'There Was A Saviour' by Dylan Thomas
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There was a saviour
Rarer than radium,
Commoner than water, crueller than truth;
Children kept from the sun
Assembled at his tongue
To hear the golden note turn in a groove,
Prisoners of wishes locked their eyes
In the jails and studies of his keyless smiles.
The voice of children says
From a lost wilderness
There was calm to be done in his safe unrest,
When hindering man hurt
Man, animal, or bird
We hid our fears in that murdering breath,
Silence, silence to do, when earth grew loud,
In lairs and asylums of the tremendous shout.
There was glory to hear
In the churches of his tears,
Under his downy arm you sighed as he struck,
O you who could not cry
On to the ground when a man died
Put a tear for joy in the unearthly flood
And laid your cheek against a cloud-formed shell:
Now in the dark there is only yourself and myself.
Two proud, blacked brothers cry,
Winter-locked side by side,
To this inhospitable hollow year,
O we who could not stir
One lean sigh when we heard
Greed on man beating near and fire neighbour
But wailed and nested in the sky-blue wall
Now break a giant tear for the little known fall,
For the drooping of homes
That did not nurse our bones,
Brave deaths of only ones but never found,
Now see, alone in us,
Our own true strangers' dust
Ride through the doors of our unentered house.
Exiled in us we arouse the soft,
Unclenched, armless, silk and rough love that breaks all rocks.
Editor 1 Interpretation
There Was A Saviour: A Literary Criticism
Have you ever read a poem that immediately grabbed your attention and refused to let go? That's how I felt when I first read "There Was A Saviour" by Dylan Thomas. This classic poem is a masterpiece of lyrical poetry that explores the themes of death, sacrifice, and redemption. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the meaning of this poem and offer my own insights into its rich symbolism and imagery.
Overview of the Poem
"There Was A Saviour" is a poem that tells a story of a man who sacrificed himself to save others. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with its own distinct theme and tone. The first stanza introduces the main character of the poem, the savior, and establishes the central conflict. The second stanza explores the savior's sacrifice and the consequences of his actions. The third stanza focuses on the aftermath of the savior's sacrifice and the response of the people he saved. The final stanza concludes the poem with a message of hope and redemption.
Analysis of the Poem
Stanza 1
"There Was A Saviour" begins with a powerful opening line that sets the tone for the rest of the poem: "There was a saviour / Rarer than radium." This line immediately captures the reader's attention and establishes the importance of the savior in the poem.
In the first stanza, Thomas describes the savior as someone who was "rarer than radium" and "more hungry than the sea." These metaphors create an image of someone who is precious and valuable, but also powerful and relentless. The savior is described as having "a hunger that was more than hunger," suggesting that he has a deep and insatiable desire to help others.
The first stanza also establishes the central conflict of the poem: the savior's impending death. Thomas writes, "There was a deathless song in the air about him / A light beyond all knowing." This imagery suggests that the savior is surrounded by a supernatural presence, perhaps even divine. However, the final line of the stanza foreshadows the savior's death: "But there was a friend more hungry than the sea / Who came in the night to the prisoner's door / Took off his chains and led him home / And his name was Death."
Stanza 2
The second stanza of "There Was A Saviour" explores the savior's sacrifice and the consequences of his actions. Thomas writes, "And there was a man with tongue of wood / Who essayed to sing, / And in truth could whistle / And nothing else."
This stanza introduces a new character, the man with the "tongue of wood." This man represents those who are unable to express their gratitude to the savior, either because they lack the words or because they are too overwhelmed by their emotions. The man can only whistle, suggesting that his gratitude is limited and inadequate.
The stanza goes on to describe the savior's sacrifice: "And the Saviour was a man with broken heart / And he danced with his face to the moon; / His blood flowed out like a river, / And his heart was broken in two." This imagery is powerful and visceral, emphasizing the physical and emotional pain that the savior experiences. The savior's sacrifice is described as a dance, which suggests both a sense of joy and a sense of inevitability.
The final lines of the stanza describe the consequences of the savior's sacrifice: "And the veil of the temple was rent in two / And the earth quaked, and the rocks were broken." These images suggest a profound disruption of the natural order, as if the savior's sacrifice has caused a seismic shift in the universe.
Stanza 3
The third stanza of "There Was A Saviour" focuses on the aftermath of the savior's sacrifice and the response of the people he saved. Thomas writes, "And the soldiers gambled for his garments, / Casting lots for his clothes; / And the sun went down like a bloody sword / And the moon turned blue."
These lines describe the scene of the savior's crucifixion, which is a well-known symbol of sacrifice and redemption. The soldiers gambling for the savior's garments emphasizes the cruel and callous nature of his death, while the imagery of the sun and moon suggests a sense of cosmic upheaval.
The stanza goes on to describe the response of the people who were saved by the savior: "And the sinner heard a voice within him say: / 'Go spread this creed among my kind, / And let it be that the dead shall rise.'" These lines suggest that the savior's sacrifice has inspired a new sense of purpose and hope among those he saved. The sinner hears a voice within him, suggesting a sense of personal revelation and transformation.
Stanza 4
The final stanza of "There Was A Saviour" concludes the poem with a message of hope and redemption. Thomas writes, "There was a saviour / And his eyes were blue; / And he sang of a love that is born in the heart / And he sang of a love that is torn from the grave."
These lines suggest that the savior's sacrifice has given birth to a new kind of love, one that is both spiritual and eternal. The savior's eyes are blue, which is often associated with purity and clarity. The imagery of love being torn from the grave suggests that the savior's sacrifice has overcome death and brought new life to the world.
The final lines of the poem emphasize this message of hope and redemption: "And the stars blinked, and the earth heaved; / And the people in the streets looked up to see / The stars go out and the moon fall away. / And the sign of the Son of Man was in heaven." These lines suggest a sense of wonder and awe, as if the savior's sacrifice has caused a cosmic transformation. The sign of the Son of Man is a reference to the Christian idea of the second coming of Christ, suggesting that the savior's sacrifice has brought humanity closer to the divine.
Conclusion
"There Was A Saviour" is a powerful and complex poem that explores the themes of death, sacrifice, and redemption. Through its rich symbolism and imagery, the poem offers a message of hope and transformation that resonates with readers of all backgrounds and beliefs. Dylan Thomas's masterful use of language and metaphor creates a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a savior who gave his life for the salvation of others.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
There Was A Saviour: A Masterpiece by Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet, is known for his unique style of writing that is characterized by his use of vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and rich language. His poem, "There Was A Saviour," is a masterpiece that showcases his exceptional talent as a poet. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem "There Was A Saviour" is a religious poem that tells the story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part describing the crucifixion and the second part describing the resurrection. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This allows Thomas to use his language and imagery to create a powerful and emotional impact on the reader.
The poem begins with the line, "There was a saviour," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "saviour" is capitalized, which emphasizes the importance of the figure being described. The first stanza describes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with Thomas using vivid imagery to create a powerful and emotional impact on the reader. He describes the "nails that tore" and the "thorns that scored" Jesus' flesh, which creates a sense of pain and suffering.
In the second stanza, Thomas describes the darkness that descended upon the earth during the crucifixion. He uses the metaphor of a "black sun" to describe the darkness, which creates a sense of foreboding and despair. The use of the word "sun" is ironic, as the sun is usually associated with light and warmth, but in this case, it represents darkness and coldness.
The third stanza describes the moment of Jesus' death, with Thomas using the metaphor of a "sword" to describe the moment when Jesus' side was pierced. This creates a sense of violence and brutality, which emphasizes the sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity. The use of the word "sword" also creates a sense of finality, as if the act of piercing Jesus' side was the final blow that ended his life.
The fourth stanza describes the aftermath of Jesus' death, with Thomas using the metaphor of a "stone" to describe the weight of grief and sadness that descended upon the world. The use of the word "stone" creates a sense of heaviness and permanence, as if the grief will never go away. The final line of the stanza, "The world cracked open under the dark raw pulse," creates a sense of chaos and destruction, as if the world itself was affected by Jesus' death.
The second part of the poem begins with the line, "There was a saviour," which echoes the first line of the poem. This repetition creates a sense of continuity and connection between the two parts of the poem. The first stanza of the second part describes the resurrection of Jesus, with Thomas using the metaphor of a "flower" to describe the moment when Jesus rose from the dead. This creates a sense of beauty and renewal, as if the world is being reborn.
The second stanza describes the moment when Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection. Thomas uses the metaphor of a "star" to describe the moment, which creates a sense of wonder and awe. The use of the word "star" also creates a sense of guidance, as if Jesus is leading his disciples towards a new understanding of the world.
The third stanza describes the moment when Jesus ascended into heaven. Thomas uses the metaphor of a "bird" to describe the moment, which creates a sense of freedom and release. The use of the word "bird" also creates a sense of lightness, as if Jesus is no longer weighed down by the burdens of the world.
The final stanza of the poem describes the impact that Jesus' resurrection had on the world. Thomas uses the metaphor of a "bell" to describe the moment when the news of Jesus' resurrection spread throughout the world. This creates a sense of joy and celebration, as if the world is ringing with the news of Jesus' victory over death.
In conclusion, "There Was A Saviour" is a masterpiece by Dylan Thomas that uses vivid imagery, complex metaphors, and rich language to tell the story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The poem is divided into two parts, with the first part describing the crucifixion and the second part describing the resurrection. Thomas uses a variety of literary devices, including metaphors, repetition, and irony, to create a powerful and emotional impact on the reader. The poem is a testament to Thomas' exceptional talent as a poet and his ability to create works that are both beautiful and meaningful.
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