#robertlouisstevenson — Public Fediverse posts
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Out now!
STEVENSON AND PLEASURE
Ed. Julie Gay, Lesley Graham & Nathalie JaëckLooking at physical, creative, & intertextual/intermedial pleasures, these 10 essays explore how pleasure – sensory, intellectual & aesthetic – influenced Robert Louis Stevenson’s work & its reception.
Available from bookshops worldwide (£24.95 / €29.95 / $29.95) & digitally via Project MUSE
https://asls.org.uk/publications/books/occasional_papers/stevenson-and-pleasure/
#Scottish #literature #RobertLouisStevenson #Victorian #19thcentury #literarystudies
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“Summer Sun” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer whose adventurous imagination and recognisable style made him one of the most celebrated authors of the Victorian era. Still widely read, he is nowadays best known for classic works of literature such as Treasure Island (1883) and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886).
Robert Louis StevensonIn this post, however, we’ll get acquainted with one of his poems: “Summer Sun” was first published in 1885, as part of his collection titled A Child’s Garden of Verses. In it, the poet personifies the Sun, presenting him as “the gardener of the World” — a kind presence that brings life, warmth, and gladness to all living things.
Below the poem you’ll find a vocabulary exercise and discussion points designed for English language learners. For more summer-related poetry posts, please click on the links at the bottom of the page.
Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven without repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.
Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool,
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through.
The dusty attic spider-clad,
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
And through the broken edge of tiles,
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.
Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground,
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy's inmost nook.
Above the hills, along the blue,
Round the bright air with footing true,
To please the child, to paint the rose,
The gardener of the World, he goes.VOCABULARY EXERCISE
Find the nouns in the poem with the following meaning:
- a sitting room, a drawing room
- a small, quiet space; a corner
- a period of resting and relaxation
- a small, narrow opening
- a window covering used to control light and privacy
Click here for the answer key.
DISCUSSION POINTS
- What kind of mood or feeling does the poem create? Is it energetic, calm, or something else?
- In many cultures, the Sun is presented as a “he” — a masculine figure, while the Moon is often presented as a “she”. Why is that, do you think?
- This poem is set in summer. How might the poet describe the winter sun?
MORE SUMMER-THEMED POEMS
“Rain in Summer” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“In Summer” by Lord Alfred Douglas
NOTES
I’m a freelance language tutor (English, Latin, Classical Greek), researcher, and a literary scholar currently based in Belgrade, Serbia.
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COVER PHOTO CREDIT
#English #EnglishLiterature #EnglishVocabulary #learningEnglish #literature #poem #poetry #readingComprehension #readingSkills #RobertLouisStevenson #summer -
A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
Never allow your mind to dwell on your own misconduct: that is ruin. The conscience has morbid sensibilities; it must be employed but not indulged, like the imagination or the stomach.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 7.1 “Discipline of Conscience”More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #conscience #despondency #error #failure #misconduct #morbidity #obsession #selfblame #selfcondemnation #selfcriticism #selfdeprecation #selfdoubt #selfhatred #selfjudgment #selfloathing #selfreproach #shortcomings #sins
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
Solitude is the climax of the negative virtues. When we go to bed after a solitary day we can tell ourselves that we have not been unkind nor dishonest nor untruthful; and the negative virtues are agreeable to that dangerous faculty we call the conscience. That they should ever be admitted for a part of virtue is what I cannot explain. I do not care two straws for all the nots.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 4.6 “Solitude and Society”More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #accountability #conscience #feedback #foolingyourself #negativevirtue #selfapproval #selfassurance #selfdeception #selfevaluation #selfopinion #selfrationalization #selfreproach #selfrighteousness #selfsufficiency #sinofomission #solitude #virtue
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
It is the business of this life to make excuses for others, but none for ourselves. We should be clearly persuaded of our own misconduct, for that is the part of knowledge in which we are most apt to be defective.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 1.1 “Justice and Justification”More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #criticism #excuses #forgiveness #selfawareness #selfblame #selfconsciousness #selfcorrection #selfcriticism #selfdiscipline #selfdoubt #selfevaluation #selfimprovement #selfjudgment #selfopinion #selfregard #blame #selfblame #accountability
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
It is the mark of a good action that it appears inevitable in the retrospect. We should have been cut-throats to do otherwise. And there’s an end. We ought to know distinctly that we are damned for what we do wrong; but when we have done right, we have only been gentlemen, after all. There is nothing to make a work about.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1880-01/02?), “Reflections and Remarks on Human Life,” § 6 “Right and Wrong”More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #obviousdecision #dotherightthing #doinggood #duty #good #gooddeed #inevitability #naturalcourse #retrospect #virtue
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
To give the public what they do not want, and yet expect to be supported: we have there a strange pretension, and yet not uncommon, above all with painters. The first duty in this world is for a man to pay his way; when that is quite accomplished, he may plunge into what eccentricity he likes; but emphatically not till then.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-09), “A Letter to a Young Gentleman Who Proposes to Embrace the Career of Art,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #art #artistry #commercialism #creativity #earnings #income #makingaliving #makingmoney #practicality #pragmatism #publicopinion #responsibility #writing
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
To give the public what they do not want, and yet expect to be supported: we have there a strange pretension, and yet not uncommon, above all with painters. The first duty in this world is for a man to pay his way; when that is quite accomplished, he may plunge into what eccentricity he likes; but emphatically not till then.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-09), “A Letter to a Young Gentleman Who Proposes to Embrace the Career of Art,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #art #artistry #commercialism #creativity #earnings #income #makingaliving #makingmoney #practicality #pragmatism #publicopinion #responsibility #writing
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
To give the public what they do not want, and yet expect to be supported: we have there a strange pretension, and yet not uncommon, above all with painters. The first duty in this world is for a man to pay his way; when that is quite accomplished, he may plunge into what eccentricity he likes; but emphatically not till then.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-09), “A Letter to a Young Gentleman Who Proposes to Embrace the Career of Art,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #art #artistry #commercialism #creativity #earnings #income #makingaliving #makingmoney #practicality #pragmatism #publicopinion #responsibility #writing
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
To give the public what they do not want, and yet expect to be supported: we have there a strange pretension, and yet not uncommon, above all with painters. The first duty in this world is for a man to pay his way; when that is quite accomplished, he may plunge into what eccentricity he likes; but emphatically not till then.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-09), “A Letter to a Young Gentleman Who Proposes to Embrace the Career of Art,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #art #artistry #commercialism #creativity #earnings #income #makingaliving #makingmoney #practicality #pragmatism #publicopinion #responsibility #writing
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
To give the public what they do not want, and yet expect to be supported: we have there a strange pretension, and yet not uncommon, above all with painters. The first duty in this world is for a man to pay his way; when that is quite accomplished, he may plunge into what eccentricity he likes; but emphatically not till then.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1888-09), “A Letter to a Young Gentleman Who Proposes to Embrace the Career of Art,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #art #artistry #commercialism #creativity #earnings #income #makingaliving #makingmoney #practicality #pragmatism #publicopinion #responsibility #writing
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
Just now, when every one is bound, under pain of a decree in absence convicting them of lèse-respectability, to enter on some lucrative profession, and labour therein with something not far short of enthusiasm, a cry from the opposite party, who are content when they have enough, and like to look on and enjoy in the meanwhile, savours a little of bravado and gasconade. And yet this should not be. Idleness so called, which does not consist in doing nothing, but in doing a great deal not recognized in the dogmatic formularies of the ruling class, has as good a right to state its position as industry itself.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1877-07), “An Apology for Idlers,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 36More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #workingclass #contentment #disrespectability #enjoyment #enough #hardwork #idleness #industry #labor #makingmoney #recreation #rulingclass
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
Just now, when every one is bound, under pain of a decree in absence convicting them of lèse-respectability, to enter on some lucrative profession, and labour therein with something not far short of enthusiasm, a cry from the opposite party, who are content when they have enough, and like to look on and enjoy in the meanwhile, savours a little of bravado and gasconade. And yet this should not be. Idleness so called, which does not consist in doing nothing, but in doing a great deal not recognized in the dogmatic formularies of the ruling class, has as good a right to state its position as industry itself.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1877-07), “An Apology for Idlers,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 36More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #workingclass #contentment #disrespectability #enjoyment #enough #hardwork #idleness #industry #labor #makingmoney #recreation #rulingclass
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
Just now, when every one is bound, under pain of a decree in absence convicting them of lèse-respectability, to enter on some lucrative profession, and labour therein with something not far short of enthusiasm, a cry from the opposite party, who are content when they have enough, and like to look on and enjoy in the meanwhile, savours a little of bravado and gasconade. And yet this should not be. Idleness so called, which does not consist in doing nothing, but in doing a great deal not recognized in the dogmatic formularies of the ruling class, has as good a right to state its position as industry itself.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1877-07), “An Apology for Idlers,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 36More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #workingclass #contentment #disrespectability #enjoyment #enough #hardwork #idleness #industry #labor #makingmoney #recreation #rulingclass
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
Just now, when every one is bound, under pain of a decree in absence convicting them of lèse-respectability, to enter on some lucrative profession, and labour therein with something not far short of enthusiasm, a cry from the opposite party, who are content when they have enough, and like to look on and enjoy in the meanwhile, savours a little of bravado and gasconade. And yet this should not be. Idleness so called, which does not consist in doing nothing, but in doing a great deal not recognized in the dogmatic formularies of the ruling class, has as good a right to state its position as industry itself.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1877-07), “An Apology for Idlers,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 36More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #workingclass #contentment #disrespectability #enjoyment #enough #hardwork #idleness #industry #labor #makingmoney #recreation #rulingclass
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A quotation from Robert Louis Stevenson
Just now, when every one is bound, under pain of a decree in absence convicting them of lèse-respectability, to enter on some lucrative profession, and labour therein with something not far short of enthusiasm, a cry from the opposite party, who are content when they have enough, and like to look on and enjoy in the meanwhile, savours a little of bravado and gasconade. And yet this should not be. Idleness so called, which does not consist in doing nothing, but in doing a great deal not recognized in the dogmatic formularies of the ruling class, has as good a right to state its position as industry itself.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Essay (1877-07), “An Apology for Idlers,” Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 36More about this quote: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #robertlouisstevenson #workingclass #contentment #disrespectability #enjoyment #enough #hardwork #idleness #industry #labor #makingmoney #recreation #rulingclass
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A generous prayer is never presented in vain; the petition may be refused, but the petitioner is always, I believe, rewarded by some gracious visitation.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish essayist, novelist, poet
Story (1882-06), “The Merry Men,” ch. 3, Cornhill Magazine, Vol. 45, No. 6Sourcing, notes: wist.info/stevenson-robert-lou…
#quote #quotes #quotation #RobertLouisStevenson #divinemercy #generosity #petition #prayer #thoughtsandprayers
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Can't stop the #BookWeek at https://www.twitch.tv/chilliteracy
Tonight Sam's back with some Year One favourites! We've got Dickens, Stevenson, Middleton, Nesbitt, and maybe more if there's time? Come and find a new story to love!
@bookstodon#Audiobook #ReadingAloud #TheSignalMan #CharlesDickens #TheBodySnatcher #RobertLouisStevenson #ManSizeInMarble #EdithNesbitt #TheGhostShip #RichardMiddleton #cozy