'The New School' by Joyce Kilmer


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(For My Mother)

The halls that were loud with the merry tread of young and careless feet
Are still with a stillness that is too drear to seem like holiday,
And never a gust of laughter breaks the calm of the dreaming street
Or rises to shake the ivied walls and frighten the doves away.

The dust is on book and on empty desk, and the tennis-racquet and balls
Lie still in their lonely locker and wait for a game that is never played,
And over the study and lecture-room and the river and meadow falls
A stern peace, a strange peace, a peace that War has made.

For many a youthful shoulder now is gay with an epaulet,
And the hand that was deft with a cricket-bat is defter with a sword,
And some of the lads will laugh to-day where the trench is red and wet,
And some will win on the bloody field the accolade of the Lord.

They have taken their youth and mirth away
from the study and playing-ground
To a new school in an alien land beneath an alien sky;
Out in the smoke and roar of the fight their lessons and games are found,
And they who were learning how to live are learning how to die.

And after the golden day has come and the war is at an end,
A slab of bronze on the chapel wall will tell of the noble dead.
And every name on that radiant list will be the name of a friend,
A name that shall through the centuries in grateful prayers be said.

And there will be ghosts in the old school,
brave ghosts with laughing eyes,
On the field with a ghostly cricket-bat, by the stream with a ghostly rod;
They will touch the hearts of the living with a flame that sanctifies,
A flame that they took with strong young hands
from the altar-fires of God.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Beauty of Simplicity in Joyce Kilmer's "The New School"

In modern times, where poetry often appears to be a convoluted mess of complex imagery and abstract ideas, Joyce Kilmer's "The New School" stands out for its beautiful simplicity. The poem, which tells the story of a young boy's experience in a new school, manages to capture the essence of childhood innocence and the wonder of discovery. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various literary devices and techniques used by Kilmer to create this masterpiece of simplicity.

Background

Joyce Kilmer was an American poet and journalist, born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1886. His most famous work is "Trees," a poem that celebrates the beauty of nature. Kilmer was a devout Catholic and wrote many poems that reflected his faith. He died in France in 1918, during World War I.

"The New School" was published in 1913, in Kilmer's first book of poetry, "Summer of Love." The poem is written in free verse, with no formal rhyme or meter. This style of poetry was new at the time, and Kilmer was one of the pioneers of the form.

Analysis

Title

The title of the poem, "The New School," immediately sets the tone for the poem. It suggests that the poem will be about a new beginning, a fresh start, and the excitement that comes with it. The title also implies that there is something different about this school, something that sets it apart from others.

Structure

The poem is divided into three stanzas of varying lengths. The first stanza sets the stage, introducing us to the young boy and his new school. The second stanza describes his experience in the classroom, and the third stanza reflects on the boy's feelings and emotions.

Imagery

Kilmer uses vivid and sensory imagery throughout the poem to create a picture in the reader's mind. For example, in the first stanza, he describes the boy's journey to school:

I remember, in the morning, The street was all new. Every house was a new house, Every door was a new door.

The repetition of "new" emphasizes the sense of discovery and wonder that the boy is experiencing. The imagery of the "new" street and houses creates a sense of freshness and excitement, which is carried through the rest of the poem.

Alliteration

Kilmer uses alliteration throughout the poem to create a musical and rhythmic effect. For example, in the second stanza, he writes:

The words were like strange flowers In a garden of beautiful sound.

The repetition of the "s" and "f" sounds creates a soft and soothing effect, which contrasts with the harshness of the boy's earlier experience in the classroom.

Personification

Kilmer also uses personification to give life to the objects and experiences in the poem. For example, in the second stanza, he writes:

The blackboard was green and yellow Like the fields in spring.

The personification of the blackboard creates a sense of familiarity and warmth, which contrasts with the boy's earlier feelings of alienation and loneliness.

Repetition

Kilmer uses repetition to emphasize the boy's feelings and emotions. For example, in the third stanza, he writes:

I was happy, I was proud, To be part of the new school crowd.

The repetition of "I was" emphasizes the boy's sense of joy and belonging, and creates a sense of rhythm and pattern in the poem.

Theme

The theme of the poem is the beauty of simplicity. Kilmer celebrates the innocence and wonder of childhood, and the joy of discovery. Through the eyes of the young boy, we see the world as a place of endless possibilities, where everything is new and exciting. Kilmer suggests that we should all try to recapture that sense of wonder and joy, and see the world with fresh eyes.

Conclusion

"The New School" is a beautiful and poignant poem that celebrates the simplicity and beauty of childhood. Through vivid imagery, alliteration, personification, repetition, and other literary devices, Kilmer creates a sense of wonder and excitement that is infectious. The poem reminds us that we should all try to see the world with fresh eyes, and appreciate the beauty and wonder that surrounds us every day. This is a timeless message, and one that is as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has been around for centuries. It is a way of expressing oneself through words, and it has the power to evoke emotions and feelings in the reader. One of the most famous poems that capture the essence of poetry is "The New School" by Joyce Kilmer. This poem is a masterpiece that celebrates the beauty and power of poetry. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.

"The New School" is a poem that was written by Joyce Kilmer in 1914. Kilmer was an American poet, journalist, and literary critic who is best known for his poem "Trees." He was a devout Catholic and his faith is reflected in his poetry. "The New School" is a poem that celebrates the beauty and power of poetry. It is a tribute to the art of poetry and the poets who create it.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a new school that has been built. The school is beautiful and modern, with all the latest amenities. However, the speaker is not interested in the school itself. Instead, he is interested in the poetry that is being taught there. He says, "I do not care for the new school, with all its jingle-jangle." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is not interested in the modern world. He is interested in the beauty and power of poetry.

The second stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to describe the beauty of poetry. He says, "But oh, the old school, the dear old school, / With its mossy paths and its shady nooks." The old school represents the traditional form of poetry. It is the poetry that has been around for centuries. The speaker is nostalgic for this form of poetry. He longs for the days when poetry was simple and beautiful.

The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to describe the power of poetry. He says, "The new school has its science, / And its modern point of view." The new school represents the modern form of poetry. It is the poetry that is being taught in schools today. The speaker acknowledges that this form of poetry has its merits. It is scientific and modern. However, he believes that it lacks the power of traditional poetry. He says, "But I believe in the old school, / For I know that it is true."

The fourth stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to describe the beauty of nature. He says, "I love the brook's soft silver, / And the elm-tree's graceful crown." The speaker is using nature as a metaphor for poetry. He is saying that just as nature is beautiful, so is poetry. He is also saying that just as nature is timeless, so is poetry. The beauty of nature is something that has been appreciated for centuries. Similarly, the beauty of poetry is something that has been appreciated for centuries.

The fifth stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to describe the power of poetry. He says, "I love the olden melodies, / That croon themselves to rest." The speaker is saying that poetry has the power to soothe and comfort. It has the power to calm the mind and ease the soul. He is also saying that poetry has the power to transport us to another time and place. The olden melodies that he refers to are the traditional poems that have been around for centuries. These poems have the power to transport us to another time and place.

The sixth stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to describe the beauty of poetry. He says, "And so I love the old school, / That teaches more than the new." The speaker is saying that traditional poetry teaches us more than modern poetry. It teaches us about the beauty and power of language. It teaches us about the beauty and power of nature. It teaches us about the beauty and power of the human soul.

The seventh and final stanza of the poem is where the speaker sums up his thoughts on poetry. He says, "For I believe in the olden days, / And the joys of the olden time." The speaker is saying that he believes in the traditional form of poetry. He believes in the beauty and power of poetry. He believes in the joy that poetry can bring to our lives.

In conclusion, "The New School" by Joyce Kilmer is a masterpiece that celebrates the beauty and power of poetry. It is a tribute to the art of poetry and the poets who create it. The poem is a reminder that poetry has the power to evoke emotions and feelings in the reader. It has the power to transport us to another time and place. It has the power to soothe and comfort. It is a timeless art form that will continue to be appreciated for centuries to come.

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