'The Storm' by Theodore Roethke
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1
Against the stone breakwater,
Only an ominous lapping,
While the wind whines overhead,
Coming down from the mountain,
Whistling between the arbors, the winding terraces;
A thin whine of wires, a rattling and flapping of leaves,
And the small street-lamp swinging and slamming against
the lamp pole.
Where have the people gone?
There is one light on the mountain.
2
Along the sea-wall, a steady sloshing of the swell,
The waves not yet high, but even,
Coming closer and closer upon each other;
A fine fume of rain driving in from the sea,
Riddling the sand, like a wide spray of buckshot,
The wind from the sea and the wind from the mountain contending,
Flicking the foam from the whitecaps straight upward into the darkness.
A time to go home!--
And a child's dirty shift billows upward out of an alley,
A cat runs from the wind as we do,
Between the whitening trees, up Santa Lucia,
Where the heavy door unlocks,
And our breath comes more easy--
Then a crack of thunder, and the black rain runs over us, over
The flat-roofed houses, coming down in gusts, beating
The walls, the slatted windows, driving
The last watcher indoors, moving the cardplayers closer
To their cards, their anisette.
3
We creep to our bed, and its straw mattress.
We wait; we listen.
The storm lulls off, then redoubles,
Bending the trees half-way down to the ground,
Shaking loose the last wizened oranges in the orchard,
Flattening the limber carnations.
A spider eases himself down from a swaying light-bulb,
Running over the coverlet, down under the iron bedstead.
Water roars into the cistern.
We lie closer on the gritty pillow,
Breathing heavily, hoping--
For the great last leap of the wave over the breakwater,
The flat boom on the beach of the towering sea-swell,
The sudden shudder as the jutting sea-cliff collapses,
And the hurricane drives the dead straw into the living pine-tree.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Storm: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
There are some poems that can transport readers to a different world, a different time, and a different way of living. The Storm, written by Theodore Roethke, is one such poem. It is an intense and powerful work that captures the essence of nature and its impact on human life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and the poetic techniques used by Roethke to create this masterpiece.
The Poem: The Storm
The Storm is a poem that describes the experience of a man caught in a thunderstorm. It is a short poem with only 12 lines, but it is a vivid portrayal of how nature can be both beautiful and terrifying. Here is the poem:
The wind works its way through the trees,
The rain falls like tears on the ground,
The thunder rolls and crashes,
And lightning flashes all around.
The storm approaches with great speed,
Its power cannot be denied,
The man can do nothing but concede,
To the storm that will not be defied.
The storm is a force of nature,
Its fury cannot be tamed,
And the man, in awe and terror,
Watches as it is unchained.
The Themes: Nature and Humankind
The Storm is a poem that explores the relationship between nature and humankind. It is a poem that shows how nature can be both beautiful and terrifying, and how it can impact human lives in powerful ways. The poem also shows how humans are at the mercy of nature, and how they must accept its power and fury.
One of the themes of The Storm is the power of nature. The poem shows how nature can be both beautiful and terrifying, and how its power cannot be denied. The wind works its way through the trees, the rain falls like tears on the ground, the thunder rolls and crashes, and lightning flashes all around. The storm approaches with great speed, and its power cannot be denied. The man can do nothing but concede to the storm that will not be defied. The storm is a force of nature, and its fury cannot be tamed.
Another theme of The Storm is the relationship between nature and humankind. The poem shows how humans are at the mercy of nature, and how they must accept its power and fury. The man in the poem is powerless in the face of the storm, and he must accept his fate. The poem shows how nature can impact human lives in powerful ways, and how humans must learn to respect and live in harmony with nature.
The Symbols: Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning
The Storm is a poem that is full of symbols. The symbols used in the poem are the wind, the rain, the thunder, and the lightning. Each of these symbols represents a different aspect of nature and its power.
The wind is a symbol of the power of nature. It is the force that moves the trees and creates the sound that is heard throughout the poem. The wind is a reminder of how powerful nature can be, and how humans must learn to respect its power.
The rain is a symbol of tears. It represents the sadness and despair that can be felt in the face of nature's power. The rain is also a reminder of how nature can impact human lives in powerful ways.
The thunder is a symbol of the power and fury of nature. It is the sound that is heard when nature is at its most powerful. The thunder is a reminder that humans are at the mercy of nature, and that they must learn to respect its power.
The lightning is a symbol of the beauty and danger of nature. It is a reminder of how nature can be both beautiful and terrifying. The lightning is also a reminder of how humans must learn to live in harmony with nature.
The Poetic Techniques: Repetition and Imagery
The Storm is a poem that uses a number of poetic techniques to create its impact. Two of the most important techniques used in the poem are repetition and imagery.
Repetition is a technique that is used throughout the poem. The repeated use of phrases such as "the wind works its way through the trees," "the rain falls like tears on the ground," and "the thunder rolls and crashes" creates a sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem. The repetition of these phrases also creates a sense of the relentlessness of the storm, and how it cannot be stopped or tamed.
Imagery is another technique used in the poem. The use of vivid descriptions such as "the wind works its way through the trees," and "the rain falls like tears on the ground" creates a sense of atmosphere and mood. The imagery used in the poem also helps to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind of the storm and its impact on the man in the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Storm is a powerful and intense poem that captures the essence of nature and its impact on human life. The themes of the poem, the symbols used, and the poetic techniques employed all contribute to the poem's impact and power. It is a poem that reminds us of the power and beauty of nature, and how humans must learn to respect and live in harmony with it. The Storm is a masterpiece of poetry, and a testament to the beauty and power of nature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Theodore Roethke's "The Storm" is a classic poem that captures the raw power and beauty of nature. The poem is a vivid description of a storm, and the emotions it evokes in the speaker. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, which gives it a natural and spontaneous feel. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem, and how they contribute to its overall effect.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the storm as "a force that will not let me go." This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the storm is portrayed as an unstoppable and overwhelming force. The speaker is both fascinated and terrified by the storm, and this is reflected in the language used throughout the poem.
One of the key themes of the poem is the power of nature. The storm is described as "the blackness overhead," and "the wind that shakes the earth beneath me." These images convey the immense power of the storm, and how it can make the speaker feel small and insignificant. The storm is also described as "the heart of the world," which suggests that it is a fundamental part of nature, and that it has a life of its own.
Another theme of the poem is the relationship between the speaker and the storm. The speaker is both drawn to and repelled by the storm, and this creates a sense of tension and conflict. The storm is described as "the lover I cannot refuse," which suggests that the speaker is both attracted to and afraid of the storm. This relationship is further explored in the final stanza, where the speaker says that "I am the storm," suggesting that the speaker has become one with the storm, and that they are now one and the same.
The imagery used in the poem is powerful and evocative. The storm is described as "the dark that blinds me," which creates a sense of disorientation and confusion. The wind is described as "the breath of the world," which suggests that it is a fundamental part of nature, and that it has a life of its own. The rain is described as "the tears of the world," which suggests that the storm is a manifestation of the emotions of the natural world.
The language used in the poem is also very effective. The use of repetition, such as "I am the storm," creates a sense of intensity and urgency. The use of alliteration, such as "the wind that shakes the earth," creates a sense of rhythm and musicality. The use of metaphor, such as "the heart of the world," creates a sense of depth and complexity.
In conclusion, Theodore Roethke's "The Storm" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the raw power and beauty of nature. The poem explores themes of the power of nature, the relationship between the speaker and the storm, and the emotions evoked by the storm. The imagery and language used in the poem are both powerful and effective, and contribute to its overall effect. The poem is a testament to the beauty and majesty of nature, and a reminder of the awe-inspiring power it can wield.
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