LESSON 26
ABOU BEN ADHEM

James Henry Leigh Hunt (b. 1784, d. 1859) was the son of a West Indian, who married an American lady, and practiced law in Philadelphia until the Revolution;being a Tory, he then returned to England, where Leigh Hunt was born. The latter wrote many verses while yet a boy, and in 1801 his father published a collection of them, entitled “Juvenilia.” For many years he was connected with various newspapers, and, while editor of the “Examiner, ” was imprisoned for two years for writing disrespectfully of the prince regent. While in prison he was visited frequently by the poets Byron, Moore, Lamb, Shelley, and Keats; and there wrote “The Feast of the Poets, ” “The Descent of Liberty, a Mask, ” and “The Story of Rimini, ”which immediately gave him a reputation as a poet. His writings include various translations, dramas, novels, collections of essays, and poems.

1. ABOU BEN ADHEM (may his tribe increase! )

Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,

And saw within the moonlight in his room,

Making it rich and like a lily in bloom,

An angel writing in a book of gold.

2. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold;

And to the presence in the room he said,

“What writest thou? ” The vision raised its head,

And, with a look made of all sweet accord,

Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”

3. “And is mine one? ” said Abou. “Nay, not so, ”

Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,

But cheerly still; and said, “I pray thee, then,

Write me as one that loves his fellow-men.”

4. The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night

It came again, with a great wakening light,

And showed the names whom love of God had blessed;

And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

1.presence:person or spirit that is present.

2.accord:harmony.

3.wakening:to wake up.

4.blessed:made sacred.

B. Study Guide

This lesson is written in imitation of an oriental fable.

C. Comprehension Questions

1. Do you believe in angels? Explain.

2. Where did the light in Abou Ben Adhem's room come from?

3. The Lord is______.

a. a landowner

b. God

c. the Pope

4. What was the angel writing when Abou Ben Adhem awoke?

5. Abou Ben Adhem is an Arabic name. What do you think his religion was?

6. An accepted interpretation of this poem is that it is more important to love one's fellow women and men rather than to have a superficial faith in a god. Do you agree with this? Why or why not?

7. Do you believe in the power of prayer? Explain.

8. Label these statements true or false.

a. The Koran is an Islamic sacred book. _____

b. An oriental fable is a song. _____

c. All religions teach the same ideas. _____

D. Writing Work

Write an e-mail to a friend about a dream you have had.