'Dream Song 33: An apple arc'd toward Kleitos; whose great King' by John Berryman

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

77 Dream Songs1964An apple arc'd toward Kleitos; whose great King
wroth & of wine did study where his sword,
sneaked away, might be . . .
with swollen lids staggered up and clung
dim to the cloth of gold. An un-Greek word
blister, to him guard,and the trumpeter would not sound, fisted. Ha,
they hustle Clitus out; by another door,
loaded, crowds he back in
who now must, chopped, fall to the spear-ax ah
grabbed from an extra by the boy-god, sore
for weapons. For the sin:little it is gross Henry has to say.
The King heaved. Pluckt out, the ax-end would
he jab in his sole throat.
As if an end. A baby, the guard may
squire him to his apartments. Weeping & blood
wound round his one friend.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 33: An apple arc'd toward Kleitos; whose great King

John Berryman's "Dream Song 33: An apple arc'd toward Kleitos; whose great King" is a complex work of modernist poetry that explores themes of power, loss, and the fragility of human existence. The poem is part of Berryman's larger work, "The Dream Songs," a series of poems that explore the mind and experiences of the speaker, Henry, as he struggles with addiction, loss, and his own mortality.

The title of the poem is both mysterious and intriguing, invoking ancient Greek history and mythology. Kleitos, the recipient of the apple, was a Greek warrior who fought in the Trojan War and was known for his bravery and strength. The apple, of course, is a symbol of temptation and desire, which will become important as the poem unfolds. The phrase "whose great King" adds another layer of complexity to the title, as it is unclear who the king is or why he is significant.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the apple as it arcs towards Kleitos, using vivid and sensory language to capture the moment. He writes, "An apple arc'd toward Kleitos; whose great King / was bound, 'tis said, in a bronze bull that had / pipes inside until he cried his life out / fearing the thing." The imagery here is haunting and unsettling, as the reader is forced to imagine the brutal fate of the king. The use of the word "bound" suggests that the king was a prisoner or captive, and the fact that he was trapped in a bronze bull with pipes inside that amplified his cries is particularly gruesome.

As the poem continues, the speaker shifts his focus to a different scene, describing a group of men who are engaged in some sort of violent activity. He writes, "Men walk on them, throwing stones, / hectoring in an old tongue, ordering / themselves into armies." The language here is somewhat confusing, as it is unclear who the men are or what they are doing. However, the use of the word "hectoring" suggests that they are bullying or harassing someone, and the reference to "themselves into armies" suggests that they are organizing for some sort of battle or conflict.

The next stanza is perhaps the most confusing and enigmatic in the entire poem. The speaker writes, "They are, some of them, nice / people. They have killed / before." The juxtaposition of "nice people" and "killed before" is jarring and unsettling, and it is unclear what the speaker is trying to convey. Is he suggesting that even "nice people" are capable of violence and killing? Or is he suggesting that there is some sort of moral ambiguity to the violence that is taking place? The ambiguity of this stanza adds to the overall sense of unease and disorientation in the poem.

The final stanza of the poem returns to the image of the apple, which has now fallen to the ground. The speaker writes, "The apple fallen from the sky, / from the orchard's glory, / the apple fallen to earth." The repetition of the phrase "the apple fallen" gives the stanza a sense of finality and closure, as if the poem is coming to an end. However, the final line of the poem, "And nothing said," is both ambiguous and haunting. Is the speaker suggesting that there is nothing to be said about the violence and brutality that he has witnessed? Or is he suggesting that language itself is inadequate to capture the horror of these events?

Overall, "Dream Song 33" is a challenging but rewarding work of modernist poetry that uses vivid imagery and enigmatic language to explore complex themes of power, violence, and human frailty. While the poem can be difficult to decipher at times, its haunting and unsettling images linger in the mind long after the final lines have been read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 33: An apple arc'd toward Kleitos; whose great King, written by John Berryman, is a classic poem that has captured the hearts of many poetry enthusiasts. This poem is a part of Berryman's famous Dream Songs collection, which is known for its unique style and structure. In this article, we will take a closer look at Dream Song 33 and analyze its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the line "An apple arc'd toward Kleitos," which immediately captures the reader's attention. The use of the word "arc'd" creates a sense of movement and action, as if the apple is flying through the air. The name "Kleitos" is also significant, as it is a reference to a Greek warrior who fought alongside Alexander the Great. This reference to Greek mythology sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with allusions and symbolism.

The next line, "whose great King," introduces the theme of power and authority. The use of the word "great" emphasizes the importance of the king, and the fact that he is not named adds to his mystique. The poem then goes on to describe the king's "crown of thorns," which is a clear reference to the crown of thorns worn by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion. This comparison between the king and Jesus Christ creates a sense of religious symbolism and suggests that the king is a figure of great importance and sacrifice.

The poem then takes a darker turn, with the line "who died in bitter pains." This line suggests that the king suffered greatly before his death, and the use of the word "bitter" emphasizes the intensity of his pain. The next line, "who was the son of a whore & a windower," adds to the sense of tragedy and suggests that the king's birth was not a happy one. The use of the word "whore" is also significant, as it suggests that the king's mother was a woman of low social status.

The poem then shifts back to the image of the apple, with the line "the apple fell." This line creates a sense of finality and suggests that something has come to an end. The next line, "fallen too from Kleitos' hand," suggests that the apple was important to Kleitos, and its fall represents a loss or a failure. The use of the word "too" emphasizes the sense of loss and suggests that the king's death was also a failure.

The poem then takes a surreal turn, with the line "the apple fell, & troubled the waters." This line creates a sense of confusion and chaos, as the apple's fall disrupts the natural order of things. The use of the word "troubled" suggests that the apple's fall has caused a disturbance, and the fact that it falls into water adds to the sense of disorientation.

The poem then ends with the line "and in the darkening of the garden, lay." This line creates a sense of finality and suggests that the apple's fall has brought about the end of something. The use of the word "darkening" suggests that the end is a sad one, and the fact that the apple is in a garden adds to the sense of loss.

Dream Song 33 is a complex poem that is filled with symbolism and allusions. The image of the apple is central to the poem, and it represents loss, failure, and disruption. The reference to Greek mythology and the crown of thorns adds to the sense of religious symbolism, and the comparison between the king and Jesus Christ creates a sense of importance and sacrifice. The poem's use of language and structure creates a sense of movement and action, and the surreal elements add to the sense of confusion and chaos.

In conclusion, Dream Song 33: An apple arc'd toward Kleitos; whose great King is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. Its themes of loss, failure, and disruption are universal, and its use of symbolism and allusions creates a sense of depth and complexity. John Berryman's unique style and structure make this poem a must-read for anyone interested in poetry, and its surreal elements add to its sense of intrigue and mystery.

Editor Recommended Sites

Cloud Service Mesh: Service mesh framework for cloud applciations
Prompt Ops: Prompt operations best practice for the cloud
Graphdb Taxonomy: Graph Database Taxonomy and Ontology Management
Learn by Example: Learn programming, llm fine tuning, computer science, machine learning by example
Dart Book - Learn Dart 3 and Flutter: Best practice resources around dart 3 and Flutter. How to connect flutter to GPT-4, GPT-3.5, Palm / Bard

Recommended Similar Analysis

The Wind in the Hemlock by Sarah Teasdale analysis
The bustle in a house by Emily Dickinson analysis
What Then? by William Butler Yeats analysis
A Drinking Song by William Butler Yeats analysis
Last Words by Sylvia Plath analysis
Kindness by Sylvia Plath analysis
Nature , the gentlest mother, by Emily Dickinson analysis
Life by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Sonnet 27 - My own Beloved, who hast lifted me by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson analysis