'The Ape And God' by Robert Service
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Son put a poser up to me
That made me scratch my head:
"God made the whole wide world," quoth he;
"That's right, my boy," I said.
Said son: "He mad the mountains soar,
And all the plains lie flat;
But Dad, what did he do before
He did all that?
Said I: "Creation was his biz;
He set the stars to shine;
The sun and moon and all that is
Were His unique design.
The Cosmos is his concrete thought,
The Universe his chore..."
Said Son: "I understand, but what
Did He before?"
I gave it up; I could not cope
With his enquiring prod,
And must admit I've little hope
Of understanding God.
Indeed I find more to my mind
The monkey in the tree
In whose crude form Nature defined
Our human destiny.
Thought I: "Why search for Deity
In visionary shape?
'Twould better be if we could see
The angel in the ape.
Let mystic seek a God above:
Far wiser he who delves,
To find in kindliness and love
God in ourselves."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ape And God: A Literary Analysis
Introduction
The Ape And God is a poem that has been written by Robert Service. It is a classic poem that explores the relationship between man and God. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and powerful language that makes the reader think deeply about the themes that it presents. In this literary analysis, we will explore the literary elements that make this poem so powerful and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
Themes
The Ape And God is a poem that explores the theme of man's relationship with God. The poem asks the question, "What does it mean to be human?" and tries to answer it by contrasting man's abilities with God's abilities. The poem suggests that man is just a small part of the universe and that he is nothing compared to God. The poem also explores the theme of the limitations of human knowledge. It suggests that humans can never fully understand the universe and that there will always be mysteries that are beyond human comprehension.
Literary Elements
The Ape And God is a poem that is filled with literary elements that make it a powerful work of literature. The poem uses vivid imagery to create powerful pictures in the mind of the reader. The poem also uses powerful language that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. The poem also uses symbolism to create deeper meanings and to explore the themes of the poem.
Imagery
The Ape And God is a poem that uses vivid imagery to create powerful pictures in the mind of the reader. For example, in the first stanza, the poem describes God as "the master of the show" and "the king of kings". These descriptions create a powerful image of God as a powerful and majestic being. The poem also uses imagery to describe man's limitations. For example, in the second stanza, the poem describes man as "a puny clod of clay" and "a speck of floating dust". These descriptions create a powerful image of man as a small and insignificant being.
Language
The Ape And God is a poem that uses powerful language to create a beautiful and thought-provoking work of literature. The poem uses language to explore the themes of the poem and to create deeper meanings. For example, in the second stanza, the poem describes man as "a feeble thing that crawls". This language creates a powerful contrast between man's abilities and God's abilities. The poem also uses language to explore the theme of the limitations of human knowledge. For example, in the third stanza, the poem suggests that there are mysteries that are beyond human comprehension.
Symbolism
The Ape And God is a poem that uses symbolism to create deeper meanings and to explore the themes of the poem. For example, in the first stanza, the poem describes God as "the master of the show" and "the king of kings". These descriptions create a powerful symbol of God as a powerful and majestic being. The poem also uses symbolism to describe man's limitations. For example, in the second stanza, the poem describes man as "a puny clod of clay" and "a speck of floating dust". These descriptions create a powerful symbol of man as a small and insignificant being.
Conclusion
The Ape And God is a powerful work of literature that explores the relationship between man and God. The poem uses vivid imagery, powerful language, and symbolism to create a work that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. The poem suggests that man is just a small part of the universe and that he is nothing compared to God. The poem also explores the theme of the limitations of human knowledge. It suggests that humans can never fully understand the universe and that there will always be mysteries that are beyond human comprehension. The Ape And God is a classic poem that deserves to be read and studied by anyone who is interested in exploring the big questions of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ape and God: A Poem of Evolution and Existentialism
Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his thought-provoking and insightful works. Among his many poems, "The Ape and God" stands out as a masterpiece of existentialism and evolution. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with a description of an ape, who, after millions of years of evolution, has become a man. The speaker marvels at the ape's transformation, noting how he has learned to walk upright, use tools, and build civilizations. However, the speaker also notes that despite all his progress, man is still an ape at heart, driven by primal instincts and desires.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, establishing the central theme of evolution. Service uses vivid imagery to describe the ape's transformation, painting a picture of a creature that has evolved over millions of years to become the dominant species on the planet. The use of the word "millions" emphasizes the vastness of time and the slow, gradual process of evolution.
In the second stanza, the speaker shifts his focus to God, asking whether he created man in his own image or whether man created God in his image. This question is at the heart of the poem's existentialist themes, as it challenges the traditional notion of a divine creator and suggests that man is responsible for his own existence.
The use of the word "image" is significant here, as it implies that both God and man are products of their own imagination. The speaker suggests that man has created God in his own image, projecting his own desires and fears onto a divine being. This idea is further reinforced in the third stanza, where the speaker notes that man has created religions to explain the mysteries of the universe and to give meaning to his existence.
The third stanza is particularly powerful, as it highlights the role of religion in shaping human history. Service notes that religion has been used to justify wars, to oppress minorities, and to control the masses. The use of the word "enslave" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that religion has been used as a tool of oppression throughout history.
The fourth stanza marks a turning point in the poem, as the speaker begins to question the value of human progress. He notes that despite all our achievements, we are still plagued by the same fears and desires that drove our ape ancestors. The use of the word "futile" suggests that the speaker sees human progress as ultimately meaningless, as it does not address the fundamental problems of human existence.
The fifth stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem, as the speaker confronts God directly, asking him why he created man and what his purpose is. The use of the word "why" is significant here, as it suggests that the speaker is seeking a deeper understanding of his own existence. The question is left unanswered, however, as the speaker notes that God remains silent.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as the speaker returns to the image of the ape. He notes that despite all our progress, we are still apes at heart, driven by the same instincts and desires that have guided us throughout our evolution. The use of the word "ape" is significant here, as it suggests that the speaker sees human progress as ultimately futile, as we are still bound by our animal nature.
In conclusion, "The Ape and God" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of evolution and existentialism. Service uses vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and literary devices such as repetition and rhetorical questions to convey his message. The poem challenges traditional notions of religion and human progress, suggesting that man is responsible for his own existence and that our animal nature still guides us despite all our achievements. It is a poem that forces us to confront the fundamental questions of human existence and to question our own place in the universe.
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