'All Things Will Die' by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Clearly the blue river chimes in its flowing
Under my eye;
Warmly and broadly the south winds are blowing
Over the sky.
One after another the white clouds are fleeting;
Every heart this May morning in joyance is beating
Full merrily;
Yet all things must die.
The stream will cease to flow;
The wind will cease to blow;
The clouds will cease to fleet;
The heart will cease to beat;
For all things must die.
All things must die.
Spring will come never more.
O, vanity!
Death waits at the door.
See! our friends are all forsaking
The wine and the merrymaking.
We are call'd—we must go.
Laid low, very low,
In the dark we must lie.
The merry glees are still;
The voice of the bird
Shall no more be heard,
Nor the wind on the hill.
O, misery!
Hark! death is calling
While I speak to ye,
The jaw is falling,
The red cheek paling,
The strong limbs failing;
Ice with the warm blood mixing;
The eyeballs fixing.
Nine times goes the passing bell:
Ye merry souls, farewell.
The old earth
Had a birth,
As all men know,
Long ago.
And the old earth must die.
So let the warm winds range,
And the blue wave beat the shore;
For even and morn
Ye will never see
Thro' eternity.
All things were born.
Ye will come never more,
For all things must die.
Submitted by Venus
Editor 1 Interpretation
All Things Will Die: A Criticism and Interpretation
Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, All Things Will Die, is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of poetry that explores the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem's themes, structure, language, and imagery to uncover its underlying meanings and messages.
Overview of the Poem
First published in 1833 as part of Tennyson's collection of poems, Poems Chiefly Lyrical, All Things Will Die is a short poem consisting of four stanzas, each containing four lines. The poem's structure is simple, yet effective, as it reinforces the poem's central message that all things, no matter how beautiful or precious, are destined to die.
The poem's language is equally straightforward, with simple and concise phrases that convey the poem's ideas with clarity and precision. The poem's imagery is also notable, as it employs natural and organic motifs to highlight the transitory nature of life and the inevitability of death.
Themes of the Poem
The poem's central themes revolve around the ideas of mortality, transience, and impermanence. The poet reminds the reader that all living things, from the smallest creatures to the most magnificent creations, are subject to the same fate of death. The poem suggests that life's beauty and grandeur are heightened by the knowledge that they are fleeting and temporary.
The poem also touches on the idea that death is a natural part of life, and that it should not be feared or avoided, but rather embraced as an essential part of the cycle of life. The poem suggests that life's value and meaning are derived from its impermanence, and that the beauty of life lies in its transience.
Structure of the Poem
The poem's structure is simple and repetitive, with each stanza containing four lines that follow the same rhyme scheme of ABAB. The poem's simplicity is effective in reinforcing its central message, as the repetition of the lines serves to emphasize the poem's ideas and create a sense of inevitability.
The poem's structure also reinforces its themes of transience and impermanence, as the poem's brevity and simplicity echo the fleeting nature of life. The poem's cyclic structure, with each stanza ending in the same refrain of "All things will die," reinforces the poem's message that death is an integral part of life and that all living things are subject to the same fate.
Language of the Poem
The poem's language is simple and direct, with short and concise phrases that convey the poem's ideas with clarity and precision. The poem's language is notable for its use of natural and organic imagery, which reinforces the poem's themes of transience and impermanence.
The poem's opening lines, "All things will die," sets the tone for the poem, conveying a sense of inevitability and finality. The poet employs natural imagery throughout the poem, with references to "roses," "trees," "leaves," and "streams." These references serve to highlight the transitory nature of life and the beauty of its impermanence.
The poem's language is also notable for its use of contrast, as the poet juxtaposes images of life and death to underscore the poem's central message. For example, the poet contrasts the image of "the rose that lives its little hour" with the image of "the oak that falls with a great power." This contrast serves to emphasize the poem's message that all living things, regardless of their size or beauty, are subject to the same fate.
Imagery of the Poem
The poem's imagery is rich and evocative, with natural and organic motifs that reinforce the poem's themes of transience and impermanence. The poem's opening lines, "Flowers alone are forbidden to fade," sets the tone for the poem, conveying a sense of the beauty and fragility of life.
The poem's imagery is notable for its use of contrast, as the poet juxtaposes images of life and death to underscore the poem's central message. For example, the poet contrasts the image of "the rose that lives its little hour" with the image of "the oak that falls with a great power." This contrast serves to emphasize the poem's message that all living things, regardless of their size or beauty, are subject to the same fate.
The poem's imagery is also notable for its use of natural and organic motifs, which serve to highlight the transitory nature of life. The poem references "the streams that hurry by," "the leaves that fade and fall," and "the trees that rot away." These images serve to underscore the poem's message that all things, no matter how beautiful or precious, are destined to die.
Conclusion
All Things Will Die is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of mortality, transience, and impermanence. The poem's simple structure, direct language, and natural imagery serve to reinforce its central message that all living things, no matter how beautiful or precious, are destined to die.
The poem suggests that life's beauty and grandeur are heightened by the knowledge that they are fleeting and temporary. The poem also suggests that death is a natural part of life, and that it should not be feared or avoided, but rather embraced as an essential part of the cycle of life.
Overall, All Things Will Die is a poignant and powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of life, and the importance of cherishing every moment we have.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
All Things Will Die: A Poem of Transience and Mortality
Alfred Lord Tennyson, one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, wrote a plethora of poems that explored the themes of love, loss, nature, and mortality. One of his most poignant and thought-provoking works is the poem "All Things Will Die," which delves into the transience and impermanence of all things in life. In this essay, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, language, and imagery.
The poem "All Things Will Die" is a short but powerful piece of poetry that consists of four stanzas, each comprising four lines. The poem's structure is simple and straightforward, with a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB, which gives it a musical and lyrical quality. The poem's title itself is a statement of fact, a reminder that everything in life is temporary and fleeting, and that death is an inevitable part of the cycle of life.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone and theme of the poem, with the speaker declaring that "All things will die." The speaker goes on to list various things in life that are subject to mortality, including "Beauty," "Joy," "Youth," and "Love." These are all things that we associate with life and vitality, but the speaker reminds us that they are all temporary and will eventually fade away. The use of the word "all" is significant here, as it emphasizes the universality of death and the fact that no one and nothing is exempt from it.
The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of transience and mortality, with the speaker stating that "All things will die, all." The repetition of the phrase "all things will die" reinforces the poem's central message and creates a sense of inevitability and finality. The speaker goes on to describe how even the "leaf" that "falls" and the "bird" that "flies away" are subject to the same fate as everything else in life. The use of natural imagery here is significant, as it emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and death and the fact that everything in nature is subject to the same laws of mortality.
The third stanza of the poem takes a more philosophical turn, with the speaker questioning the purpose and meaning of life in the face of death. The speaker asks, "What is it that will last?" and suggests that perhaps only "the thought" or "the love" that we leave behind will endure. This stanza is significant because it highlights the importance of legacy and the impact that we have on others, even after we are gone. The use of the word "thought" here is interesting, as it suggests that our ideas and beliefs may be more enduring than our physical bodies.
The final stanza of the poem brings the poem full circle, with the speaker repeating the phrase "All things will die" once again. However, the tone of the stanza is slightly different, with the speaker suggesting that death is not something to be feared or mourned, but rather something to be accepted and embraced. The speaker states that "All things must die, all," and suggests that death is simply a part of the natural order of things. The use of the word "must" here is significant, as it suggests that death is not a choice but rather a necessity.
In terms of language and imagery, the poem is rich and evocative, with Tennyson using a variety of literary devices to convey his message. The use of repetition, particularly the repetition of the phrase "All things will die," is a powerful rhetorical device that emphasizes the poem's central theme. The use of natural imagery, such as the falling leaf and the flying bird, is also significant, as it reinforces the idea that everything in nature is subject to the same laws of mortality.
In conclusion, "All Things Will Die" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of transience and mortality. Through its simple yet evocative language and imagery, the poem reminds us that everything in life is temporary and that death is an inevitable part of the cycle of life. However, the poem also suggests that death is not something to be feared or mourned but rather something to be accepted and embraced. Ultimately, the poem encourages us to live our lives to the fullest and to leave behind a legacy of love and thought that will endure long after we are gone.
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