'When I Set Out For Lyonnesse' by Thomas Hardy
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When I set out for Lyonnesse,
A hundred miles away,
The rime was on the spray,
And starlight lit my lonesomeness
When I set out for Lyonnesse
A hundred miles away.
What would bechance at Lyonnesse
While I should sojourn there
No prophet durst declare,
Nor did the wisest wizard guess
What would bechance at Lyonnesse
While I should sojourn there.
When I came back from Lyonnesse
With magic in my eyes,
All marked with mute surmise
My radiance rare and fathomless,
When I came back from Lyonnesse
With magic in my eyes!
Editor 1 Interpretation
When I Set Out For Lyonnesse: A Journey Through Time
Thomas Hardy’s poem “When I Set Out For Lyonnesse” takes the reader on a journey through both space and time. This classic poem is full of rich imagery and deep emotions, exploring themes of love, loss, and the passing of time. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the language, structure, and symbolism of the poem to uncover its deeper meanings.
Analysis
Structure
The structure of “When I Set Out For Lyonnesse” is unique and adds to the poem’s sense of nostalgia and longing. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct mood and purpose. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the speaker’s journey to the mythical land of Lyonnesse. The second stanza shifts focus, describing the speaker’s memories of a lost love. The third and final stanza brings the two together, connecting the speaker’s journey with his memories of the past.
Within each stanza, the structure is further broken down into varying line lengths and syllable counts. This adds to the poem’s musicality and rhythm, as well as its sense of movement and fluidity. The poem’s use of enjambment also contributes to this effect, as the lines flow seamlessly into one another, creating a sense of continuity and progression.
Language
The language of “When I Set Out For Lyonnesse” is rich and evocative, full of vivid imagery and sensory details. Hardy’s use of metaphors and similes helps to convey the speaker’s emotions and add depth to the poem’s themes.
One of the most striking metaphors in the poem is the comparison of Lyonnesse to a “sunken city.” This not only adds to the sense of mystery and allure surrounding the mythical land, but also suggests a sense of loss and impermanence. The image of a once great city now lost beneath the waves is a powerful symbol of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Another powerful metaphor in the poem is the comparison of the speaker’s memories to “ghosts.” This not only adds to the poem’s haunting quality, but also suggests the fleeting nature of memory and the way in which our past experiences can haunt us long after they are gone.
Symbolism
In addition to its use of metaphor and simile, “When I Set Out For Lyonnesse” is full of powerful symbols that help to deepen its meaning. One of the most prominent symbols in the poem is the sea. The sea not only serves as a physical barrier between the speaker and Lyonnesse, but also represents the passage of time and the inevitable changes that come with it.
The image of the moon is another important symbol in the poem. The moon not only serves as a guide for the speaker on his journey, but also represents the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life. The moon’s phases are a reminder that everything in life goes through cycles of growth and decay, just as the speaker’s memories of his lost love have gone through a cycle of pain and healing.
Themes
At its core, “When I Set Out For Lyonnesse” is a poem about love, loss, and the passage of time. The speaker’s journey to Lyonnesse represents his desire to return to a time when he was happy and in love. His memories of his lost love, however, remind him that time has a way of changing everything, and that he can never truly go back to the past.
The poem also explores the theme of impermanence. Lyonnesse, like the speaker’s memories of his lost love, is a reminder that nothing in life is permanent. Everything eventually fades away into the past, leaving only memories and ghosts behind.
Interpretation
There are many ways to interpret “When I Set Out For Lyonnesse,” but perhaps the most important is as a meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The speaker’s journey to Lyonnesse represents his desire to return to a time when he was happy and in love, but his memories of his lost love remind him that time has a way of changing everything.
The poem is also a reminder that nothing in life is permanent. Lyonnesse, like the speaker’s memories of his lost love, is a reminder that everything eventually fades away into the past, leaving only memories and ghosts behind. This can be a painful realization, but it can also be a source of comfort, as it reminds us to cherish the present moment and the people we love while we still have them.
Conclusion
“When I Set Out For Lyonnesse” is a timeless poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its rich language, powerful symbolism, and themes of love, loss, and the passage of time make it a work of art that speaks to the human condition in a profound and meaningful way. Whether read as a meditation on the fleeting nature of memory or as a reminder to cherish the present moment, this classic poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move and inspire us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
When I Set Out For Lyonnesse: A Journey Through Time and Memory
Thomas Hardy's poem "When I Set Out For Lyonnesse" is a haunting and evocative journey through time and memory. Written in 1895, the poem tells the story of a man who sets out on a journey to the mythical land of Lyonnesse, a place that exists only in his imagination and in the stories he has heard. As he travels, he is haunted by memories of his past, and by the knowledge that he can never truly return to the innocence and wonder of his youth.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which tells a different part of the story. In the first stanza, the speaker describes his journey to Lyonnesse, and the sense of excitement and anticipation that he feels as he sets out. He speaks of the "golden light" that surrounds him, and of the "sea-wind blowing fair" that fills his sails. He is filled with a sense of adventure and possibility, and he feels that anything is possible.
In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on his memories of Lyonnesse, and of the people and places that he has left behind. He speaks of the "happy roads" that he used to travel, and of the "voices of friends" that he used to hear. He remembers the "roses and white thorn" that used to bloom in the fields, and the "scent of hay" that used to fill the air. He is filled with a sense of nostalgia and longing, and he realizes that he can never truly go back to the past.
In the third and final stanza, the speaker reflects on the passage of time, and on the inevitability of change and loss. He speaks of the "long, long road" that he has traveled, and of the "shadows of the past" that still haunt him. He realizes that the world has changed, and that he can never truly recapture the innocence and wonder of his youth. He speaks of the "sadness of the years" that have passed, and of the "tears of things" that have been lost.
At its core, "When I Set Out For Lyonnesse" is a meditation on the passage of time, and on the inevitability of change and loss. It is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of nostalgia and longing, and of the desire to recapture the innocence and wonder of our youth. It is a poem that reminds us that no matter how far we travel, or how much we change, we can never truly escape the shadows of our past.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery and symbolism. The image of Lyonnesse itself is a powerful symbol of the speaker's longing for a lost world, and of his desire to recapture the innocence and wonder of his youth. The sea, with its "golden light" and "fair wind," is a symbol of adventure and possibility, and of the speaker's sense of excitement and anticipation as he sets out on his journey. The "roses and white thorn" that used to bloom in the fields, and the "scent of hay" that used to fill the air, are symbols of the beauty and simplicity of the past, and of the speaker's longing to return to a time when life was less complicated.
The poem also makes use of repetition and rhyme to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. The repetition of the phrase "When I set out for Lyonnesse" at the beginning of each stanza creates a sense of continuity and unity, and reinforces the idea that the journey to Lyonnesse is a journey through time and memory. The use of rhyme, particularly in the second and third stanzas, creates a sense of musicality and beauty, and reinforces the idea that the poem is a work of art as well as a meditation on the human experience.
In conclusion, "When I Set Out For Lyonnesse" is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the universal human experience of nostalgia and longing. It is a poem that reminds us of the beauty and simplicity of the past, and of the inevitability of change and loss. It is a poem that speaks to the power of memory and imagination, and to the importance of holding on to the things that matter most to us. As we journey through life, we are all haunted by the shadows of our past, and by the knowledge that we can never truly go back. But through the power of art and poetry, we can capture something of the beauty and wonder of the past, and carry it with us as we journey into the future.
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