FOR SCHOOL USE. by James Russell Lowell: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
This text isn’t a poem; it’s a publisher's catalogue for school editions of James Russell Lowell's works, part of the Riverside Literature Series.
The poem
Riverside Literature Series: No. 15. Under the Old Elm, and Other Poems. With a Biographical Sketch and Notes. Paper, 15 cents, _net_. No. 30. The Vision of Sir Launfal, and Other Poems. With a Biographical Sketch, Notes, and Illustrations. Paper, 15 cents, _net_, cloth, 25 cents, _net_. (Nos. 15 and 30 also bound together in one volume, cloth, 40 cents, _net_.) No. 39. Books and Libraries, and Other Papers. With Notes. Paper, 15 cents, _net_. Extra Double No.
This text isn’t a poem; it’s a publisher's catalogue for school editions of James Russell Lowell's works, part of the Riverside Literature Series. It provides titles, formats, and prices for classroom use. There’s nothing poetic to analyze here.
Line-by-line
Riverside Literature Series: No. 15. Under the Old Elm...
No. 30. The Vision of Sir Launfal, and Other Poems...
No. 39. Books and Libraries, and Other Papers...
Tone & mood
The text lacks any literary tone. It's written in a straightforward, commercial style — dry and functional, resembling a catalog meant for school purchasing departments and teachers.
Symbols & metaphors
- Net price — The term 'net' indicates a set trade price that won't be discounted further—this was a publishing standard back then to help shield booksellers from being undercut.
- Paper vs. cloth binding — The two binding options highlight a class distinction in educational publishing: lower-cost paper copies for individual students and more durable cloth copies for school libraries or awards.
- The Riverside Literature Series — The series represents the late-Victorian effort to create a standardized literary canon for American schoolchildren, putting Lowell in the same league as Shakespeare and other recognized authors.
Historical context
The Riverside Literature Series was started by Houghton Mifflin in the 1880s to provide affordable, annotated texts for the growing American public school system. James Russell Lowell (1819–1891) was one of the most renowned New England poets of his time — a Harvard professor, editor of the *Atlantic Monthly*, and U.S. Ambassador to Britain. By the time these catalogues were distributed, his work had become an essential part of the school curriculum, especially *The Vision of Sir Launfal* (1848), a narrative poem that explores the true meaning of charity. The 'For School Use' label found on these catalogue pages was a typical Houghton Mifflin marketing term, not something Lowell chose himself. The text provided here is back-matter from the publisher, not an actual poem.
FAQ
No. This is a publisher's catalogue listing—essentially an ad for school editions of Lowell's works. It was printed in the back pages of Riverside Literature Series booklets and lacks poetic form, meter, or literary content.
The catalogue copy was created by the editorial team at Houghton Mifflin, rather than Lowell himself. Since Lowell passed away in 1891, many of these series editions were put together and promoted after or close to the end of his life.
*The Vision of Sir Launfal* (1848) is Lowell's best-known poem. It narrates an Arthurian-style quest where a proud knight discovers that genuine charity is about giving to the poor with humility. From the 1880s to the early 20th century, it was one of the most frequently assigned poems in American schools.
It was a series of affordable, annotated school editions published by Houghton Mifflin beginning in the 1880s. Each volume focused on a single author or text, featuring notes and biographical sketches to assist teachers and students. You could consider it the 19th-century version of a school study guide.
'Net' referred to a publishing trade term indicating that the price was set—booksellers were not allowed to offer additional discounts. This term was part of a wider initiative by publishers during this time to standardize retail prices.
Lowell was regarded as the quintessential civic poet: he was Harvard-educated, morally earnest, and linked to abolitionism and American patriotism. His poem *Under the Old Elm*, composed for the centennial of Washington assuming command of the Continental Army, positioned him as a fitting choice for schools that taught American history through literature.
*Under the Old Elm* (1875) is a poem by Lowell honoring the 100th anniversary of George Washington taking command of the Continental Army under an elm tree in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It portrays Washington as a symbol of dedicated national leadership.