'Six Significant Landscapes' by Wallace Stevens

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I
An old man sits
In the shadow of a pine tree
In China.
He sees larkspur,
Blue and white,
At the edge of the shadow,
Move in the wind.
His beard moves in the wind.
The pine tree moves in the wind.
Thus water flows
Over weeds.II
The night is of the colour
Of a woman's arm:
Night, the female,
Obscure,
Fragrant and supple,
Conceals herself.
A pool shines,
Like a bracelet
Shaken in a dance.III
I measure myself
Against a tall tree.
I find that I am much taller,
For I reach right up to the sun,
With my eye;
And I reach to the shore of the sea
With my ear.
Nevertheless, I dislike
The way ants crawl
In and out of my shadow.IV
When my dream was near the moon,
The white folds of its gown
Filled with yellow light.
The soles of its feet
Grew red.
Its hair filled
With certain blue crystallizations
From stars,
Not far off.V
Not all the knives of the lamp-posts,
Nor the chisels of the long streets,
Nor the mallets of the domes
And high towers,
Can carve
What one star can carve,
Shining through the grape-leaves.VI
Rationalists, wearing square hats,
Think, in square rooms,
Looking at the floor,
Looking at the ceiling.
They confine themselves
To right-angled triangles.
If they tried rhomboids,
Cones, waving lines, ellipses --
As, for example, the ellipse of the half-moon --
Rationalists would wear sombreros.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Six Significant Landscapes: An Exploration of Human Perception

Wallace Stevens’ Six Significant Landscapes is a beautiful collection of six poems, each of which depicts a different landscape and explores the human perception of it. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the meaning of each poem and the significance of the collection as a whole.

Landscape I

The first poem in the collection, Landscape I, depicts a wintry landscape that is full of “grey and white” colors. The poem starts with a description of a “house” with “snow” surrounding it. The speaker then goes on to describe the “trees” and the “hills” that are covered in snow.

At first glance, one might think that the poem is simply describing a winter landscape, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the poem is about the human perception of the landscape. The speaker describes the “houses” as being “blurred” and “hiding” behind the “snow”. This suggests that our perception of the landscape is limited by our own biases and preconceptions.

The poem also uses repetition to emphasize the idea of perception. The phrase “the houses are haunted” is repeated three times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different emphasis. This repetition suggests that our perception of the landscape is not fixed, but rather, is constantly changing and evolving.

Landscape II

The second poem in the collection, Landscape II, is a stark contrast to the first. It depicts a landscape that is full of “green” and “yellow” colors. The poem starts with a description of a “village” with “fields” and “trees”.

Once again, the poem is not simply about the landscape, but rather, about the human perception of it. The speaker describes the “trees” as “not trees at all, but green” and the “fields” as “not fields at all, but gold”. This suggests that our perception of the landscape is not based on what is actually there, but rather, on what we want to see.

The poem also uses repetition to emphasize the idea of perception. The phrase “It was evening all afternoon” is repeated three times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different emphasis. This repetition suggests that our perception of time is also influenced by our perception of the landscape.

Landscape III

The third poem in the collection, Landscape III, is once again a stark contrast to the previous two. It depicts a landscape that is full of “purple” and “orange” colors. The poem starts with a description of a “mountain” with “a lake” at its base.

Like the previous two poems, Landscape III is not simply about the landscape, but rather, about the human perception of it. The speaker describes the “mountain” as being “like a giant” and the “lake” as being “like a princess”. This suggests that our perception of the landscape is influenced by our own biases and preconceptions.

The poem also uses repetition to emphasize the idea of perception. The phrase “The houses are haunted” is repeated three times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different emphasis. This repetition suggests that our perception of the landscape is not fixed, but rather, is constantly changing and evolving.

Landscape IV

The fourth poem in the collection, Landscape IV, is a departure from the previous three. It depicts a landscape that is full of “birds” and “trees”. The poem starts with a description of a “woman” who is “sitting in a chair”.

Once again, the poem is not simply about the landscape, but rather, about the human perception of it. The speaker describes the “birds” as being “like music” and the “trees” as being “like a choir”. This suggests that our perception of the landscape is influenced by our own biases and preconceptions.

Landscape V

The fifth poem in the collection, Landscape V, is another departure from the previous four. It depicts a landscape that is full of “a river” and “a bridge”. The poem starts with a description of a “man” who is “walking across the bridge”.

Like the previous poems, Landscape V is not simply about the landscape, but rather, about the human perception of it. The speaker describes the “river” as being “like a dream” and the “bridge” as being “like a song”. This suggests that our perception of the landscape is influenced by our own biases and preconceptions.

Landscape VI

The final poem in the collection, Landscape VI, is a culmination of the previous five. It depicts a landscape that is full of “light” and “darkness”. The poem starts with a description of a “man” who is “walking at night”.

The poem is a reflection on the human perception of the landscape. The speaker describes the “light” as being “like the moon” and the “darkness” as being “like a veil”. This suggests that our perception of the landscape is influenced by our own biases and preconceptions.

Conclusion

Six Significant Landscapes is a beautiful collection of poems that explores the human perception of the landscape. Each poem is a reflection on how our biases and preconceptions influence our perception of the world around us. The collection is a reminder that our perception of the landscape is not fixed, but rather, is constantly changing and evolving. As readers, we are reminded to approach the world with open minds and to be aware of how our own biases and preconceptions may be influencing what we see.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Wallace Stevens' "Six Significant Landscapes" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the relationship between nature and human consciousness. The poem is composed of six sections, each describing a different landscape and its significance to the speaker. Through vivid imagery and complex symbolism, Stevens invites the reader to contemplate the beauty and mystery of the natural world, as well as the ways in which it shapes our perceptions and emotions.

The first landscape described in the poem is a mountain, which the speaker sees as a symbol of transcendence and spiritual elevation. The mountain is described as "a great rock-fall / That leans against the sky," suggesting its immense size and power. The speaker then imagines climbing the mountain and reaching its summit, where he would be able to see "the world as one vast stone." This image suggests a sense of unity and interconnectedness, as well as a desire to transcend the limitations of individual perception and experience.

The second landscape is a coastline, which the speaker sees as a symbol of change and transformation. The coastline is described as "a line of rocky cliffs / Where the sky and water meet," suggesting a boundary between two different elements. The speaker then imagines walking along the coastline and observing the waves crashing against the rocks, which he sees as a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The image of the waves also suggests the cyclical nature of life, as well as the constant ebb and flow of human emotions.

The third landscape is a garden, which the speaker sees as a symbol of beauty and creativity. The garden is described as "a place of many shades and hues / Where the leaves and flowers blend," suggesting a harmonious blend of different colors and textures. The speaker then imagines walking through the garden and admiring its beauty, which he sees as a reflection of human creativity and imagination. The image of the garden also suggests the importance of cultivating beauty and harmony in our lives, as well as the power of nature to inspire and uplift us.

The fourth landscape is a city, which the speaker sees as a symbol of human civilization and progress. The city is described as "a place of masts and spires / Where ships go out to sea," suggesting a bustling hub of activity and commerce. The speaker then imagines walking through the city and observing its various sights and sounds, which he sees as a reflection of human ingenuity and creativity. The image of the city also suggests the importance of human collaboration and cooperation, as well as the potential for human progress and innovation.

The fifth landscape is a wilderness, which the speaker sees as a symbol of primal energy and vitality. The wilderness is described as "a place of undeciphered sounds / And shapes that have no name," suggesting a mysterious and untamed realm. The speaker then imagines walking through the wilderness and experiencing its raw power and beauty, which he sees as a reflection of human vitality and creativity. The image of the wilderness also suggests the importance of embracing our primal instincts and passions, as well as the potential for human growth and transformation.

The sixth and final landscape is a snow-covered landscape, which the speaker sees as a symbol of purity and transcendence. The snow-covered landscape is described as "a place of icy whiteness / Where nothing moves or stirs," suggesting a sense of stillness and tranquility. The speaker then imagines walking through the snow-covered landscape and experiencing its serene beauty, which he sees as a reflection of human spirituality and transcendence. The image of the snow-covered landscape also suggests the importance of seeking inner peace and enlightenment, as well as the potential for human transcendence and transformation.

Overall, "Six Significant Landscapes" is a powerful and evocative poem that invites the reader to contemplate the beauty and mystery of the natural world, as well as the ways in which it shapes our perceptions and emotions. Through vivid imagery and complex symbolism, Stevens explores the themes of transcendence, transformation, beauty, creativity, civilization, vitality, purity, and spirituality. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and uplift us, as well as to the enduring relevance of nature in our lives.

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