'The Man Who Knew' by Robert Service
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The Dreamer visioned Life as it might be,
And from his dream forthright a picture grew,
A painting all the people thronged to see,
And joyed therein -- till came the Man Who Knew,
Saying: "'Tis bad! Why do ye gape, ye fools!
He painteth not according to the schools."
The Dreamer probed Life's mystery of woe,
And in a book he sought to give the clue;
The people read, and saw that it was so,
And read again -- then came the Man Who Knew,
Saying: "Ye witless ones! this book is vile:
It hath not got the rudiments of style."
Love smote the Dreamer's lips, and silver clear
He sang a song so sweet, so tender true,
That all the market-place was thrilled to hear,
And listened rapt -- till came the Man Who Knew,
Saying: "His technique's wrong; he singeth ill.
Waste not your time." The singer's voice was still.
And then the people roused as if from sleep,
Crying: "What care we if it be not Art!
Hath he not charmed us, made us laugh and weep?
Come, let us crown him where he sits apart."
Then, with his picture spurned, his book unread,
His song unsung, they found their Dreamer -- dead.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Man Who Knew: A Poem That Will Leave You Speechless
Robert Service is a name that is synonymous with great poetry. While many of his works are popular, The Man Who Knew is one that truly stands out. This poem is a masterpiece that showcases Service's immense talent as a poet. It is a work that is not only beautiful but also thought-provoking. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will discuss the different literary elements that make this poem a classic.
Synopsis
The Man Who Knew is a poem that is divided into four stanzas. The poem tells the story of a man who knows the secret of life. He is a man who has seen the world and has experienced all that it has to offer. The poem starts with the man telling the narrator that he knows the secret of life. He then goes on to explain that the secret of life is to "love and be loved." The man tells the narrator that he has learned this secret through his experiences. He has seen the world and has loved and been loved by many. He has also suffered and experienced loss. However, despite all of this, he still believes that the secret to a fulfilling life is to love and be loved.
Theme
The theme of The Man Who Knew is love. The poem explores the idea that love is the secret to a fulfilling life. The man in the poem has seen the world and has experienced all that it has to offer. He has loved and been loved by many. However, despite all of his experiences, he still believes that the secret to a fulfilling life is to love and be loved. The poem suggests that love is a fundamental human need and that it is essential for our happiness and well-being.
Imagery
The Man Who Knew is a poem that is full of vivid imagery. Service uses imagery to create a picture in the reader's mind of the man and his experiences. The imagery in the poem is both beautiful and haunting. For example, in the first stanza, Service describes the man as having "eyes that shone like starry gems." This image creates a picture of a wise and experienced man who has seen the world. In the second stanza, Service uses the image of "a rose that blooms in the snow" to describe the man's ability to love even in difficult circumstances. This image is both beautiful and poignant.
Tone
The tone of The Man Who Knew is nostalgic. The poem is written from the perspective of the narrator who is listening to the man's story. The narrator is looking back on the man's life and reflecting on the wisdom that he has gained. The tone of the poem is reflective and contemplative. It suggests that the man's experiences have taught him valuable lessons that the narrator is now reflecting on.
Structure
The Man Who Knew is a poem that is divided into four stanzas. Each stanza has four lines, and the poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme. The structure of the poem is simple yet effective. It allows Service to convey his message in a clear and concise manner. The poem is easy to read and understand, yet it is also profound and thought-provoking.
Symbolism
The Man Who Knew is a poem that is full of symbolism. The man in the poem is a symbol of wisdom and experience. He has seen the world and has learned valuable lessons that he is now sharing with the narrator. The rose that blooms in the snow is a symbol of love and resilience. It represents the man's ability to love even in difficult circumstances. The poem also uses the symbolism of the "secret of life" to suggest that there is something valuable and mysterious about the human experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Man Who Knew is a poem that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. It explores the theme of love and suggests that it is the secret to a fulfilling life. The poem is full of vivid imagery and symbolism, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative. The structure of the poem is simple yet effective, and the tone is nostalgic and reflective. This is a poem that will leave you speechless and will make you reflect on the importance of love in your own life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Man Who Knew: A Poem of Wisdom and Regret
Robert Service, the renowned poet of the Yukon, has left us with a treasure trove of verse that captures the spirit of the rugged North and the human drama that unfolds in its midst. Among his many works, The Man Who Knew stands out as a poignant and powerful meditation on the nature of knowledge, experience, and regret.
The poem tells the story of a man who has seen and done it all, from the heights of fame and fortune to the depths of despair and solitude. He has traveled far and wide, met countless people, and accumulated a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Yet, despite his vast experience, he feels a sense of emptiness and longing that he cannot shake off.
The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the man's predicament:
He had the knack of living;
Fine things that gave him pleasure
He fancied that giving
Meant more than getting treasure.
Here we see a man who values the art of living, who appreciates the finer things in life, and who believes in the power of generosity. He is not a miserly or selfish person, but one who seeks to share his wealth and wisdom with others. However, as the poem unfolds, we see that his generosity has come at a cost.
He gave his all to Beauty,
To Love and Art and Science,
And then, worn out and moody,
He sought for new alliance.
The man has given his all to the pursuit of beauty, love, art, and science. He has devoted himself to these noble ideals with passion and dedication. However, his tireless efforts have left him exhausted and disillusioned. He feels the need for a new challenge, a new adventure, a new purpose.
He sought for new alliance,
And found it in a bottle;
He drank with wild defiance,
And cursed his former throttle.
Sadly, the man's search for a new alliance leads him down a dark path of addiction and self-destruction. He turns to alcohol as a means of escape and rebellion, and he curses his former self for being too restrained and cautious. He becomes a slave to his own desires, a victim of his own excesses.
He drank with wild defiance,
And cursed his former throttle;
He lost his self-reliance,
And sank in deep-browed bottle.
The man's descent into alcoholism is a tragic and all-too-common story. He loses his sense of self-reliance, his ability to control his own destiny, and he sinks deeper and deeper into the bottle. He becomes a shadow of his former self, a broken and bitter man.
He sank in deep-browed bottle,
And dreamed of things he'd squandered,
Of fame and gold and throttle,
And how he'd madly wandered.
In his drunken stupor, the man dreams of the things he has squandered, the fame and gold and throttle that he once possessed. He remembers how he had madly wandered, seeking new horizons and new challenges, but now he realizes that he has lost his way.
He dreamed of things he'd squandered,
Of love and youth and beauty,
And how he'd madly wandered
In search of joy and duty.
The man's dreams turn to regrets as he remembers the love and youth and beauty that he has lost. He realizes that his mad wandering was in vain, that he has missed the true purpose of life. He longs for a second chance, a chance to make amends for his mistakes and to find redemption.
He longed for youth and beauty,
For love and joy and duty,
And cried in bitter duty,
"Oh, God, give back my beauty!"
The man's cry for help is a poignant and powerful plea for redemption. He realizes that he has wasted his life in pursuit of fleeting pleasures and empty promises. He longs for the beauty and joy and duty that he has lost, and he cries out to God for mercy.
"Oh, God, give back my beauty!
My youth and love and duty;
Take back my bitter duty,
And give me back my beauty!"
The man's prayer is a reminder that we all have a choice in life, a choice between the pursuit of pleasure and the pursuit of purpose. We can choose to live for ourselves, to indulge our desires and passions, or we can choose to live for others, to serve a higher cause and to make a difference in the world.
The Man Who Knew is a timeless poem that speaks to the human condition with honesty and insight. It reminds us that knowledge and experience are not enough to guarantee happiness and fulfillment, that we must also have a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives. It is a poem of wisdom and regret, of hope and despair, of beauty and duty. It is a poem that will continue to inspire and challenge us for generations to come.
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