'A Year's Spinning' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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1
He listened at the porch that day,
To hear the wheel go on, and on;
And then it stopped, ran back away,
While through the door he brought the sun:
But now my spinning is all done.
2
He sat beside me, with an oath
That love ne'er ended, once begun;
I smiled--believing for us both,
What was the truth for only one:
And now my spinning is all done.
3
My mother cursed me that I heard
A young man's wooing as I spun:
Thanks, cruel mother, for that word--
For I have, since, a harder known!
And now my spinning is all done.
4
I thought--O God!--my first-born's cry
Both voices to mine ear would drown:
I listened in mine agony--
It was the silence made me groan!
And now my spinning is all done.
5
Bury me 'twixt my mother's grave,
(Who cursed me on her death-bed lone)
And my dead baby's (God it save!)
Who, not to bless me, would not moan.
And now my spinning is all done.
6
A stone upon my heart and head,
But no name written on the stone!
Sweet neighbours, whisper low instead,
"This sinner was a loving one--
And now her spinning is all done."
7
And let the door ajar remain,
In case he should pass by anon;
And leave the wheel out very plain,--
That HE, when passing in the sun,
May see the spinning is all done.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Year's Spinning by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
I am just so excited to be writing about one of my all-time favorite poems – A Year's Spinning by Elizabeth Barrett Browning! This classic work of literature is a rich tapestry of imagery, symbolism, and emotion that captivates the reader from beginning to end. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine the various themes and literary devices used by the poet to create this masterpiece.
Historical Context
Before we delve into the poetry itself, let's take a moment to consider the historical context in which it was written. Elizabeth Barrett Browning lived during the Victorian era, a time of great social and cultural change. The era was characterized by a strong sense of propriety and decorum, and this is reflected in the poem's language and tone. Additionally, the Victorian era saw the rise of the Industrial Revolution, which brought about significant changes in the way people lived and worked. A Year's Spinning is a reflection of this changing world and the ways in which it affected the lives of ordinary people.
Summary
A Year's Spinning is a narrative poem that tells the story of a young woman who spends a year spinning wool. Each stanza corresponds to a different month of the year, and the poem follows the woman's emotional journey as she spins wool day after day.
The poem begins in January, with the woman sitting by her spinning wheel, reflecting on the year that has just passed. She is melancholy and introspective, thinking about the losses and sorrows she has experienced.
As the year progresses, the woman becomes more and more immersed in her spinning. She finds solace in the repetitive, meditative motion of the wheel, and she begins to see beauty in the everyday objects around her. In May, she marvels at the beauty of the flowers outside her window, and in June, she is moved by the sight of a bird on a branch.
Throughout the poem, the woman's emotional state is closely tied to the changing seasons. In the summer months, she is content and at peace, but as autumn approaches, she becomes anxious and restless. In October, she is haunted by the memory of a lost love, and in November, she is consumed by grief.
The poem ends with the woman looking forward to the new year, hopeful that it will bring new opportunities and experiences.
Themes
One of the primary themes of A Year's Spinning is the passage of time. Throughout the poem, the woman is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of change. This theme is reflected in the changing seasons and the woman's emotional journey throughout the year.
Another important theme is the power of nature to heal and transform. As the woman becomes more attuned to the world around her, she begins to see the beauty and wonder in even the most mundane objects. This theme is closely tied to the idea of mindfulness – the practice of being fully present in the moment.
Finally, the poem explores the human experience of grief and loss. The woman is haunted by memories of a lost love throughout the year, and her emotional journey reflects the various stages of grief.
Literary Devices
Elizabeth Barrett Browning employs a number of literary devices in A Year's Spinning to create a rich and evocative work of poetry. These devices include:
Imagery – The poet uses vivid imagery throughout the poem to create a sense of place and atmosphere. Examples include the "white-wreath'd snow" of January and the "red roses" of June.
Symbolism – A Year's Spinning is rich in symbolism, with the spinning wheel serving as a powerful metaphor for the cyclical nature of life. The changing seasons also serve as symbols of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.
Alliteration – The poet employs alliteration to create a musical quality in the poem, such as in the phrase "spinning still" in the first stanza.
Rhyme – The poem is written in rhyming couplets, with each stanza made up of two lines that rhyme. This adds to the musical quality of the poem and gives it a sense of unity and coherence.
Interpretation
A Year's Spinning is a deeply moving work of poetry that speaks to the human experience of grief, loss, and transformation. The poem is a reflection of the Victorian era, with its emphasis on propriety and decorum, but it is also a timeless meditation on the cyclical nature of life.
The woman in the poem is a powerful symbol of the human capacity for resilience and transformation. As she spins wool day after day, she learns to find solace in the present moment and to see beauty in even the most mundane objects. Her emotional journey reflects the various stages of grief, but it also shows the power of nature to heal and transform.
Overall, A Year's Spinning is a beautiful and poignant work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. Whether we are experiencing grief and loss or simply seeking a deeper connection to the world around us, this poem reminds us of the power of mindfulness and the cyclical nature of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Year's Spinning: A Masterpiece by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era. Her works are known for their emotional depth, vivid imagery, and powerful messages. Among her many poems, A Year's Spinning stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of life's cyclical nature and the human experience of joy, sorrow, and hope.
A Year's Spinning is a sonnet that consists of fourteen lines, written in iambic pentameter. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first eight lines presenting a scene of a woman spinning wool, and the last six lines reflecting on the passing of time and the inevitability of change.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the woman spinning wool, "A year's spinning done, their mirth and laughter / go with the spindle downward to the tomb." The imagery of the spindle going downward to the tomb suggests that the act of spinning is a metaphor for the cycle of life and death. The woman's mirth and laughter, which are associated with the joy of life, are contrasted with the somber image of the tomb, which represents the end of life.
The second line of the poem, "Low laughs the wind to hear the sad tune sung," introduces the theme of sorrow and melancholy. The wind, which is often associated with change and transformation, is personified as a listener who hears the sad tune sung by the woman. The sad tune is a metaphor for the sorrow and pain that are an inevitable part of life.
The third and fourth lines of the poem, "The solemn wheel goes round, and day is done, / And still the weary toiler toils on." emphasize the cyclical nature of life. The solemn wheel, which represents the passage of time, goes round and round, and the day is done, but the woman continues to toil. The use of the word "weary" suggests that the woman is tired and perhaps even exhausted from the labor of spinning. However, she continues to toil, suggesting that she is driven by a sense of duty or purpose.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem, "The thread runs thin, the dreamy phantoms flee, / And still the toiler toils on wearily," introduce the theme of hopelessness and futility. The thread running thin is a metaphor for the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life. The dreamy phantoms that flee represent the woman's hopes and dreams, which are slipping away. Despite this, the woman continues to toil wearily, suggesting that she is resigned to her fate.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem, "Till golden-haired the maid Aurora's warning / Comes from the East, the toiler's hope and dawning," introduce a glimmer of hope. The maid Aurora, who represents the dawn, brings a message of hope and renewal. The use of the word "golden-haired" suggests that Aurora is a radiant and beautiful figure, and her arrival heralds a new beginning.
The second stanza of the poem reflects on the passing of time and the inevitability of change. The first line of the stanza, "The year's last hour that throbs its knell away," introduces the theme of mortality. The year's last hour is a metaphor for the end of life, and the knell is the tolling of the bell that marks the passing of time.
The second line of the stanza, "And leaves from out the temple of the year," introduces the metaphor of the temple of the year. The temple of the year represents the passing of time and the cyclical nature of life. The leaves that fall from the temple represent the passing of time and the inevitability of change.
The third and fourth lines of the stanza, "As leaves drop from a rose when reft of power, / Or as the barque sinks in the stormy bay," continue the theme of change and transformation. The image of leaves dropping from a rose when reft of power suggests that even beautiful things are subject to decay and decline. The image of the barque sinking in the stormy bay suggests that even the strongest and most resilient things can be overcome by the forces of nature.
The fifth and sixth lines of the stanza, "So drop the days, so sinks the year away, / Nothing is constant but the unchanging day," emphasize the fleeting nature of time and the transience of life. The days drop away like leaves from a rose, and the year sinks away like a barque in a stormy bay. The only constant is the unchanging day, which represents the eternal present.
The final two lines of the poem, "Ah, there's the triumph, there the glory and the gain, / The doing good, despite the loss and pain," offer a message of hope and redemption. The triumph, glory, and gain are not found in material possessions or worldly success, but in the act of doing good despite the loss and pain that are an inevitable part of life. The poem suggests that by doing good, we can transcend the limitations of time and mortality and find meaning and purpose in life.
In conclusion, A Year's Spinning is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life's cyclical nature and the human experience of joy, sorrow, and hope. The poem uses vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a masterful command of language to convey its message. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poetic genius shines through in this timeless work, which continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
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