'The Spell Of The Yukon' by Robert Service
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I wanted the gold, and I sought it,
I scrabbled and mucked like a slave.
Was it famine or scurvy -- I fought it;
I hurled my youth into a grave.
I wanted the gold, and I got it --
Came out with a fortune last fall, --
Yet somehow life's not what I thought it,
And somehow the gold isn't all.
No! There's the land. (Have you seen it?)
It's the cussedest land that I know,
From the big, dizzy mountains that screen it
To the deep, deathlike valleys below.
Some say God was tired when He made it;
Some say it's a fine land to shun;
Maybe; but there's some as would trade it
For no land on earth -- and I'm one.
You come to get rich (damned good reason);
You feel like an exile at first;
You hate it like hell for a season,
And then you are worse than the worst.
It grips you like some kinds of sinning;
It twists you from foe to a friend;
It seems it's been since the beginning;
It seems it will be to the end.
I've stood in some mighty-mouthed hollow
That's plumb-full of hush to the brim;
I've watched the big, husky sun wallow
In crimson and gold, and grow dim,
Till the moon set the pearly peaks gleaming,
And the stars tumbled out, neck and crop;
And I've thought that I surely was dreaming,
With the peace o' the world piled on top.
The summer -- no sweeter was ever;
The sunshiny woods all athrill;
The grayling aleap in the river,
The bighorn asleep on the hill.
The strong life that never knows harness;
The wilds where the caribou call;
The freshness, the freedom, the farness --
O God! how I'm stuck on it all.
The winter! the brightness that blinds you,
The white land locked tight as a drum,
The cold fear that follows and finds you,
The silence that bludgeons you dumb.
The snows that are older than history,
The woods where the weird shadows slant;
The stillness, the moonlight, the mystery,
I've bade 'em good-by -- but I can't.
There's a land where the mountains are nameless,
And the rivers all run God knows where;
There are lives that are erring and aimless,
And deaths that just hang by a hair;
There are hardships that nobody reckons;
There are valleys unpeopled and still;
There's a land -- oh, it beckons and beckons,
And I want to go back -- and I will.
They're making my money diminish;
I'm sick of the taste of champagne.
Thank God! when I'm skinned to a finish
I'll pike to the Yukon again.
I'll fight -- and you bet it's no sham-fight;
It's hell! -- but I've been there before;
And it's better than this by a damnsite --
So me for the Yukon once more.
There's gold, and it's haunting and haunting;
It's luring me on as of old;
Yet it isn't the gold that I'm wanting
So much as just finding the gold.
It's the great, big, broad land 'way up yonder,
It's the forests where silence has lease;
It's the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It's the stillness that fills me with peace.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Spell Of The Yukon by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism
The Spell Of The Yukon, written by Robert Service, is a classic poem that captures the spirit of the Canadian wilderness like no other. With its vivid imagery, intense emotions, and profound insights, this poem has inspired generations of readers and writers.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in this poem, and analyze how they contribute to its overall meaning and impact.
Overview
The Spell Of The Yukon is a narrative poem that tells the story of a man who has fallen under the spell of the Canadian wilderness. The narrator, who speaks in the first person, describes his experience of living in the Yukon, a region known for its harsh climate, rugged terrain, and wild animals.
The poem is divided into five stanzas, each of which focuses on a different aspect of life in the Yukon. The first stanza introduces the narrator and sets the tone for the poem, while the second stanza describes the beauty and majesty of the Yukon landscape. The third stanza depicts the challenges and dangers of living in the Yukon, while the fourth stanza reflects on the deeper meaning of life and death. The fifth and final stanza concludes the poem with a sense of awe and wonder at the power and mystery of the Yukon.
Themes
The Spell Of The Yukon explores several themes, including:
Nature
One of the central themes of the poem is the power and beauty of nature. The narrator is deeply fascinated by the Yukon landscape, with its towering mountains, icy rivers, and endless forests. He describes the Yukon as a "land of gold and sun" that "takes hold of you like a spell."
Through his vivid descriptions of the Yukon wilderness, the narrator reveals his deep connection and reverence for nature. He sees the Yukon as a source of inspiration, wonder, and spiritual renewal, and believes that those who live in harmony with nature are the true masters of life.
Freedom
Another important theme of the poem is freedom. The narrator is drawn to the Yukon because of its vastness and emptiness, which he sees as a symbol of freedom and independence. He describes the Yukon as a place where one can escape from the constraints of civilization and "live life as one damn please."
Through his celebration of freedom, the narrator challenges the values and norms of his society, which he sees as limiting and oppressive. He believes that true happiness and fulfillment can only be found in the wild and open spaces of the Yukon.
Death
A third theme that runs through the poem is death. The narrator acknowledges the dangers of living in the Yukon, where one can easily fall victim to the harsh climate, wild animals, or accidents. He describes death as a "grim and bitter jest" that can strike at any moment, but also as a natural and inevitable part of life.
Through his contemplation of death, the narrator reflects on the fragility and transience of human existence, and finds solace in the eternal cycle of nature. He sees death as a gateway to a higher realm of being, where one can reunite with the spirits of the earth and sky.
Symbols
The Spell Of The Yukon uses several symbols to convey its themes and meanings, including:
Gold
Gold is a recurring symbol in the poem, representing both material wealth and spiritual enlightenment. The narrator sees the Yukon as a land of gold, where one can find riches beyond measure. However, he also recognizes that gold is not the true source of happiness or fulfillment, and that the pursuit of wealth can lead to greed and corruption.
Through its dual nature, gold symbolizes the tension between material and spiritual values, and invites the reader to reflect on the true meaning of wealth and success.
Wolves
Wolves are another important symbol in the poem, representing both the wild and the human. The narrator describes the wolves as "gray ghosts" that haunt the Yukon wilderness, embodying the primal instincts and raw emotions of nature. However, he also sees the wolves as a reflection of human nature, with their pack mentality and fierce loyalty.
Through their dual nature, wolves symbolize the interdependence and conflict between humans and nature, and invite the reader to reconsider their relationship with the natural world.
Silence
Silence is a powerful symbol in the poem, representing both the emptiness and the fullness of the Yukon wilderness. The narrator describes the silence of the Yukon as a "ghostly cloak" that envelops everything, creating a sense of awe and mystery. However, he also recognizes that silence can be a source of comfort and clarity, allowing one to hear the voice of the spirit.
Through its dual nature, silence symbolizes the paradoxical nature of the Yukon wilderness, and invites the reader to contemplate the mysteries and contradictions of life.
Literary Devices
The Spell Of The Yukon uses several literary devices to enhance its impact and meaning, including:
Rhyme
The poem uses a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, with each stanza consisting of four lines that rhyme with each other. This simple and rhythmic structure creates a sense of unity and coherence, and makes the poem easy to remember and recite.
Alliteration
The poem also uses alliteration, or the repetition of consonant sounds, to create a sense of musicality and emphasis. For example, in the first stanza, the narrator uses alliteration to describe the Yukon as a "land of the midnight sun" and a "land of the spruce and pine."
Metaphor
The poem uses metaphor, or the comparison of two things that are not literally alike, to create vivid and memorable images. For example, in the second stanza, the narrator compares the Yukon mountains to "tents of purple and gold" and the Yukon rivers to "writhing serpents of liquid fire."
Personification
The poem also uses personification, or the attribution of human qualities to non-human entities, to create a sense of intimacy and connection with nature. For example, in the second stanza, the narrator personifies the Yukon landscape as a "mighty lover" who "whispers in your ear."
Interpretation
The Spell Of The Yukon is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of the Canadian wilderness and its impact on the human spirit. Through its vivid imagery, intense emotions, and profound insights, this poem invites the reader to explore the themes of nature, freedom, and death, and to reflect on the symbols and literary devices used to convey them.
The poem is a celebration of the wild and untamed spirit of the Yukon, but also a reminder of its dangers and challenges. The narrator sees the Yukon as a place of beauty, inspiration, and spiritual renewal, but also as a place of isolation, loneliness, and death. Through his contemplation of these paradoxical aspects of the Yukon, the narrator invites the reader to embrace the mysteries and contradictions of life, and to find meaning and purpose in the natural world.
Overall, The Spell Of The Yukon is a timeless masterpiece of Canadian literature, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to inspire and transform the human spirit.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Spell of the Yukon: A Poem of Adventure and Romance
The Spell of the Yukon is a classic poem written by Robert Service, a renowned poet and writer of the early 20th century. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the rugged and wild landscape of the Yukon, a region in northwestern Canada known for its harsh climate, vast wilderness, and rich gold deposits. The poem captures the spirit of adventure and romance that drew many prospectors and adventurers to the Yukon during the gold rush of the late 19th century.
The poem begins with a description of the Yukon landscape, with its snow-capped mountains, frozen rivers, and endless forests. The speaker of the poem, who is presumably a prospector or adventurer, is drawn to the Yukon by its rugged beauty and the promise of gold. He describes the allure of the Yukon in vivid detail, painting a picture of a land that is both dangerous and enchanting:
"There's a land where the mountains are nameless, And the rivers all run God knows where; There are lives that are erring and aimless, And deaths that just hang by a hair; There are hardships that nobody reckons; There are valleys unpeopled and still; There's a land—oh, it beckons and beckons, And I want to go back—and I will."
The speaker's desire to return to the Yukon is driven by a sense of adventure and a longing for the freedom and excitement of the wilderness. He is drawn to the rugged landscape and the challenges it presents, and he is willing to risk everything to explore its mysteries and discover its secrets.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes his experiences in the Yukon, from the thrill of the hunt to the dangers of the cold and the snow. He tells of the fierce animals that roam the wilderness, from the grizzly bear to the wolf, and he describes the thrill of the chase as he tracks his prey through the snow-covered forests:
"I've seen the big, copper sun, blazing out of the sky, I've felt the icy winds, and the hot springs bubbling high, I've heard the midnight sun, where the icebergs rear their heads, And the thunder of the inland seas, where the white bear roams and treads."
The speaker's experiences in the Yukon are both exhilarating and terrifying, as he confronts the harsh realities of life in the wilderness. He must battle the elements and the animals, and he must rely on his wits and his strength to survive. But despite the dangers and the hardships, he is drawn to the Yukon by a sense of wonder and a love of adventure.
The poem also explores the theme of romance, as the speaker describes his longing for a woman who shares his love of the wilderness. He imagines a companion who is as wild and free as the land itself, and he longs to find someone who will share his adventures and his dreams:
"There's a woman that waits for me, and she's wondrous wise: She can pilot a canoe, 'way up the rapids' roar; I know she could find a trail through the pathless skies, And she wouldn't be afraid of the devil or the store."
The speaker's longing for a companion who shares his love of adventure and his sense of freedom is a powerful theme in the poem, and it adds a layer of depth and complexity to the speaker's character. He is not just a rugged adventurer, but a man who longs for love and companionship in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving.
In conclusion, The Spell of the Yukon is a classic poem that captures the spirit of adventure and romance that drew many prospectors and adventurers to the Yukon during the gold rush of the late 19th century. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the rugged and wild landscape of the Yukon, and it explores themes of adventure, romance, and the human spirit. Robert Service's masterful use of language and imagery creates a powerful and evocative portrait of a land that is both dangerous and enchanting, and his portrayal of the speaker's longing for love and companionship adds a layer of depth and complexity to the poem. The Spell of the Yukon is a timeless classic that continues to inspire and captivate readers today, and it remains a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the human experience.
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