The speaker seems a bit jealous of the freedom of the skylark, which travels where it pleases. It doesn’t matter when or where—“the sunken sun”or“the silver sphere” —the speaker feels that the skylark is always flying high above. Even if we do not see it, or even hear it, “we feel it is there.”
The speaker admits to not knowing whether the bird is happy, however, or from where it receives its joy. Shelly puts five stanzas in the middle of the poem in metaphors, comparing the skylark to other living objects in nature (poets, a maiden, worms, and roses), which express love, pain, and sorrow. None of them, however, has the expressive ability of the singing bird. Shelly hopes to learn about the realm of spirit from the bird, plainly asking to teach him how it manages to continue on with its “rapture so divine” without ever wavering in pain or sorrow. Even the happiest of human songs, like a wedding song (“Chorus hymeneal”), does not compare to the song of a skylark.
The song of the skylark, rather than the skylark itself, is what holds all the power. It is the song that can have the “light of thought” of “the poet,” the “soothing love” of the maiden, invisible existence as the “glow-worm golden,” and the aura of “a rose.” It is this power to awaken so many different parts in nature, and make them aware to the human mind, that Shelley wants to “be taught.”
Eventually, the speaker seems to come to terms with the idea that in some ways, ignorance can be bliss. Yet, this makes the skylark’s joy inhuman. “We look before and after, and pine for what is not,” but a bird lives in the moment. Nevertheless, recognizing the beauty in the simple brain of this skylark, the speaker would be happy to know only “half its gladness,” seeking the ability to inspire others the way he was inspired by the bird.
Shelley’s skylark is symbolizing the relationship between sadness and joy, experience and knowledge, and his desire to only be under the influence of joy and knowledge, even though he knows that is not possible. Finally, beyond recognizing the difference between himself and the glorious song of the skylark, Shelley keeps the hope that someday his words will be heard and heeded the way he is listening to and being inspired by his avian muse.The fifteenth stanza, the question stanza, "What objects are the fountains, or thy happy strain? What fields, or waves, or mountains? What shapes of sky or plain? What love of thine own kind? what ignorance of pain?" (lines 70-75). This stanza marks the beginning of Shelley’s separation of the “mortal” from the “spiritual.” Asking questions creates room for Shelly to provide answers. The answer he comes up with is that we, unlike the song of the skylark, are “mortals” capable of “dreaming” sweet melodies. It is not good enough to have unreflective joy, and thus even our “sincerest laughter” is often accompanied with “our saddest thought,” yet this is the reality we must acknowledge.
Monday, June 27, 2011
George Gordon: "She Walks in beauty"
In the first two stanzas, Gordon paints an imagery of lightness and darkness in the lady. And all "that's best of dark and bright" (line 3) and "one shade the more, one ray the less" (line 7). These two lines describes the beauty of the lady in both dark and bright. Most importantly, Gordon is explaining that her beauty is present in her perfections and flaws which is different then just physical beauty. In the last stanza, Gordon describes her physical beauty, "cheek, and o'er that brow, so soft, so calm, yet eloquent, the smiles that win, the tints that glow...." (lines 14-15). This of course is a plus for most men, but Gordon ends this poem with these words, "A heart whose love is innocent!" This final line expresses that the lady's inner love that she has from her heart (for others and for herself) is the most important thing about her beauty. Gordon is pointing out that inner beauty from the heart is more important than physical beauty.
Samuel Coleridge: "Work Without Hope"
The first section of the poem talks about the beauty of nature. The man sees nature at work; "Slugs leave their lair – The bees are stirring – birds are on the wing…" (lines 2-3). The man refers to himself as an "unbusy" thing. Contrasting himself with the animals, he states, "And I the while, the sole unbusy thing, nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing" (lines 5-6). He sees nature and begins to realize that while it is beautiful, he has trouble seeing the beautiful. "And Winter slumbering in the open air...." (line 3), he uses the imagery of winter, a desolate season, to describe his to imply the man’s attitude.
In the second section of the poem, the man develops these thoughts even further. He speaks of the beauty of the streams and flowers around him, but says, "Bloom, O ye amaranths! Bloom for whom he may, For me ye bloom not!" (lines 8-9). He knows of the beauty surrounding him, but in the state he is in, he is not able to see it and appreciate it. The man describes himself as having, "lips unbrightened" and a "wreathless brow." (line 11). This represents his lack of success. He is sterile, like winter, having borne no fruit, or achieved any amount of success. He is despairing, and sees no hope for his future. The man is despaired with the unsuccessful times of the sterile winter days, and cannot see the beauty of nature around him.
The last two lines of this poem are the turning point, and make it all come together. Coleridge writes, "Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve, And hope without an object cannot live." The man is saying that drawing nectar in a sieve is impossible because is just drains through, as will any work without hope. Hope cannot live without an object, because if there is no hope and no point, then there is no reason to continue. These lines show how hopeless the man is. He has no hope, and sees himself as a cold, lonely winter. Although it is a beautiful day, blooming with the first signs of spring, he cannot see anything other than the hopelessness that surrounds him.
In the second section of the poem, the man develops these thoughts even further. He speaks of the beauty of the streams and flowers around him, but says, "Bloom, O ye amaranths! Bloom for whom he may, For me ye bloom not!" (lines 8-9). He knows of the beauty surrounding him, but in the state he is in, he is not able to see it and appreciate it. The man describes himself as having, "lips unbrightened" and a "wreathless brow." (line 11). This represents his lack of success. He is sterile, like winter, having borne no fruit, or achieved any amount of success. He is despairing, and sees no hope for his future. The man is despaired with the unsuccessful times of the sterile winter days, and cannot see the beauty of nature around him.
The last two lines of this poem are the turning point, and make it all come together. Coleridge writes, "Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve, And hope without an object cannot live." The man is saying that drawing nectar in a sieve is impossible because is just drains through, as will any work without hope. Hope cannot live without an object, because if there is no hope and no point, then there is no reason to continue. These lines show how hopeless the man is. He has no hope, and sees himself as a cold, lonely winter. Although it is a beautiful day, blooming with the first signs of spring, he cannot see anything other than the hopelessness that surrounds him.
Dorothy Wordsworth: "Thoughts on My Sick-bed"
As mentioned in the foot notes of the poem, Wordsworth was sick "with a series of debilitating illness." Throughout this poem, Wordsworth describes her life she has experienced so far. For example, "Hath been enriched by kindred gifts, That, undesired, unsought-for, came, with joyful heart in youthful days when fresh each season in its Round I welcomed the earliest Celandine Glittering upon the mossy ground" (lines 7-12). Wordsworth seems to be painting the images of the wonderful things she has experienced, but yet, she has not always had a wonderful experience in life. She has sought out "known and unknown "(line 13) things in order to experience every aspect of life that she can experience. Wordsworth does a flashback and describes the "splendid flower" in which she never sought. I believe Wordsworth did not fulfill everything she would have liked to, but she does not regret any of her experiences. "No need of motion, or of strength, or even the breathing air;----I thought of Nature's loveliest scenes; And with Memory I was there" (lines 49-52). This powerful ending to the poem shows the beauty that sickness does not stop Wordsworth from experiencing her most desired things, but rather she fights to stay "alive" even if she is physically not present anymore.
William Wordsworth "Michael"
In "Michael", Wordsworths depicts an ordinary man that goes through an emotional journey with his son. Michael was a shepherd that lived an ordinary life. His "only Son was now the dearest object that he knew on earth. Exceeding was the love he bare to him" (lines 159 to 161). Michael loved his life as a shepherd and loved his son, Luke, dearly. The only problem was this was that his son did not have the same passion as Michael. Luke "slacken in his duty; and, at length He in the dissolute city gave himself to evil courses..." (Lines 451- 453). Luke abandoned being a shepherd and abandoned his father. Michael was very upset and hurt by his son's action. However, Michael stayed strong and continued his daily shepherd duties because "there is a comfort in the strength of love; 'Twill make a thing endurable," in his shepherd duties (lines 457-458). Michael tried to mast his pain and grief from losing his son, Luke. The last few stanzas of the poem from lines 476- to 480, Wordsworth describes the Sheep-fold that both Michael and Luke worked on. This shows that there is sense of commitment in their relationship, and the unfinished sheep-fold is the unending love that Michael has for Luke. I believe Wordsworth themes for this poem is successes and failures, and hopes and despairs in life.
William Blake: "The Lamb" and "The Tyger"
"The Lamb" and "The Tyger" are totally different animals. I believe Blake is trying to portray two important images: the goodness and the badness in the world. The lamb is a gentle, innocent creature while the tiger is a predatory animal that can be brutal. In plate 5, line 4, from "The Tyger", "Could frame thy fearful symmetry?", Blake is making a reference to the "The Lamb". He is pointing out that they are equally important in life, because they were both created by God. I believe that Blake is trying to describe the good and bad things that God has created for each person on earth. The lamb represents the innocence, youth, and good aspect in life. This can be seen in "The Lamb" from plate 15, line1-2, "He is meek and he is mild, he became a little child." However, the tiger represents the trials and tribulations that people may encounter throughout life. Although the tyger may be represented as an evil tool from God, it may just be a test or challenge from God. If a person can overcome that challenge then the person will grow from it.
French Revolution
As nicely phrased from the textbook, "The Revolution in France overthrew the hierarchy, the aristocracy, and the monarchy, and the whole of that peculiarly insolent and oppressive system on which they were based" (p. 36). This was a time for the low and middle class people to overthrow the corrupted monarchy and higher class. During this time, there were several writers that came out and expressed their views about the revolution. Among those were Helen Williams, Edward Burke, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Thomas Paine. Williams, Wollstonecraft, and Paine were supporters of the revolution but they were clear that it was not targeted mainly towards the monarchy. Rather, it was streamed around political principles such as liberty and equality. Thomas Paine wrote that "The Monarch and the Monarchy were distinct and separate things; and it was against the established despotism of the latter, and not against the person or the principles of the former, that the revolution commenced, and the Revolution has been carried" (p.646). Paine is explaining that the important matter is not the Monarchy family but rather the principles of the human rights of the people.Williams reenforces this idea by stating that "the foundation [for the revolution] was laid in wisdom" (p.46).In agreement with Paine and Williams, Wollstonecraft argues that humans are "rational creatures, who are raised above brute creation by their improvable faculties" (p. 58). Wollstonecraft is explaining that humans inherited rights when they were first conceived on earth. Paine also reiterates this concept when he referenced the book of Genesis to help critique the aristocracy.
In contrary, Burke's was against the revolution and the idea that lower classes were attacking the monarchy. Burke states that "They have a right to the fruits of their industry; and to the means of making their industry fruitful. They have a right to the acquisitions of their parents; to the nourishment and improvement of their offspring; to instruction in life and to consolation in death" (p.50). In other words, Burke believes that the royal family or the financially well-established people should be allowed to be above other people on the social ladder. In all, "all men have equal rights; but not equal things" (p. 50). I can understand where Burke is coming from in his ideology, but there should definitely be a political power to balance out society at the time of the French Revolution. There were many people starving and inflation did not help the matter either. The monarchy family should not be allowed to sit and ignore the fact that their people were in bad condition. If I had to pick a side in this argument, I would have to favor Williams, Wollstonecraft, and Paine's views. Equality and liberty were the main arguments for the revolution.
In contrary, Burke's was against the revolution and the idea that lower classes were attacking the monarchy. Burke states that "They have a right to the fruits of their industry; and to the means of making their industry fruitful. They have a right to the acquisitions of their parents; to the nourishment and improvement of their offspring; to instruction in life and to consolation in death" (p.50). In other words, Burke believes that the royal family or the financially well-established people should be allowed to be above other people on the social ladder. In all, "all men have equal rights; but not equal things" (p. 50). I can understand where Burke is coming from in his ideology, but there should definitely be a political power to balance out society at the time of the French Revolution. There were many people starving and inflation did not help the matter either. The monarchy family should not be allowed to sit and ignore the fact that their people were in bad condition. If I had to pick a side in this argument, I would have to favor Williams, Wollstonecraft, and Paine's views. Equality and liberty were the main arguments for the revolution.
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