'A Sea Dirge' by Lewis Carroll
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
There are certain things--as, a spider, a ghost,
The income-tax, gout, an umbrella for three--
That I hate, but the thing that I hate the most
Is a thing they call the Sea.
Pour some salt water over the floor--
Ugly I'm sure you'll allow it to be:
Suppose it extended a mile or more,
That's very like the Sea.
Beat a dog till it howls outright--
Cruel, but all very well for a spree:
Suppose that he did so day and night,
That would be like the Sea.
I had a vision of nursery-maids;
Tens of thousands passed by me--
All leading children with wooden spades,
And this was by the Sea.
Who invented those spades of wood?
Who was it cut them out of the tree?
None, I think, but an idiot could--
Or one that loved the Sea.
It is pleasant and dreamy, no doubt, to float
With "thoughts as boundless, and souls as free":
But, suppose you are very unwell in the boat,
How do you like the Sea?
There is an insect that people avoid
(Whence is derived the verb "to flee").
Where have you been by it most annoyed?
In lodgings by the Sea.
If you like your coffee with sand for dregs,
A decided hint of salt in your tea,
And a fishy taste in the very eggs--
By all means choose the Sea.
And if, with these dainties to drink and eat,
You prefer not a vestige of grass or tree,
And a chronic state of wet in your feet,
Then--I recommend the Sea.
For I have friends who dwell by the coast--
Pleasant friends they are to me!
It is when I am with them I wonder most
That anyone likes the Sea.
They take me a walk: though tired and stiff,
To climb the heights I madly agree;
And, after a tumble or so from the cliff,
They kindly suggest the Sea.
I try the rocks, and I think it cool
That they laugh with such an excess of glee,
As I heavily slip into every pool
That skirts the cold cold Sea.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Sea Dirge by Lewis Carroll: An Exploration of Death and the Sea
As I read through Lewis Carroll's poem, A Sea Dirge, I couldn't help but feel the overwhelming sense of melancholy and loss that permeates throughout the piece. The poem, a dirge for those lost to the sea, explores themes of death, mourning, and the power of the sea over humanity.
The poem begins with the line, "There are certain things--/a spider, a ghost, /The income-tax, gout, /an umbrella for three--" instantly setting the tone for the poem's macabre subject matter. Carroll's use of mundane objects, such as an umbrella, combined with more ominous things like a ghost and the income-tax, creates a sense of foreboding and unease.
The first stanza also introduces the idea of the sea as a living entity, "The mermaids are singing, /The male is at play, /On the seashore dingle-dangle /The seaweed will sway." Here, the sea is depicted as having a personality and agency, as the mermaids sing and the male (presumably a reference to a male sea creature) plays. The "dingle-dangle" of the seaweed only adds to the sense of the sea being a living, breathing thing.
But as the poem progresses, the tone shifts from one of whimsy to one of mourning. The second stanza begins, "But I will be lying /In my own little cot /At the foot of my bed /Is a box full of shot--" signaling the speaker's impending death. The use of the phrase "my own little cot" creates a sense of intimacy and personal connection, making the speaker's death all the more tragic.
The third stanza is where the poem truly becomes a dirge, "And a piece of an oar, /And an inch of a rope, /Will do for a chute, /For I sha'n't want much soap." Here, the speaker is making preparations for their own burial at sea, as they will not be needing much soap in death. The use of the phrase "sha'n't want" only emphasizes the finality of death, as the speaker will no longer have any use for the items mentioned.
But it is the final stanza that truly drives home the poem's message, "No coffins enclose me, /Nor funereal urn, /But I lie like a rover /With sea-weed for a worm." Here, the speaker rejects traditional burial customs and instead chooses to be buried at sea, becoming one with the seaweed that sways in the first stanza. The use of the word "rover" also implies a sense of freedom and wanderlust, as the speaker's spirit is now free to roam the vast expanse of the sea.
Overall, A Sea Dirge is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of death, mourning, and the power of the sea over humanity. Carroll's use of vivid imagery and a shifting tone creates a sense of unease that only intensifies as the poem progresses. Yet, despite the sadness of the subject matter, there is a sense of freedom and release in the final stanza, as the speaker embraces the sea as their final resting place.
As I reflect on the poem, I can't help but wonder about Carroll's personal relationship with the sea. Was it a source of comfort for him in times of grief and loss? Or did he fear its power, as so many have throughout history? Whatever the case may be, A Sea Dirge stands as a testament to the enduring power of the sea, and its ability to both terrify and inspire us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Sea Dirge: A Masterpiece by Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, is a renowned English writer, mathematician, and logician. He is best known for his children's books, such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. However, his literary genius extends far beyond children's literature. One of his most notable works is the poem "A Sea Dirge," which is a haunting and melancholic piece that captures the essence of the sea and its power over human life.
The poem was first published in 1869 in Carroll's collection of poetry, Phantasmagoria and Other Poems. It is a short poem, consisting of only six stanzas, but its impact is profound. The poem is written in the form of a dirge, which is a song or poem that is sung or recited at a funeral or in commemoration of the dead. The use of this form immediately sets the tone for the poem, which is one of sadness and mourning.
The first stanza of the poem sets the scene and introduces the theme of the sea's power over human life. Carroll writes, "A sea dirge! A sea dirge! / It is pleasant to sleep / In the lap of the deep, / When the storm is abroad on the raging surge." The use of the word "pleasant" is ironic, as it suggests that death at sea is a peaceful and desirable end. However, the rest of the stanza contradicts this idea, as it describes the stormy and dangerous nature of the sea.
The second stanza continues to explore the theme of the sea's power over human life. Carroll writes, "But it is not well / To slumber too long / And forget that the strong / Must ever keep watch and ward." This stanza suggests that while the sea may be powerful, humans must remain vigilant and aware of its dangers. The use of the word "ward" suggests that humans must protect themselves from the sea's power.
The third stanza introduces the idea of death at sea. Carroll writes, "For the sea-nymphs' choir / Is a requiem sung / O'er the gleaming ones young, / The lovely, the brave, the true." The sea-nymphs are mythological creatures that are associated with the sea. Carroll uses them to represent the sea's power over human life. The use of the word "requiem" suggests that death at sea is a tragic and mournful event.
The fourth stanza continues to explore the theme of death at sea. Carroll writes, "They sing to the waves, / And the rocks, and the caves, / When the winds do howl and the tempests rave." This stanza suggests that the sea-nymphs sing to the elements of the sea, which are also powerful and dangerous. The use of the words "howl" and "rave" suggest that the sea is a chaotic and unpredictable force.
The fifth stanza introduces the idea of the sea as a final resting place. Carroll writes, "They sing to the wreck, / They sing to the deck, / When the timbers creak and the ropes strain." This stanza suggests that the sea-nymphs sing to the wreckage of ships that have been destroyed by the sea. The use of the words "timbers creak" and "ropes strain" suggest that the sea is a force that can break even the strongest of human creations.
The final stanza concludes the poem with a somber and mournful tone. Carroll writes, "But oh, not the stain / Of the salt sea-main, / Can wash the bright vision away / Of the noble who fought / And the brilliant who thought / In the ranks of the faithful and free." This stanza suggests that while the sea may be powerful, it cannot erase the memory of those who have died at sea. The use of the words "noble," "brilliant," "faithful," and "free" suggest that those who have died at sea were honorable and courageous.
In conclusion, "A Sea Dirge" is a haunting and melancholic poem that captures the essence of the sea and its power over human life. Carroll's use of the dirge form sets the tone for the poem, which is one of sadness and mourning. The poem explores the theme of the sea's power over human life, and the idea of death at sea. It also suggests that the sea is a final resting place for those who have died at sea, but that their memory cannot be erased. "A Sea Dirge" is a masterpiece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor Recommended Sites
Data Migration: Data Migration resources for data transfer across databases and across cloudsModel Shop: Buy and sell machine learning models
Learn Ansible: Learn ansible tutorials and best practice for cloud infrastructure management
Developer Key Takeaways: Key takeaways from the best books, lectures, youtube videos and deep dives
Knowledge Graph Ops: Learn maintenance and operations for knowledge graphs in cloud
Recommended Similar Analysis
Shakespeare by Matthew Arnold analysisRiprap by Gary Snyder analysis
A Clock stopped by Emily Dickinson analysis
A Letter to Her Husband by Anne Bradstreet analysis
To Autum by William Blake analysis
A drop fell on the apple tree by Emily Dickinson analysis
Death is the supple Suitor by Emily Dickinson analysis
Hyperion by John Keats analysis
The Lake. To -- by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Good -bye, and Keep Cold by Robert Lee Frost analysis