look homeward, angel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowLiterary
Quick answer
What does “look homeward, angel” mean?
The title of a famous novel by Thomas Wolfe, often used as a literary reference.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title of a famous novel by Thomas Wolfe, often used as a literary reference.
A phrase evoking themes of nostalgia, longing for one's origins, spiritual yearning for return, or a search for belonging.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. Recognized primarily as an American literary title in both regions.
Connotations
Connotes American modernist literature, Southern Gothic themes, autobiographical fiction, and intense personal quest.
Frequency
Extremely rare in common usage outside of literary discussion. Its frequency is tied entirely to references to Wolfe's work.
Grammar
How to Use “look homeward, angel” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun - Title]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literary studies, American literature courses, and analyses of modernist fiction.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation unless discussing literature.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “look homeward, angel”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “look homeward, angel”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “look homeward, angel”
- Using it as a general idiom (e.g., 'I look homeward, angel after a long day' - incorrect).
- Confusing the word order ('Angel, Look Homeward').
- Misspelling 'homeward' as 'homewards' (though 'homewards' is a valid British variant, the title is fixed as 'homeward').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is almost exclusively recognized as the title of Thomas Wolfe's 1929 novel. It is not used as a stand-alone idiom in everyday conversation.
'Homeward' means 'towards home.' It suggests direction, movement, or longing oriented to one's place of origin or belonging.
In the novel, it references a stone angel statue that is a significant symbol. More broadly, it can be interpreted as a spiritual guide, a memory, or an idealized aspect of the self calling one back to their roots.
It would be highly unusual and overly literary. While its thematic meaning aligns with homesickness or nostalgia, native speakers would simply say 'I'm feeling homesick' or 'I'm nostalgic for home.' Using the full title would sound like a deliberate literary reference.
The title of a famous novel by Thomas Wolfe, often used as a literary reference.
Look homeward, angel is usually literary in register.
Look homeward, angel: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈhəʊmwəd ˈeɪndʒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlʊk ˈhoʊmwərd ˈeɪndʒəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"LOOK at your HOME, WARD off sadness, my ANGEL" - a prompt to recall the title's three key words and its melancholic, protective tone.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY (with home as the desired destination); THE SOUL IS A TRAVELLER (guided or seeking angelic direction).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Look Homeward, Angel' primarily known as?