'Domestic Scene' by Robert Service
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The meal was o'er, the lamp was lit,
The family sat in its glow;
The Mother never ceased to knit,
The Daughter never slacked to sew;
The Father read his evening news,
The Son was playing solitaire:
If peace a happy home could choose
I'm sure you'd swear that it was there.
BUT
The Mother:
"Ah me! this hard lump in my breast . . .
Old Doctor Brown I went to see;
Because it don't give me no rest,
He fears it may malignant be.
To operate it might be well,
And keep the evil of awhile;
But oh the folks I dare not tell,
And so I sit and knit and smile."
The Father:
"The mortgage on the house is due,
My bank account is overdrawn;
I'm at my wits end what to do -
I've plunged, but now my hope is gone.
For coverage my brokers call,
But I'm so deeply in the red . . .
If ever I should lose my all,
I'll put a bullet in my head."
The Daughter:
"To smile I do the best I can,
But it's so hard to act up gay.
My lover is a married man,
And now his child is on the way.
My plight I cannot long conceal,
And though I bear their bitter blame,
Unto my dears I must reveal
My sin, my sorrow and my shame."
The Son:
"Being a teller in a Bank
I'd no right in a blackjack game.
But for my ruin I must thank
My folly for a floozie dame.
To face the Manager I quail;
If he should check my cash I'm sunk . . .
Before they throw me into gaol
I guess I'd better do a bunk."
So sat they in the Winter eve
In sweet serenity becalmed,
So peaceful you could scarce believe
They shared the torments of the damned . . .
Yet there the Mother smiles and knits;
The Daughter sews white underwear;
The Father reads and smokes and spits,
While Sonny Boy plays solitaire.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Domestic Scene: A Comprehensive Literary Analysis
Robert Service is a renowned poet, famed for his unique and remarkable style of poetry. His works are known for their simplicity, yet they are imbued with profound thoughts and emotions that strike a chord with readers. One of his famous works is the poem "Domestic Scene," which portrays the mundane yet tender moments of family life. In this paper, we will conduct a comprehensive literary analysis of the poem, exploring its themes, imagery, structure, and poetic devices.
Background Information
"Domestic Scene" is a poem about family life, published by Robert Service in 1930. It is a part of his collection of works titled "The Ballad of the Northern Lights." The poem is written in a simple and straightforward style, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem's tone is nostalgic, evoking a sense of warmth and tenderness that is associated with everyday life. The poem presents a domestic scene, where family members are engaged in their mundane activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and playing games.
Themes
The poem presents various themes that are associated with family life. The most prominent theme is the importance of family and the bond that exists between family members. The poem portrays a happy and contented family, where the members are engaged in their daily activities and enjoy each other's company. The poem also presents the theme of the simple pleasures of life, indicating that happiness can be found in the most mundane moments of life. The poem presents a contrast between the busy and chaotic world outside and the peaceful and harmonious world inside the home.
Imagery
The poem is rich in imagery, evoking vivid visual, auditory, and sensory experiences that transport the reader to the domestic scene. The imagery is both concrete and abstract, providing a balance between the physical and emotional aspects of family life. The poem presents images of the kitchen, where the mother is cooking, and the children are playing games. The imagery of the fire burning in the hearth and the smell of the food cooking creates a sensory experience that immerses the reader in the domestic scene. The imagery of the mother's hands, wrinkled and worn out from years of hard work, evokes a sense of tenderness and love.
Structure
The structure of the poem is simple yet effective. It consists of six stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which creates a rhythm that is easy to read and remember. The simplicity of the structure reinforces the theme of the poem, indicating that happiness can be found in the most mundane moments of life. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB, which creates a sense of balance and harmony in the poem.
Poetic Devices
The poem employs various poetic devices that add depth and complexity to the poem. The most prominent device is the use of imagery, which creates a sensory experience that evokes emotions and feelings in the reader. The poem also employs repetition, such as the repetition of the word "happy" in the first and last stanzas, which reinforces the poem's theme. The poem also employs metaphor, such as the metaphor of the home being a "haven" that protects the family from the chaos of the outside world.
Interpretation
"Domestic Scene" is a poem that celebrates family life and the simple pleasures of life. The poem presents a contrast between the busy and chaotic world outside and the peaceful and harmonious world inside the home. The poem reinforces the importance of family and the bond that exists between family members. The poem presents a nostalgic view of family life, evoking a sense of warmth and tenderness that is associated with everyday life.
The poem also presents the theme of the simple pleasures of life, indicating that happiness can be found in the most mundane moments of life. The poem presents a domestic scene, where family members are engaged in their mundane activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and playing games. The poem reinforces the idea that happiness can be found in the most ordinary moments of life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Domestic Scene" is a remarkable poem that celebrates family life and the simple pleasures of life. The poem employs various literary devices that add depth and complexity to the poem, creating a sensory experience that immerses the reader in the domestic scene. The poem reinforces the importance of family and the bond that exists between family members. The poem presents a nostalgic view of family life, evoking a sense of warmth and tenderness that is associated with everyday life. The poem is a testament to Robert Service's unique and remarkable style of poetry, which continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Domestic Scene: A Poem of Love and Loss
Robert Service, the renowned poet and writer, is known for his ability to capture the essence of human emotions and experiences in his works. One of his most famous poems, Domestic Scene, is a powerful portrayal of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in this classic poem.
The poem begins with a vivid description of a domestic scene, where a man and a woman are sitting together in a room. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker describes the couple's "quiet contentment" and the "warmth of the fire." The imagery used here is simple yet powerful, as it creates a sense of comfort and intimacy that is central to the poem's themes.
As the poem progresses, we learn that the couple is not as happy as they seem. The speaker notes that "the woman's eyes were sad," and that "the man's face was drawn." This contrast between the outward appearance of contentment and the inner turmoil of the characters is a recurring theme in the poem. It highlights the complexity of human emotions and the difficulty of truly understanding another person's feelings.
The poem's central conflict is revealed when the woman begins to speak. She tells the man that she is leaving him, and the man responds with anger and disbelief. The dialogue between the two characters is intense and emotional, as they both struggle to express their feelings. The woman's reasons for leaving are not explicitly stated, but it is clear that she is unhappy in the relationship.
The poem's use of dialogue is a powerful literary device that adds depth and complexity to the characters. By allowing the reader to hear the characters' voices and emotions, the poem creates a sense of intimacy and realism that is often lacking in other forms of literature. The dialogue also highlights the differences between the two characters, as they struggle to understand each other's perspectives.
The poem's imagery is also noteworthy. The use of fire and light is a recurring motif throughout the poem, symbolizing both the warmth of the couple's relationship and the passion that has been lost. The woman's departure is described as a "cold wind" that extinguishes the fire, further emphasizing the loss of warmth and intimacy.
The poem's structure is also significant. It is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This allows the poem to flow naturally, mirroring the natural rhythms of human speech. The lack of a strict structure also adds to the poem's sense of realism and intimacy.
In conclusion, Domestic Scene is a powerful poem that explores the complexities of human relationships. Through its use of imagery, dialogue, and structure, the poem creates a sense of intimacy and realism that is both moving and thought-provoking. The poem's themes of love, loss, and the difficulty of truly understanding another person's emotions are timeless and universal, making it a classic work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
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