen person of consequence who questions the nature of fame. ### [I: George Francis Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/i-george-francis-train) The narrator delivers a scornful epitaph for George Francis Train. ### [III: Stephen Dorsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/iii-stephen-dorsey) The narrator describes Stephen Dorsey's character and methods. ### [IX: Disjunctus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ix-disjunctus) The narrator presents the epitaph. ### [XV: C. P. Berry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xv-c-p-berry) The narrator delivers a mocking epitaph for C. P. Berry. ### [XVI: The Rev. Joseph Hemphill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xvi-the-rev-joseph-hemphill) The narrator recounts the ironic tale of Rev. Joseph Hemphill. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxix) The narrator addresses the reader as 'rash mortal' and warns about the impending burial of Jim Fair. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxxii) The narrator delivers the epitaph for Fred Emerson Brooks. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xli) The narrator describes the death of Joe Russel. ### [Basilica](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/basilica) The narrator who strolls along the ocean, discovers the gem, and is horrified to find it is a Cockatrice. ### [A Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-mystery) The speaker of the poem, reflecting on life, pain, and the human condition. ### [Rosalie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-thee-my-darling) The speaker who dedicates the poetic reflections to 'my darling'. ### [Serenade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/serenade) The speaker of the serenade, a lover pleading at his beloved's window. ### [The Mummery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-mummery) The narrator observes and critiques the mummery of life, serving as the central consciousness of the chapter. ### [Slickens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/slickens) The narrator is not present; the chapter is a play with distinct characters. ### [Peaceful Expulsion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/peaceful-expulsion) The narrator is not directly present; the chapter is a dramatic scene. ### [The Fiend's Delight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-fiend-s-delight) The narrator recounts his vision of Hell and the torments he observes. ### [Ye Idyll of Ye Hippopopotamus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ye-idyll-of-ye-hippopopotamus) The narrator who describes the scene and the Hippopotamus's song. ### [Jerusalem, Old and New](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/jerusalem-old-and-new) The narrator observes and contrasts the parson's sermons with the villagers' cynical reality. ### [Communing with Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/inter-arma-silent-leges) The narrator recounts the election incident and the violent suppression of freedmen. ### [Musings, Philosophical and Theological](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/musings-philosophical-and-theological) The narrator, referred to as Mr. Grile, is seated in his den, reflecting on philosophical and theological matters. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxx) The narrator reflects on impossibility, suggesting a moment of existential or philosophical crisis. ### [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxxiv) The narrator, Grile, speaks in first person, arranging primal truths and then turning to eat a pudding. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/i) The narrator reflects on the inconsistency of kindness and recalls a battlefield request for mercy. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xii) The narrator reflects on the nature of falsehood and belief. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xx) The narrator delivers a philosophical observation on human nature and the consequences of provocation. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xii) The philosopher who delivers the curse. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xviii) The conqueror who arises from the dead and speaks of his past rule. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxii) The narrator reflects on the motivations of a humorist seeking posterity's admiration. ### [Chapter XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xxx) The narrator reflects on the philosophical certainty of death as proof of life. ### [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/l) The narrator muses on the nature of antiquity and posterity. ### [LXXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/lxxxvii) The weeping figure who identifies as 'Man' and is called 'Egotism' by the Scheme of the Universe. ### [XCVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/xcvii) The narrator observes the sky as a mirror reflecting humanity's distorted self-image. ### [CXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cxiv) The narrator reflects on personal memories and emotional states. ### [CXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cxx) The narrator stands as a sentry challenged by Death, then invited to desert life. ### [CXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cxxix) The traveler who answers the angel's questions with 'I know not'. ### [CL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cl) The speaker who asks 'Why dost thou weep?' and offers a paradoxical consolation. ### [CLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/clii) The passerby who questions Contentment, shivering in fine attire. ### [CLXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/clxiv) The narrator speaks as a debtor, defending his character against assumptions of poverty. ### [CLXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/clxvi) The narrator may be the philanthropist or the pauper in this dialogue. ### [CLXXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/clxxxiv) The narrator is addressed by Satan as the source of trouble in the afterlife. ### [CCXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ccxix) The narrator addresses Death in a poetic plea. ### [CCXXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ccxxxv) Appears as the figure claiming to be Memory. ### [CCLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cclii) The narrator speaks in first person, pleading with the oceans for escape. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters/unknown_narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters