'The Fool' by Robert Service
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"But it isn't playing the game," he said,
And he slammed his books away;
"The Latin and Greek I've got in my head
Will do for a duller day."
"Rubbish!" I cried; "The bugle's call
Isn't for lads from school."
D'ye think he'd listen? Oh, not at all:
So I called him a fool, a fool.
Now there's his dog by his empty bed,
And the flute he used to play,
And his favourite bat . . . but Dick he's dead,
Somewhere in France, they say:
Dick with his rapture of song and sun,
Dick of the yellow hair,
Dicky whose life had but begun,
Carrion-cold out there.
Look at his prizes all in a row:
Surely a hint of fame.
Now he's finished with, -- nothing to show:
Doesn't it seem a shame?
Look from the window! All you see
Was to be his one day:
Forest and furrow, lawn and lea,
And he goes and chucks it away.
Chucks it away to die in the dark:
Somebody saw him fall,
Part of him mud, part of him blood,
The rest of him -- not at all.
And yet I'll bet he was never afraid,
And he went as the best of 'em go,
For his hand was clenched on his broken blade,
And his face was turned to the foe.
And I called him a fool . . . oh how blind was I!
And the cup of my grief's abrim.
Will Glory o' England ever die
So long as we've lads like him?
So long as we've fond and fearless fools,
Who, spurning fortune and fame,
Turn out with the rallying cry of their schools,
Just bent on playing the game.
A fool! Ah no! He was more than wise.
His was the proudest part.
He died with the glory of faith in his eyes,
And the glory of love in his heart.
And though there's never a grave to tell,
Nor a cross to mark his fall,
Thank God! we know that he "batted well"
In the last great Game of all.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Fool by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh boy, where do I begin? The Fool by Robert Service is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It's a beautifully written piece that tells a story about life, love, and the search for meaning. The poem is full of powerful imagery, metaphors, and symbolism that make it a timeless masterpiece.
Background
Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to talk about the man behind the words. Robert Service was a Scottish-Canadian poet and writer who is best known for his poems about the Canadian North. He was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, in 1874, and spent most of his life in Canada.
Service was a prolific writer who published over 50 books, most of which were collections of poetry. He wrote about a wide variety of topics, but his most famous works are those that deal with the rugged landscape and harsh conditions of the Canadian North. His work is often characterized by its vivid descriptions of nature and its powerful evocation of the human spirit.
The Poem
Now, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. The Fool is a melancholy piece that tells the story of a man who wanders through life in search of meaning. He is described as a "fool" who has "no care for money or fame". Instead, he spends his days wandering through the countryside, contemplating the beauty of nature and the mysteries of life.
The poem begins with a description of the Fool's wanderings:
I have come to the borders of sleep,
The unfathomable deep
Forest where all must lose
Their way, however straight,
Or winding, soon or late;
They cannot choose.
Right away, we get a sense of the poem's dark and mysterious tone. The Fool is wandering through a forest that represents the unknown depths of the human psyche. He is searching for something, but he doesn't know what it is.
As the poem progresses, we see the Fool encounter a variety of people and situations. He meets a "queen" who promises him love and riches, but he turns her down. He meets a "king" who offers him power and glory, but he also turns him down. He wanders through "cities of flame" and "halls of strife", but he remains uninterested in all of it.
In the end, the Fool realizes that his search for meaning has been in vain. He has wandered through life without finding what he was looking for, and he knows that his time is running out:
And so I find my way to bed,
Where great love lies ahead,
And though I'm weak and poor,
And old and plain,
A great love calls my name,
And I must go.
The final lines of the poem are both tragic and hopeful. The Fool knows that he has wasted his life searching for something that he will never find. But he also knows that he is loved, and that love gives him the courage to face whatever lies ahead.
Interpretation
So, what does it all mean? What is Robert Service trying to tell us with this poem?
At its core, The Fool is a poem about the search for meaning and the human condition. The Fool represents all of us who wander through life, trying to find our place in the world. He is a symbol of the human soul, searching for meaning in a world that often seems meaningless.
The queen, the king, the cities of flame, and the halls of strife all represent the temptations and distractions that we encounter on our journey. They are the things that we think will bring us happiness and fulfillment, but ultimately leave us feeling empty and unfulfilled.
The forest represents the unknown depths of the human psyche. It is a place of darkness and mystery, where we are forced to confront our deepest fears and desires. The Fool's journey through the forest represents our own journey through life, as we struggle to understand ourselves and our place in the world.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. They speak to the idea that love is the one thing that gives our lives meaning. The Fool may have wandered through life without finding what he was looking for, but in the end, he knows that he is loved. That love gives him the courage to face whatever lies ahead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Fool by Robert Service is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a reminder that we are all on a journey through life, and that the search for meaning is something that we all share.
The poem's vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and beautiful language make it a timeless masterpiece that is still relevant today. It is a reminder that, no matter how lost we may feel, there is always hope and love to guide us through the darkness.
So, if you haven't read The Fool by Robert Service, I highly recommend it. It's a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Fool by Robert Service is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful piece of literature that speaks to the human condition and the struggle we all face in finding our place in the world. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and symbolism in the poem, as well as the historical context in which it was written.
The Fool is a narrative poem that tells the story of a young man who sets out on a journey to find his place in the world. He is described as a fool, but not in the sense that he is stupid or foolish. Rather, he is a fool in the sense that he is naive and inexperienced, and he is searching for something that he may never find.
The poem begins with the young man setting out on his journey. He is full of hope and optimism, and he believes that he will find what he is looking for. He is described as being "gay and glad and free," and he is eager to explore the world around him.
As he travels, he encounters various people and experiences. He meets a woman who offers him love and companionship, but he rejects her because he is focused on his quest. He also meets a wise old man who tells him that he will never find what he is looking for, but the young man refuses to listen.
Throughout the poem, there are several themes that emerge. One of the most prominent themes is the idea of the journey. The young man is on a journey, both physically and metaphorically. He is searching for something, and he believes that he will find it if he keeps moving forward. This theme is a common one in literature, and it speaks to the human desire for growth and self-discovery.
Another theme that emerges in the poem is the idea of love and companionship. The young man meets a woman who offers him love and companionship, but he rejects her because he is focused on his quest. This theme speaks to the idea that sometimes we can become so focused on our goals that we forget about the people around us. It also speaks to the idea that love and companionship are important aspects of the human experience.
Symbolism is also an important aspect of The Fool. The young man is described as a fool, which is a symbol for his naivety and inexperience. The wise old man he meets is a symbol for wisdom and experience. The woman he meets is a symbol for love and companionship. These symbols help to reinforce the themes of the poem and add depth to the narrative.
The historical context in which The Fool was written is also important to consider. Robert Service was a Canadian poet who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his poems about the Yukon Gold Rush, which took place in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Fool was written in 1913, which was a time of great change and upheaval in Canada and around the world. The poem speaks to the idea that even in times of uncertainty and change, we can still find meaning and purpose in our lives.
In conclusion, The Fool by Robert Service is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition and the struggle we all face in finding our place in the world. Through its themes and symbolism, the poem explores the idea of the journey, love and companionship, and the importance of wisdom and experience. The historical context in which the poem was written adds depth and meaning to the narrative. Overall, The Fool is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
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