A variety of real-life poetry has been featured in Malevolent. The below table lists all of the real-life poetry referenced in Malevolent and every part it is mentioned or quoted in.
This page is still being built out, and so the information here is still incomplete.
| Poem | Author | Parts mentioned |
|---|---|---|
| Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening | Robert Frost | Part Five, Part Seventeen, Part Twenty Six, |
| An Old Sweetheart of Mine | James Whitcomb Riley | Part Sixteen |
| Free | Eugene O’Neill | Part Sixteen |
| Invictus | William Ernest Henley | Part Nineteen, Part Twenty One, Part Forty Seven, Part Forty Nine |
| A Poison Tree | William Blake | Part Twenty Eight |
| Nothing Gold Can Stay | Robert Frost | Part Thirty One |
| Space And Dread and The Dark | William Ernest Henley | Part Fifty Six |
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost[1][]
The first poem quoted in Malevolent is "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost - first quoted by John Doe (The Entity) while in the basement of the hospital in Harper's Hill. When Arthur points out he has quoted a poem, he seems to have not known this.[2]
John recites the poem in its entirety to Arthur in Wallace Larson's estate.[3]
"Miles to go" and "Miles to go before I sleep" is often quoted throughout the show as a form of encouragement.
An Old Sweetheart of Mine - James Whitcomb Riley[4][]
The second poem quoted is in Malevolent is "An Old Sweetheart of Mine" by James Whitcomb Riley. After they find the obelisk the Dreamlands, Arthur enters the hole in the canyon wall. Here, John tells him that they "need to leave the dream for real" which reminds Arthur of something. He recites the opening stanza of the poem.[5]
Free - Eugene O’Neill [6][]
A short while after quoting "An Old Sweetheart of Mine", John asks if Arthur knows any other poems. Arthur asks what kind of poem he wants to hear, and John responds "Whatever moves you in this moment." Arthur recites the poem in its entirety, with John remarking about how Arthur yearns for freedom.[5]
Invictus - William Ernest Henley[]
Arthur says one line of the poem in Part 19 - "I am the captain of my soul" to which John replies that it isn't a fight for his soul despite Arthur insisting it is. When Arthur recites "from pole to pole" John asks what he's saying. Arthur responds that it [his thoughts] are not for him.
Arthur recites the entirety of Invictus in Part 21 when talking to Yellow in the Red Right Hand. Yellow asks what it is, if Arthur wrote it. Arthur responds that it was written by someone much more human than he.
In Part 47 Arthur decides to use the phrase "In the fell clutch of circumstance" as a code for if they need to use the Hand of Malevolence again.
In Part 49 Arthur wants to read Oscar letter. John recites the entirety of Invictus instead, saying that the letter had been washed away long ago. It succeeds in comforting and encouraging Arthur to fight back against the Dark Young. When Arthur asks where John learned it, John replies "maybe I've always known it".
A Poison Tree - William Blake[]
This recited by Wallace Larson after finding the dead body of Uncle in the Larson Estate. Yellow, having been transferred to Larson, asks what it was. Upon being told it was a poem, Yellow asks if Larson wrote it and what it was about. Larson summarizes it as "Hatred. Anger. And revenge."
Nothing Gold Can Stay - Robert Frost[]
Wallace Larson quotes "These woods are lovely, dark and deep."[1] as he's leading Arthur through the Nightmare. Larson mentions John being Arthur's "golden boy, a gift", leading to the discussion that "nothing gold can stay."
Space And Dread and The Dark - William Ernest Henley[]
Arthur recites the entirety of "Space And Dread and The Dark" in Part 56 to John.