The Deserted Village by Oliver Goldsmith
A Poem
The poem laments the decline of rural life and the depopulation of the countryside, focusing on a fictional village that has fallen victim to the enclosures and social changes of the time. It nostalgically recalls the once-thriving community, with its school, its church, and its happy inhabitants, contrasting this idyllic past with the desolation and despair that have taken over since the wealthy have appropriated the common lands. The poet reflects on themes of corruption, the destructive impact of materialism, and the loss of pastoral innocence, ultimately critiquing the societal transformations that have led to the erosion of traditional rural values and ways of life.
The 7215th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1770
- Nationality
- Irish
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 20-30
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.0)
- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 1 lists:
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)