'The Nightingale' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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A Conversation Poem, April, 1798
No cloud, no relique of the sunken day
Distinguishes the West, no long thin slip
Of sullen light, no obscure trembling hues.
Come, we will rest on this old mossy bridge!
You see the glimmer of the stream beneath,
But hear no murmuring: it flows silently.
O'er its soft bed of verdure. All is still.
A balmy night! and though the stars be dim,
Yet let us think upon the vernal showers
That gladden the green earth, and we shall find
A pleasure in the dimness of the stars.
And hark! the Nightingale begins its song,
'Most musical, most melancholy' bird!
A melancholy bird? Oh! idle thought!
In Nature there is nothing melancholy.
But some night-wandering man whose heart was pierced
With the remembrance of a grievous wrong,
Or slow distemper, or neglected love,
(And so, poor wretch! filled all things with himself,
And made all gentle sounds tell back the tale
Of his own sorrow) he, and such as he,
First named these notes a melancholy strain.
And many a poet echoes the conceit;
Poet who hath been building up the rhyme
When he had better far have stretched his limbs
Beside a brook in mossy forest-dell,
By sun or moon-light, to the influxes
Of shapes and sounds and shifting elements
Surrendering his whole spirit, of his song
And of his fame forgetful! so his fame
Should share in Nature's immortality,
A venerable thing! and so his song
Should make all Nature lovelier, and itself
Be loved like Nature! But 'twill not be so;
And youths and maidens most poetical,
Who lose the deepening twilights of the spring
In ball-rooms and hot theatres, they still
Full of meek sympathy must heave their sighs
O'er Philomela's pity-pleading strains.
My Friend, and thou, our Sister! we have learnt
A different lore: we may not thus profane
Nature's sweet voices, always full of love
And joyance! 'Tis the merry Nightingale
That crowds and hurries, and precipitates
With fast thick warble his delicious notes,
As he were fearful that an April night
Would be too short for him to utter forth
His love-chant, and disburthen his full soul
Of all its music!
And I know a grove
Of large extent, hard by a castle huge,
Which the great lord inhabits not; and so
This grove is wild with tangling underwood,
And the trim walks are broken up, and grass,
Thin grass and king-cups grow within the paths.
But never elsewhere in one place I knew
So many nightingales; and far and near,
In wood and thicket, over the wide grove,
They answer and provoke each other's song,
With skirmish and capricious passagings,
And murmurs musical and swift jug jug,
And one low piping sound more sweet than all
Stirring the air with such a harmony,
That should you close your eyes, you might almost
Forget it was not day! On moonlight bushes,
Whose dewy leaflets are but half-disclosed,
You may perchance behold them on the twigs,
Their bright, bright eyes, their eyes both bright and full,
Glistening, while many a glow-worm in the shade
Lights up her love-torch.
A most gentle Maid,
Who dwelleth in her hospitable home
Hard by the castle, and at latest eve
(Even like a Lady vowed and dedicate
To something more than Nature in the grove)
Glides through the pathways; she knows all their notes,
That gentle Maid! and oft, a moment's space,
What time the moon was lost behind a cloud,
Hath heard a pause of silence; till the moon
Emerging, a hath awakened earth and sky
With one sensation, and those wakeful birds
Have all burst forth in choral minstrelsy,
As if some sudden gale had swept at once
A hundred airy harps! And she hath watched
Many a nightingale perch giddily
On blossomy twig still swinging from the breeze,
And to that motion tune his wanton song
Like tipsy Joy that reels with tossing head.
Farewell! O Warbler! till tomorrow eve,
And you, my friends! farewell, a short farewell!
We have been loitering long and pleasantly,
And now for our dear homes.That strain again!
Full fain it would delay me! My dear babe,
Who, capable of no articulate sound,
Mars all things with his imitative lisp,
How he would place his hand beside his ear,
His little hand, the small forefinger up,
And bid us listen! And I deem it wise
To make him Nature's play-mate. He knows well
The evening-star; and once, when he awoke
In most distressful mood (some inward pain
Had made up that strange thing, an infant's dream)
I hurried with him to our orchard-plot,
And he beheld the moon, and, hushed at once,
Suspends his sobs, and laughs most silently,
While his fair eyes, that swam with undropped tears,
Did glitter in the yellow moon-beam! Well!
It is a father's tale: But if that Heaven
Should give me life, his childhood shall grow up
Familiar with these songs, that with the night
He may associate joy. Once more, farewell,
Sweet Nightingale! once more, my friends! farewell.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Nightingale: A Critique and Interpretation
Oh, The Nightingale! What a beautiful and timeless poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It's like a journey through the night, the woods, and the soul. In this critique and interpretation, we will dive deep into the themes, symbols, language, and context of this masterpiece. Get ready to fly with the nightingale and discover the hidden meanings behind each word and image.
Context and Background
Before we jump into the poem itself, let's take a moment to understand the context and background of its creation. The Nightingale was written by Coleridge in 1798, during the Romantic period of English literature, which was characterized by a fascination with nature, imagination, emotion, and individualism. Coleridge was one of the leading poets of this movement, alongside William Wordsworth and others, and was known for his use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language to express his innermost thoughts and feelings.
The Nightingale, along with other poems such as The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan, was part of a collection called Lyrical Ballads that Coleridge co-authored with Wordsworth. The collection aimed to break away from the formal and artificial style of poetry that was popular at the time and to capture the natural and spontaneous language of everyday people. The Nightingale, in particular, reflects this goal by using simple and direct language to convey complex emotions and ideas.
Themes and Symbols
The Nightingale is a poem that explores the themes of nature, beauty, mortality, and transcendence. The nightingale, which is the central symbol of the poem, represents all of these themes in various ways.
First and foremost, the nightingale is a symbol of nature and its beauty. The poem begins with the speaker listening to the nightingale's song, which he describes as "full of anguish sweet and wild." The nightingale's voice is so beautiful that it fills the entire forest with its melody, and the speaker is captivated by its power. This reflects the Romantic belief in the beauty and power of nature and its ability to inspire and uplift the human spirit.
However, the nightingale is not just a symbol of beauty; it is also a symbol of mortality. The speaker realizes that the nightingale's song is a lament for its own impending death, as it will soon migrate to a warmer climate and leave the forest behind. This realization brings a sense of sadness and loss to the speaker, who is reminded of his own mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The nightingale's song, then, becomes a reminder to cherish and appreciate the beauty of life while it lasts.
Finally, the nightingale is a symbol of transcendence. The speaker is transported by the nightingale's song to a state of ecstasy where he feels connected to all of nature and the universe. He describes this feeling as a "death-like trance," where his senses are heightened and his perception of reality is expanded. This reflects the Romantic belief in the power of imagination and the ability of art and nature to transport us beyond our mundane existence to a higher state of consciousness.
Language and Style
The Nightingale is a poem that uses simple and direct language to convey complex emotions and ideas. Coleridge's use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language creates a rich and immersive experience for the reader, as if we are walking through the forest with the speaker and hearing the nightingale's song ourselves.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of sound and rhythm. Coleridge employs a variety of poetic devices such as alliteration, assonance, and onomatopoeia to create a musical and rhythmic quality to the language. For example, in the opening lines, the repetition of the "l" sound in "low, lovelorn" and "live-long" creates a sense of melancholy and longing, while the repetition of the "s" sound in "sweet and wild" and "song's divine" creates a sense of softness and serenity.
Coleridge also uses repetition and variation to create a sense of movement and change throughout the poem. The nightingale's song is described in different ways throughout the poem, from "full of anguish sweet and wild" to "pouring forth thy soul abroad" to "ceaseless voice of sadness." This variation creates a sense of progression and development in the poem, as if the speaker is experiencing different emotions and insights as he listens to the nightingale's song.
Interpretation and Analysis
Now that we have explored the themes, symbols, language, and style of The Nightingale, let's delve deeper into its interpretation and analysis. What does this poem really mean? What is Coleridge trying to say about nature, beauty, mortality, and transcendence?
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on the transience of life and the power of art and nature to transcend that transience. The nightingale, with its beautiful and mournful song, represents the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. However, the speaker's experience of transcendence through the nightingale's song suggests that there is something beyond death, something eternal and universal that connects us all. The nightingale's song becomes a symbol of that connection, a bridge between the material and the spiritual worlds.
Another interpretation is that the poem is a critique of the human condition and the limitations of our senses and perceptions. The nightingale's song represents a world beyond human understanding, a reality that we can only glimpse through the senses. The speaker's experience of transcendence through the nightingale's song suggests that there is something beyond our limited perception of reality, something that can only be accessed through the imagination and the spiritual.
Yet another interpretation is that the poem is a celebration of the power of language and poetry to capture the beauty and complexity of nature and the human experience. The nightingale's song is not just a sound, but a language that communicates a range of emotions and meanings. The speaker's attempt to capture that language in words is a testament to the power of poetry to transcend the limitations of language and express the inexpressible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Nightingale is a poem that embodies the Romantic spirit of nature, beauty, imagination, and transcendence. Through its use of symbols, language, and style, it explores the themes of mortality and the power of art and nature to transcend that mortality. It is a poem that invites multiple interpretations and invites us to engage with the mysteries of the universe and the human experience. So, let us fly with the nightingale and discover the hidden depths of our own souls.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Nightingale by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of nature and the beauty of the nightingale's song. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and the overall meaning of the poem.
The poem begins with the speaker hearing the nightingale's song and being captivated by its beauty. The speaker describes the nightingale's song as "a melancholy strain" that "floats upon the wind." The nightingale's song is so beautiful that it seems to transport the speaker to another world. The speaker is so entranced by the nightingale's song that he forgets about everything else around him.
The theme of nature is prevalent throughout the poem. The nightingale's song is a natural sound that is heard in the woods. The speaker describes the nightingale's song as "a voice of joy" that "fills the air." The nightingale's song is a reminder of the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it. The speaker is in awe of the nightingale's song and is grateful for the opportunity to hear it.
The poem also explores the theme of mortality. The nightingale's song is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should appreciate the beauty around us while we can. The speaker describes the nightingale's song as "a mournful melody" that "tells of life and death." The nightingale's song is a reminder that life is short and that we should make the most of it.
The literary devices used in the poem are also worth exploring. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which gives it a rhythmic flow. The use of alliteration in the poem, such as "mournful melody" and "voice of joy," adds to the musicality of the poem. The use of personification, such as "the moonbeams dance" and "the winds do sigh," adds to the imagery of the poem.
The poem also uses symbolism to convey its message. The nightingale's song is a symbol of beauty and nature. The speaker's reaction to the nightingale's song is a symbol of the human desire for beauty and the need to appreciate it. The nightingale's song is also a symbol of mortality and the fleeting nature of life.
The overall meaning of the poem is that nature is beautiful and that we should appreciate it while we can. The nightingale's song is a reminder of the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it. The poem also reminds us that life is short and that we should make the most of it. The nightingale's song is a symbol of the beauty of life and the need to appreciate it while we can.
In conclusion, The Nightingale by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of nature and the beauty of the nightingale's song. The poem explores themes of nature, mortality, and the human desire for beauty. The poem uses literary devices such as alliteration, personification, and symbolism to convey its message. The overall meaning of the poem is that nature is beautiful and that we should appreciate it while we can. The nightingale's song is a symbol of the beauty of life and the need to appreciate it while we can.
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