'The Bulls' by Robert Service
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Six bulls I saw as black as jet,
With crimsoned horns and amber eyes
That chewed their cud without a fret,
And swished to brush away the flies,
Unwitting their soon sacrifice.
It is the Corpus Christi fête;
Processions crowd the bannered ways;
Before the alters women wait,
While men unite in hymns of praise,
And children look with angel gaze.
The bulls know naught of holiness,
To pious pomp their eyes are blind;
Their brutish brains will never guess
The sordid passions of mankind:
Poor innocents, they wait resigned.
Till in a black room each is penned,
While from above with cruel aim
Two torturers with lances bend
To goad their fieriness to flame,
To devil them to play the game.
The red with rage and mad with fear
They charge into the roaring ring;
Against the mockery most near
Of human might their hate they fling,
In futile, blind blood-boltering.
And so the day of unction ends;
Six bulls are dragged across the sand.
Ferocity and worship blends,
Religion and red thirst hold hands . . .
Dear Christ! 'Tis hard to understand!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Bulls: A Masterpiece of Narrative Poetry
Introduction
When it comes to narrative poetry, Robert Service's "The Bulls" is a masterpiece that leaves an indelible impression on the reader's mind. Published in 1916, the poem tells the story of a bullfight in Mexico, where the poet was stationed as a bank clerk. What makes the poem exceptional is not just the vivid imagery and language, but also the way it captures the essence of life and death, courage and cowardice, beauty and brutality. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the themes, symbols, and stylistic devices of "The Bulls" to understand why it continues to be relevant and powerful more than a century after its publication.
Analysis
Form and Structure
"The Bulls" consists of 18 stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB. The meter is predominantly iambic tetrameter, with occasional variations that reflect the changing moods and intensities of the narrative. The poem has a simple and direct style that suits its subject matter, but it also contains several literary devices that enrich the text. For instance, Service uses alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia to create sound effects that enhance the sensory experience of the reader. Consider the following lines:
The sun blazed down like a furnace flame,
The air wavered, as if with shame,
For down in the sandy arena below
A drama was playing - and this you know.
Here, the repeated "s" sounds in "sun blazed," "as if with shame," and "sandy arena" create a hissing effect that conveys the heat and tension of the scene. The phrase "furnace flame" adds to the intensity of the imagery, while the personification of the air as feeling shame gives a touch of pathos to the setting.
Themes and Symbols
"The Bulls" deals with several themes that are central to human life and society. One of the most prominent themes is that of mortality and the struggle for survival. The bullfight is a spectacle of life-and-death, where the bulls fight to the death against the matadors and picadors. Service portrays the bulls as noble creatures who are forced to fight against their will, and who display courage and ferocity in the face of death. The image of the bulls charging at their opponents, their horns glistening in the sun, is both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Consider the following lines:
And then a wave of fury swept
Each shaggy bulk; each nostril crept
A ridge of foam; each eye shot red
'Twas as if a stormcloud surged and sped.
Here, Service captures the intensity of the bulls' emotions as they prepare to attack. The metaphor of a stormcloud emphasizes the power and unpredictability of the animals, while the simile of the foam on their nostrils adds a touch of realism to the poetic language.
Another theme that "The Bulls" explores is that of human nature and the moral dilemmas that arise in the face of violence and cruelty. The bullfight is a spectacle that raises ethical questions about the treatment of animals, and the poem does not shy away from addressing these issues. Service portrays the matadors and picadors as both heroes and villains, depending on their actions and intentions. Some of them show compassion towards the bulls, while others revel in their suffering. The poet himself is torn between his admiration for the spectacle and his sense of horror at the bloodshed. Consider the following lines:
O pity the bull in his agony!
Pity the picador's enemy!
The matador cruel with a heart of stone,
The crowd with a single cry and a groan!
Here, Service uses the exclamation "O pity" to express his sympathy for the bull, while the repetition of the word "pity" underscores the sense of sadness and compassion. The contrast between the "heart of stone" and the "single cry and a groan" highlights the complexity of human emotions and reactions.
Style and Language
Service's style in "The Bulls" is characterized by its vividness, simplicity, and clarity. The poet uses concrete and specific details to create a sense of realism and immediacy, rather than abstract or general ideas. The language is both poetic and colloquial, with a mix of high and low diction that reflects the social and cultural context of the poem. Service also uses irony and humor to defuse the tension and lighten the mood, as in the following lines:
And then the music wailed and whined,
And then a bull came snorting blind,
And then the banderillos twain
Stuck sharp their darts and grinned with pain.
Here, the pun on "wailed and whined" adds a touch of humor to the otherwise tense situation, while the use of the word "twain" (meaning two) in place of "two" gives a formal and archaic tone to the language.
Interpretation
"The Bulls" can be interpreted in several ways, depending on the reader's perspective and context. One possible interpretation is that the poem is a critique of the bullfight as a barbaric and cruel tradition that exploits animals for human entertainment. Service's portrayal of the bulls as noble creatures who are subjected to torture and death can be seen as a condemnation of the spectacle. Moreover, his use of language that emphasizes the pain and suffering of the animals, as well as the moral ambiguity of the human participants, can be read as a call for compassion and empathy towards all living beings.
Another interpretation of "The Bulls" is that it is a celebration of courage and bravery in the face of death. The bullfight can be seen as a symbolic representation of the human struggle against adversity and mortality. The bulls, despite their inevitable defeat, display a fierce determination to fight until the end, and their courage inspires the admiration and respect of the poet. Moreover, the matadors and picadors, who put their lives at risk in the arena, can be seen as exemplars of bravery and skill.
Yet another interpretation of "The Bulls" is that it is a reflection of the poet's own ambivalent feelings towards life and death, beauty and brutality. Service, who was a witness to several bullfights during his stay in Mexico, may have been torn between his fascination with the spectacle and his horror at the violence. The poem can be seen as a personal expression of his conflicting emotions, as well as a testimony to the power of art to capture the complexity of human experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Bulls" is a masterful work of narrative poetry that transcends the limits of its genre and its time. Through its vivid imagery, its powerful language, and its nuanced portrayal of human and animal nature, the poem speaks to universal themes and concerns that continue to resonate with readers today. Whether one sees it as a critique of cruelty, a celebration of courage, or a personal expression of ambivalence, "The Bulls" remains a powerful and moving work of art that deserves to be read and appreciated by generations to come. So, let us raise a toast to Robert Service and his immortal bulls!
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Bulls: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
If you're a fan of poetry, you've probably heard of Robert Service. He's known for his vivid descriptions of the rugged landscapes of the Yukon, and his poems often feature characters who are tough, independent, and unafraid of danger. One of his most famous poems is "The Bulls," a thrilling tale of a bullfight in Spain.
The poem begins with a description of the bulls themselves. Service paints a picture of powerful, muscular animals with "horns like a rainbow's curve." He describes their movements as they charge through the streets of the town, their hooves pounding the ground and their breath coming in great gusts. It's clear that these are not animals to be trifled with.
But the poem is not just about the bulls. It's also about the men who face them in the bullring. Service describes them as "swarthy, sinewy, proud," and it's clear that they are just as tough and fearless as the animals they face. They wear bright costumes and carry capes, and they move with a grace and agility that is almost as impressive as the bulls themselves.
As the bullfight begins, the tension in the poem builds. The bulls charge at the men, who dodge and weave with incredible speed and skill. The crowd roars with excitement, and Service captures the energy of the moment perfectly. He writes:
Oh, the joy of that wild crowd's roar! Oh, the glee of the matador! Oh, the dance of the bright capote As he taunts the bull with his prancing gait!
It's clear that the bullfight is not just a sport, but a spectacle, a celebration of life and death, of courage and skill. And yet, there is also a sense of danger lurking beneath the surface. The bulls are not just animals, but symbols of something greater, something primal and elemental. As Service writes:
They are the pride of the Spanish race, The embodiment of a nation's grace, The symbol of all that is strong and free, The soul of Spain in its majesty.
In the end, of course, the bulls are defeated. They are killed by the matadors, who emerge victorious from the ring. But there is also a sense of sadness in the poem, a sense that something has been lost. The bulls were not just animals, but symbols of a way of life, of a culture that is slowly fading away. As Service writes:
And so they die, these bulls of Spain, The pride of a people's ancient strain, The last of a race that is passing by, The end of an era, the bullfight.
In conclusion, "The Bulls" is a classic poem that captures the excitement and danger of the bullfight, while also exploring the deeper themes of culture, tradition, and the passing of time. Robert Service's vivid descriptions and powerful imagery make the poem a thrilling read, and it's easy to see why it has become one of his most famous works. Whether you're a fan of poetry or just looking for a thrilling tale, "The Bulls" is a must-read.
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