'Teddy Bear' by Robert Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
O Teddy Bear! with your head awry
And your comical twisted smile,
You rub your eyes -- do you wonder why
You've slept such a long, long while?
As you lay so still in the cupboard dim,
And you heard on the roof the rain,
Were you thinking . . . what has become of him?
And when will he play again?
Do you sometimes long for a chubby hand,
And a voice so sweetly shrill?
O Teddy Bear! don't you understand
Why the house is awf'ly still?
You sit with your muzzle propped on your paws,
And your whimsical face askew.
Don't wait, don't wait for your friend . . . because
He's sleeping and dreaming too.
Aye, sleeping long. . . . You remember how
He stabbed our hearts with his cries?
And oh, the dew of pain on his brow,
And the deeps of pain in his eyes!
And, Teddy Bear! you remember, too,
As he sighed and sank to his rest,
How all of a sudden he smiled to you,
And he clutched you close to his breast.
I'll put you away, little Teddy Bear,
In the cupboard far from my sight;
Maybe he'll come and he'll kiss you there,
A wee white ghost in the night.
But me, I'll live with my love and pain
A weariful lifetime through;
And my Hope: will I see him again, again?
Ah, God! If I only knew!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Teddy Bear by Robert Service: An Analysis of Childlike Innocence and Nostalgia
Oh, how sweet is the smell of childhood! How sweet are the memories of the bygone days, the playful moments, the endless laughter, and the cozy comfort of a teddy bear. Robert Service, in his poem "Teddy Bear," captures the essence of these emotions and takes us down the memory lane of our childhood. This classic poem is a masterpiece in its simplicity and a testimony to the power of imagination and storytelling.
Background and Context
Robert Service was a British-Canadian poet and writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. He is best known for his poetry about the Yukon and the Klondike Gold Rush, which earned him the nickname "The Bard of the Yukon." However, "Teddy Bear" is a departure from his usual style, as it is a poem that speaks to the child in all of us.
The poem was first published in Service's book "Rhymes of Childhood" in 1930. It is a collection of poems that evoke memories of childhood, innocence, and wonder. "Teddy Bear" is one such poem that tells the story of a teddy bear and its adventures with a child.
Literary Analysis
The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has eight syllables with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables. This gives the poem a sing-song quality and makes it easy to read and remember. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which means that every two lines rhyme with each other, further adding to the musicality of the poem.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the teddy bear, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around." The repetition of the name creates a sense of familiarity and affection for the bear. The speaker then describes the bear's adventures in the garden, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground," and in the sky, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, reach up high." These simple actions are enough to evoke the imagination and create a sense of playfulness and joy.
The second stanza introduces the child who owns the bear, "Little Girl, Little Girl, dance so gay." The repetition of the name creates a sense of innocence and vulnerability. The child is described as dancing with the bear, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, run upstairs," and playing hide and seek, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers."
The third stanza introduces the theme of nostalgia, "Years may come, and years may go." The speaker acknowledges that time passes and things change, but the memories of childhood remain, "And I watch you as you grow." The speaker is watching the child grow up and remembering the times they shared together.
The final stanza is a reflection of the speaker's own childhood, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, there you are." The bear is now a reminder of the speaker's own childhood and the memories they have of their own teddy bear. The repeated phrase, "there you are," creates a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted as a celebration of childhood and innocence. The teddy bear represents the child's imagination and sense of wonder. The simple actions of touching the ground and reaching up high evoke a sense of playfulness and joy. The child's adventures with the bear represent the simple pleasures of childhood, such as playing games and using one's imagination.
The theme of nostalgia represents the adult's longing to return to a simpler time. The speaker is watching the child grow up and realizing that time passes quickly. The memories of childhood become a source of comfort and joy in the present.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the importance of childhood in shaping our adult lives. The teddy bear represents the child's sense of self and imagination. The adventures they have with the bear are a reflection of their own dreams and aspirations. By watching the child grow up, the speaker is acknowledging the importance of childhood in shaping our adult lives.
Conclusion
"Teddy Bear" is a timeless poem that speaks to the child in all of us. The simple language and musicality of the poem create a sense of playfulness and joy. The theme of nostalgia represents our longing to return to a simpler time, while also acknowledging the importance of childhood in shaping our adult lives. Robert Service has captured the essence of childhood and created a masterpiece that will continue to evoke the memories of childhood for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Teddy Bear: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
Oh, Teddy Bear, how sweet you are, With your button eyes and fluffy fur. You sit so still upon my bed, A faithful friend, until I'm dead.
These are the opening lines of the classic poem "Teddy Bear" by Robert Service. This poem has been a favorite of children and adults alike for over a century. It captures the essence of childhood innocence and the comfort that a beloved toy can bring.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the teddy bear, describing its appearance and how it sits on the bed. The teddy bear is portrayed as a faithful friend, one that will be there until the speaker's death. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a nostalgic look back at childhood and the memories that the teddy bear represents.
The second stanza of the poem continues with this theme of nostalgia. The speaker describes how the teddy bear was a constant companion during childhood, through good times and bad. The teddy bear was there to comfort the speaker when they were sad or scared, and to share in their joy when they were happy. This is a common experience for many children, who often form strong attachments to their favorite toys.
The third stanza of the poem takes a darker turn, as the speaker describes how the teddy bear was witness to the speaker's fears and nightmares. The teddy bear was there to protect the speaker from the monsters under the bed and the ghosts in the closet. This is a common experience for many children, who often have vivid imaginations and are prone to fears and nightmares.
The fourth stanza of the poem returns to the theme of nostalgia, as the speaker describes how the teddy bear was a constant companion during childhood adventures. The teddy bear was there to explore the world with the speaker, to climb trees and play in the mud. This is a common experience for many children, who often have active imaginations and love to explore the world around them.
The fifth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant, as the speaker describes how the teddy bear was there to comfort the speaker during times of loss and grief. The teddy bear was there to dry the speaker's tears and to offer a shoulder to cry on. This is a common experience for many children, who often have to deal with the loss of a pet or a loved one.
The final stanza of the poem brings the theme of nostalgia full circle, as the speaker describes how the teddy bear is still a faithful friend, even though the speaker is now grown up. The teddy bear is still there to offer comfort and companionship, even though the speaker no longer needs it in the same way as they did during childhood. This is a common experience for many adults, who often hold onto sentimental objects from their childhood as a way of staying connected to their past.
Overall, "Teddy Bear" is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of childhood innocence and the comfort that a beloved toy can bring. It is a reminder of the power of childhood memories and the importance of holding onto the things that bring us comfort and joy. Robert Service has created a timeless classic that will continue to be loved and cherished for generations to come.
Editor Recommended Sites
Developer Recipes: The best code snippets for completing common tasks across programming frameworks and languagesCloud Architect Certification - AWS Cloud Architect & GCP Cloud Architect: Prepare for the AWS, Azure, GCI Architect Cert & Courses for Cloud Architects
Dev Curate - Curated Dev resources from the best software / ML engineers: Curated AI, Dev, and language model resources
Model Shop: Buy and sell machine learning models
ML Startups: Machine learning startups. The most exciting promising Machine Learning Startups and what they do
Recommended Similar Analysis
There is a solitude of space by Emily Dickinson analysisThe Virginity by Rudyard Kipling analysis
In The Virgins by Derek Walcott analysis
You may forget but by Sappho analysis
An Ante-Bellum Sermon by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
Lovesong by Ted Hughes analysis
In Plaster by Sylvia Plath analysis
I Speak Not by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
The show is not the show, by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Geranium by Theodore Roethke analysis