'A Large Number' by Wislawa Szymborska
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Four billion people on this earth,
but my imagination is the way it's always been:
bad with large numbers.
It is still moved by particularity.
It flits about the darkness like a flashlight beam,
disclosing only random faces,
while the rest go blindly by,
unthought of, unpitied.
Not even a Dante could have stopped that.
So what do you do when you're not,
even with all the muses on your side?
Non omnis moriar—a premature worry.
Yet am I fully alive, and is that enough?
It never has been, and even less so now.
I select by rejecting, for there's no other way,
but what I reject, is more numerous,
more dense, more intrusive than ever.
At the cost of untold losses—a poem, a sigh.
I reply with a whisper to a thunderous calling.
How much I am silent about I can't say.
A mouse at the foot of mother mountain.
Life lasts as long as a few lines of claws in the sand.
My dreams—even they are not as populous as they should be.
There is more solitude in them than crowds or clamor.
Sometimes someone long dead will drop by for a bit.
A single hand turns a knob.
Annexes of echo overgrow the empty house.
I run from the threshold down into the quiet
valley seemingly no one's—an anachronism by now.
Where does all this space still in me come from—
that I don't know.
Translated by Joanna Trzeciak
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Large Number by Wislawa Szymborska
Have you ever read a poem that made you think about the vastness of the universe and the smallness of our existence? A poem that made you feel both insignificant and awe-inspired at the same time? If not, then you must read "A Large Number" by Wislawa Szymborska.
The Poem
The poem is a simple yet profound exploration of the concept of infinity. Szymborska begins by describing a vast number - one that is too big to comprehend. She says,
"A large number's scary.
It brings to mind a host of others,
zeroes that silently cluster
around their leader."
Right from the beginning, the poet sets the tone for the rest of the poem - a tone of wonder mixed with a tinge of fear. The idea of a number so large that it is almost incomprehensible is both fascinating and terrifying.
Szymborska goes on to describe how this number is so big that it contains everything that has ever existed and everything that will ever exist. She says,
"It takes a cosmic mind
to grasp it.
As long as it's finite -
it hasn't been thought through."
Here, she is suggesting that the concept of infinity is so mind-boggling that only a cosmic mind could truly comprehend it. She also suggests that as long as the number is finite, it hasn't been fully understood - there is always room for more exploration and discovery.
The Themes
One of the main themes of the poem is the idea of infinity. Szymborska is exploring the concept of a number that is so large that it is almost incomprehensible. She is highlighting the fact that there is always more to discover - the universe is infinite in both space and time, and there will always be more to explore and understand.
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of our own smallness in the grand scheme of things. Szymborska is suggesting that, compared to the vastness of the universe, we are nothing. We are small and insignificant, and yet we are still a part of the universe. This idea is both humbling and inspiring - we are a small part of something much greater than ourselves, and yet we have the potential to make a difference.
The Language
The language of the poem is simple, yet powerful. Szymborska uses short, concise sentences to convey her message. She also uses a lot of imagery, particularly in the third stanza, where she describes the number as a "bright spot" in the universe. This image is particularly effective because it contrasts the vastness of the universe with the smallness of the number. It also suggests that even something as small as a number can have a significant impact on the universe as a whole.
The language is also very precise. Szymborska chooses her words carefully to convey her meaning. For example, when she describes the number as "scary", she is not using hyperbole - she genuinely believes that the idea of a number so large is terrifying. This precision in language and imagery is what makes the poem so powerful.
The Structure
The structure of the poem is also worth noting. It is divided into five stanzas, each consisting of four lines. This structure gives the poem a sense of order and symmetry. It also allows Szymborska to explore different aspects of the concept of infinity in each stanza. For example, in the third stanza, she focuses on the idea of the number being a "bright spot" in the universe, while in the fourth stanza, she explores the idea of the number being "unequalled" and "unapproachable".
The Interpretation
So, what is the poem really about? At its core, "A Large Number" is an exploration of the concept of infinity. Szymborska is highlighting the fact that the universe is infinite in both space and time, and that there will always be more to discover and understand. She is also exploring the idea of our own smallness in the grand scheme of things - compared to the vastness of the universe, we are nothing.
But the poem is also about more than just the concept of infinity. It is about the power of the human mind to explore and understand the universe. Szymborska is suggesting that, although we may be small and insignificant, we still have the ability to explore and understand the universe around us. We may never fully comprehend the concept of infinity, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.
Conclusion
"A Large Number" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the concept of infinity and our own smallness in the grand scheme of things. Through her use of language and imagery, Szymborska conveys a profound message that is both humbling and inspiring. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend it - it is a true masterpiece of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Large Number: A Poem of Reflection and Wonder
Wislawa Szymborska’s poem “A Large Number” is a masterpiece of contemplation and reflection. The poem’s title itself is intriguing, as it suggests that the poem is about numbers, but as we delve deeper into the poem, we realize that it is about much more than that. The poem is a meditation on the vastness of the universe, the insignificance of human life in the grand scheme of things, and the beauty and mystery of existence.
The poem begins with a simple statement: “A large number of people.” This statement is immediately followed by a series of questions that set the tone for the rest of the poem: “Where are they going? What are they carrying? Why are they so quiet?” These questions are not answered in the poem, but they serve to create a sense of mystery and wonder. We are left to imagine the answers ourselves, and in doing so, we are drawn into the poem’s world.
The next stanza of the poem is a reflection on the vastness of the universe. Szymborska writes, “A large number of stars. A large number of snowflakes. A large number of grains of sand.” These three images are used to convey the enormity of the universe, from the vastness of space to the tiniest particles of matter. The repetition of the phrase “a large number” emphasizes the sheer scale of the universe and our place in it.
The third stanza of the poem is a reflection on the insignificance of human life in the grand scheme of things. Szymborska writes, “A large number of people. A small number of them born in the same year. A smaller number still born on the same day.” This stanza serves to remind us that, in the grand scheme of things, our lives are brief and insignificant. We are just a small part of the larger universe, and our time here is fleeting.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the beauty and mystery of existence. Szymborska writes, “A large number of moments. A small number of them worth remembering. A smaller number still that we can never forget.” This stanza reminds us that, despite the brevity of our lives, there are moments of beauty and wonder that make life worth living. These moments are rare, but they are what give our lives meaning.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the human desire for meaning and purpose. Szymborska writes, “A large number of questions. A small number of answers. A smaller number still that make sense.” This stanza acknowledges the fact that, despite our best efforts, there are many questions in life that we cannot answer. We are left to grapple with the mysteries of existence, and to find our own meaning and purpose in life.
Overall, “A Large Number” is a poem that invites us to reflect on the vastness of the universe, the brevity of human life, and the beauty and mystery of existence. It is a poem that reminds us of our place in the larger scheme of things, and of the importance of finding meaning and purpose in our lives. Szymborska’s use of repetition, imagery, and reflection creates a powerful and thought-provoking poem that will stay with the reader long after they have finished reading it.
Editor Recommended Sites
Graphdb Taxonomy: Graph Database Taxonomy and Ontology ManagementWhat's the best App: Find the very best app across the different category groups. Apps without heavy IAP or forced auto renew subscriptions
Prompt Catalog: Catalog of prompts for specific use cases. For chatGPT, bard / palm, llama alpaca models
Declarative: Declaratively manage your infrastructure as code
Idea Share: Share dev ideas with other developers, startup ideas, validation checking
Recommended Similar Analysis
He fumbles at your spirit by Emily Dickinson analysisSonnet 98: From you have I been absent in the spring by William Shakespeare analysis
You Begin by Margaret Atwood analysis
A Martian Sends A Postcard Home by Craig Raine analysis
Nantucket by William Carlos Williams analysis
Children 's Hour, The by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
Sonnet 64: When I have seen by Time's fell hand defaced by William Shakespeare analysis
Porphyria's Lover by Robert Browning analysis
The Cry Of The Children by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
A Prayer For My Son by William Butler Yeats analysis