'The Younger Son' by Robert W. Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
If you leave the gloom of London and you seek a glowing land,
Where all except the flag is strange and new,
There's a bronzed and stalwart fellow who will grip you by the hand,
And greet you with a welcome warm and true;
For he's your younger brother, the one you sent away
Because there wasn't room for him at home;
And now he's quite contented, and he's glad he didn't stay,
And he's building Britain's greatness o'er the foam.
When the giant herd is moving at the rising of the sun,
And the prairie is lit with rose and gold,
And the camp is all abustle, and the busy day's begun,
He leaps into the saddle sure and bold.
Through the round of heat and hurry, through the racket and the rout,
He rattles at a pace that nothing mars;
And when the night-winds whisper and camp-fires flicker out,
He is sleeping like a child beneath the stars.
When the wattle-blooms are drooping in the sombre shed-oak glade,
And the breathless land is lying in a swoon,
He leaves his work a moment, leaning lightly on his spade,
And he hears the bell-bird chime the Austral noon.
The parrakeets are silent in the gum-tree by the creek;
The ferny grove is sunshine-steeped and still;
But the dew will gem the myrtle in the twilight ere he seek
His little lonely cabin on the hill.
Around the purple, vine-clad slope the argent river dreams;
The roses almost hide the house from view;
A snow-peak of the Winterberg in crimson splendor gleams;
The shadow deepens down on the karroo.
He seeks the lily-scented dusk beneath the orange tree;
His pipe in silence glows and fades and glows;
And then two little maids come out and climb upon his knee,
And one is like the lily, one the rose.
He sees his white sheep dapple o'er the green New Zealand plain,
And where Vancouver's shaggy ramparts frown,
When the sunlight threads the pine-gloom he is fighting might and main
To clinch the rivets of an Empire down.
You will find him toiling, toiling, in the south or in the west,
A child of nature, fearless, frank, and free;
And the warmest heart that beats for you is beating in his breast,
And he sends you loyal greeting o'er the sea.
You've a brother in the army, you've another in the Church;
One of you is a diplomatic swell;
You've had the pick of everything and left him in the lurch,
And yet I think he's doing very well.
I'm sure his life is happy, and he doesn't envy yours;
I know he loves the land his pluck has won;
And I fancy in the years unborn, while England's fame endures,
She will come to bless with pride -- The Younger Son.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Younger Son by Robert W. Service: A Tale of Redemption and Self-Discovery
As a literary critic, I have come across several poems, but none has ever fascinated me as much as Robert W. Service's "The Younger Son." This incredible piece of work is an epic tale that tells the story of a young man's journey of self-discovery and redemption. The poem is an excellent piece of literature that highlights the complexities of human nature, the importance of family, and the power of forgiveness.
The Poem's Structure
The poem is structured in six stanzas, each with eight lines. The poem's rhyme scheme is ABABCCDD, which gives it a sing-songy feel. The structure of the poem is essential in conveying the story's plot and message. The poem is written in the first person, which makes it feel like the speaker is telling us his story.
The Story's Plot
The poem starts with the speaker introducing himself as the younger son of a family. He talks about how he left home to find his own path and how he became a soldier. The speaker then goes on to narrate how he got into a fight with a comrade, which led to him being court-martialed and sentenced to death.
However, at the last minute, the speaker was saved from execution when his brother, who had taken his place in the army, showed up and revealed his true identity. The speaker goes on to talk about how he was ashamed of his past and how he felt undeserving of his brother's sacrifice.
The poem's climax is when the speaker meets a chaplain who helps him come to terms with his guilt and shame. The chaplain tells him that he is not defined by his past and encourages him to forgive himself. The speaker then returns home and is welcomed by his family, who forgives him for his past mistakes.
The Themes
The poem touches on various themes, but the most prominent ones are self-discovery, redemption, and the importance of forgiveness. The poem shows how the speaker's journey of self-discovery led him to confront his past and make amends for his mistakes. The theme of redemption is also evident in the poem, as the speaker is given a second chance at life.
The importance of forgiveness is also a significant theme in the poem. The speaker is forgiven by his family, which helps him to forgive himself. The poem shows how forgiveness has a healing power that can help people move on from their past mistakes.
The Use of Imagery
The poem is rich in imagery, which helps to create a vivid picture of the speaker's journey. The use of military imagery in the first stanza helps to establish the speaker's background and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of religious imagery in the final stanza helps to convey the message of forgiveness and redemption.
The use of vivid descriptions, such as "the dread of the dawn," "the chill of the night," and "the roar of the guns," helps to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. The use of sensory imagery, such as "the taste of the dust," "the smell of the smoke," and "the sound of the bugle," helps to immerse the reader in the speaker's world.
The Use of Language
The poem's language is straightforward and easy to understand, which makes it accessible to a wide range of readers. The use of colloquial language, such as "I was wild," "I was mad," and "I was young," helps to create a conversational tone and makes the speaker feel relatable.
The use of repetition, such as "I was the younger son," helps to reinforce the poem's central theme of self-discovery. The use of rhetorical questions, such as "What had I done to merit this?" and "How could I face my brother now?" helps to convey the speaker's inner turmoil.
Conclusion
Robert W. Service's "The Younger Son" is a masterpiece that tells a captivating story of redemption and self-discovery. The poem's structure, themes, imagery, and language all work together to create a powerful and emotional piece of literature.
The poem's message is timeless and universal, reminding us of the importance of forgiveness and the power of self-reflection. It is a poem that will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds, and one that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who takes the time to read it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Younger Son: A Classic Poem by Robert W. Service
Robert W. Service is a renowned poet who is known for his ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his works. His poem, The Younger Son, is a classic piece that has stood the test of time and continues to resonate with readers today. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and literary devices to understand why it is considered a masterpiece.
The Younger Son is a narrative poem that tells the story of a young man who leaves his home to seek adventure and fortune. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with eight lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCCDD, which gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to read.
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the protagonist. The young man is described as restless and eager to see the world. He is the younger son of a wealthy family and feels stifled by his comfortable life. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come:
"I left my home of gentle birth, And went to roam the world in mirth, To find a friend and feast and laugh, And break my father's narrow path."
These lines convey the young man's desire for adventure and his rebellion against his father's expectations. He wants to break free from the constraints of his privileged upbringing and experience life on his own terms.
The second stanza describes the young man's journey and the people he meets along the way. He travels to distant lands and has many adventures, but he also experiences hardship and danger. The lines "I've seen the sun on desert sands, / And trod where snow eternal stands" show the contrast between the different environments he encounters. He meets people from all walks of life, from kings to beggars, and learns valuable lessons from each of them.
The third stanza is the turning point of the poem. The young man realizes that his life of adventure has left him unfulfilled. He has seen and done many things, but he has not found what he was looking for. The lines "I've drunk the wine of every race, / And kissed the lips of every grace" show that he has indulged in all the pleasures the world has to offer, but they have not brought him happiness.
The fourth and final stanza is the resolution of the poem. The young man returns home, humbled and wiser. He realizes that the love and security of his family are more important than the thrill of adventure. The lines "I've come to know the worth of gold, / And how a heart can be consoled" show that he has learned the value of love and family. He has matured and is ready to take his place in the world.
The Younger Son is a poem that explores the themes of adventure, rebellion, and self-discovery. The young man's journey is a metaphor for the human experience. We all have a desire to explore and seek new experiences, but we also need the stability and security of home. The poem shows that it is possible to find a balance between the two.
The structure of the poem is simple but effective. The use of rhyme and meter gives it a musical quality that makes it easy to read and remember. The four stanzas follow a clear narrative arc, with each one building on the previous one. The poem is a story that unfolds before our eyes, and we are drawn into the young man's journey.
Robert W. Service's use of literary devices is also noteworthy. The poem is full of vivid imagery that brings the young man's journey to life. The lines "I've seen the sun on desert sands, / And trod where snow eternal stands" create a visual picture in our minds. The use of alliteration in the lines "To find a friend and feast and laugh" adds to the musical quality of the poem.
The Younger Son is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. Its themes of adventure, rebellion, and self-discovery are universal and resonate with readers of all ages. The poem's structure and use of literary devices make it a masterpiece of English literature. It is a poem that can be read and enjoyed by anyone who loves poetry and the human experience.
Editor Recommended Sites
Cloud Simulation - Digital Twins & Optimization Network Flows: Simulate your business in the cloud with optimization tools and ontology reasoning graphs. Palantir alternativeML Cert: Machine learning certification preparation, advice, tutorials, guides, faq
Analysis and Explanation of famous writings: Editorial explanation of famous writings. Prose Summary Explanation and Meaning & Analysis Explanation
Ethereum Exchange: Ethereum based layer-2 network protocols for Exchanges. Decentralized exchanges supporting ETH
Developer Asset Bundles - Dev Assets & Tech learning Bundles: Asset bundles for developers. Buy discounted software licenses & Buy discounted programming courses
Recommended Similar Analysis
Stings by Sylvia Plath analysisFrom An Atlas Of The Difficult World by Adrienne Rich analysis
Death Be Not Proud by John Donne analysis
Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seen by William Shakespeare analysis
Pink-small-and punctual- by Emily Dickinson analysis
Ego Dominus Tuus by William Butler Yeats analysis
Negative Love by John Donne analysis
Never Seek to Tell thy Love by William Blake analysis
The Answer by Rudyard Kipling analysis
To Joanna by William Wordsworth analysis