'My Favourite Fan' by Robert Service
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Being a writer I receive
Sweet screeds from folk of every land;
Some are so weird you'd scarce believe,
And some quite hard to understand:
But as a conscientious man
I type my thanks to all I can.
So when I got a foreign scrawl
That spider-webbed across the page,
Said I: "This is the worst of all;
No doubt a child of tender age
Has written it, so I'll be kind,
And send an answer to her mind.
Promptly I typed a nice reply
And thought that it would be the end,
But in due course confused was I
To get a letter signed: Your Friend;
And with it, full of girlish grace,
A snapshot of a winsome face.
"I am afraid," she wrote to me,
"That you must have bees sure surprised
At my poor penmanship . . . You see,
My arms and legs are paralyzed:
With pen held in a sort of sheath
I do my writing with my teeth."
Though sadness followed my amaze,
And pity too, I must confess
The look that lit her laughing gaze
Was one of sunny happiness. . . .
Oh spirit of a heroine!
Your smile so tender, so divine,
I pray, may never cease to shine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
My Favourite Fan: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Robert Service's poem "My Favourite Fan" is a poem of passion, love, and obsession. It tells the story of a man who falls in love with a beautiful fan and how he spends his nights dreaming about her. The poem is a classic example of Service's unique style that combines simple language with powerful emotions. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes and symbols used by Service and how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.
Analysis
Themes
The major theme of the poem is love and obsession. The narrator is deeply in love with the fan and cannot stop thinking about her. He describes her as "My sweet and holy passion,/ My more than mortal flame" (line 7-8). The use of the words "sweet" and "holy" suggest that the narrator sees his love as something pure and beautiful. However, his obsession with the fan is also portrayed as something that consumes him, as he cannot focus on anything else but her.
Another theme of the poem is the power of imagination. The narrator spends his nights dreaming about the fan and imagining a life with her. He describes how he "lies and dreams and ponders/ On all that might have been" (line 19-20). This suggests that his imagination is his escape from reality, and he uses it as a way to cope with his unrequited love.
Symbols
The fan is the central symbol of the poem. It represents the object of the narrator's love and obsession. The fan is described as "a thing of silk and ivory" (line 1), which suggest that it is valuable and beautiful. The narrator's admiration for the fan is evident in the way he describes it as "a precious thing to me" (line 2). However, the fan is also a symbol of something unattainable, as the narrator knows that his love for the fan will never be reciprocated.
The moon is another symbol that is used throughout the poem. It symbolises the narrator's romanticism and his desire for the unattainable. The moon is described as "a silvered sail on high" (line 10), which suggests that it is something beautiful and unattainable. The narrator sees the moon as a symbol of his own unrequited love and uses it to express his emotions.
Language and Style
Service's use of simple language and rhyme scheme gives the poem a lyrical quality. The use of rhyme and repetition, such as "fan" and "man" (line 1-2), "sigh" and "sky" (line 11-12), creates a musicality that draws the reader in. The use of simple language also makes the poem accessible to a wide audience, which contributes to its popularity.
The use of imagery in the poem is also noteworthy. Service uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the fan and the night sky. For example, he describes the fan as "a thing of silk and ivory" (line 1) and the moon as "a silvered sail on high" (line 10). These descriptions create a visual image in the reader's mind, which helps to convey the emotions of the narrator.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession. The narrator's love for the fan is portrayed as something that consumes him and prevents him from living a normal life. He describes how he spends his nights dreaming about the fan and how he cannot focus on anything else. This suggests that his obsession is unhealthy and may lead to his downfall.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of love. The narrator's love for the fan is unrequited, and he knows that he will never have her. However, he continues to love her despite this. This suggests that true love is not based on reciprocity but on a deep-seated emotion that cannot be controlled.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "My Favourite Fan" is a powerful exploration of love, obsession, and imagination. The use of simple language, vivid imagery, and powerful emotions make it a classic example of Service's unique style. The fan and the moon are powerful symbols that contribute to the overall meaning of the poem. The poem can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession or as a commentary on the nature of love. Whatever the interpretation, "My Favourite Fan" remains a classic poem that continues to capture the hearts of readers.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
My Favourite Fan: An Analysis of Robert Service's Classic Poem
As a lover of poetry, I have come across many great works of art that have left me in awe. However, there is one poem that has always stood out to me, and that is Robert Service's "My Favourite Fan." This classic piece of literature is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, devotion, and admiration. In this analysis, I will delve deeper into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices to understand why it has become a timeless classic.
The poem "My Favourite Fan" is a love poem that tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman. The speaker in the poem is the man, and he describes his love for the woman in great detail. He starts by saying that he loves her more than anything else in the world, and that she is his favourite fan. The use of the word "fan" is interesting because it is not a typical term of endearment. However, in this context, it is used to convey the idea that the woman is the speaker's biggest supporter and admirer.
The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which means that the first and second lines rhyme, as do the third and fourth lines. This structure gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to read and remember. The poem's simplicity is also reflected in its language, which is straightforward and easy to understand. However, the poem's simplicity does not take away from its depth and meaning.
One of the literary devices used in the poem is imagery. The speaker uses vivid descriptions to paint a picture of his love for the woman. For example, he says that he loves her "more than a sailor loves the sea," which is a powerful image that conveys the depth of his love. He also says that he loves her "more than a miner loves his gold," which is another powerful image that shows how much he values her. These images help to create a sense of passion and intensity in the poem.
Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "my favourite fan" is repeated throughout the poem, which emphasizes the speaker's love for the woman. The repetition also creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the poem's structure. The repetition of the phrase "more than" is also used to emphasize the speaker's love for the woman. This repetition creates a sense of urgency and intensity in the poem.
The poem's tone is one of excitement and passion. The speaker is deeply in love with the woman, and he expresses his feelings with great enthusiasm. The use of exclamation marks throughout the poem emphasizes the speaker's excitement and adds to the poem's energy. The tone of the poem is also one of admiration. The speaker sees the woman as his biggest supporter and admirer, and he values her opinion and love above all else.
The poem's theme is love and devotion. The speaker's love for the woman is all-consuming, and he sees her as his everything. The poem also explores the idea of admiration and support in a relationship. The speaker sees the woman as his biggest fan, and he values her support and encouragement. The poem's theme is universal, and it speaks to the idea that love and support are essential in any relationship.
In conclusion, Robert Service's "My Favourite Fan" is a classic poem that captures the essence of love, devotion, and admiration. The poem's structure, literary devices, and tone all work together to create a powerful and memorable piece of literature. The poem's simplicity and universal theme make it accessible to anyone, and its message of love and support is timeless. As a lover of poetry, I am grateful for works like "My Favourite Fan" that remind us of the power of love and the importance of support in our lives.
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