'At Midnight' by Sara Teasdale
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Now at last I have come to see what life is,
Nothing is ever ended, everything only begun,
And the brave victories that seem so splendid
Are never really won.
Even love that I built my spirit's house for,
Comes like a brooding and a baffled guest,
And music and men's praise and even laughter
Are not so good as rest.
Submitted by Venus
Editor 1 Interpretation
At Midnight by Sara Teasdale: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Wow, what a hauntingly beautiful poem At Midnight is! Sara Teasdale, the American poetess, has truly outdone herself with this masterpiece. At Midnight, as the name suggests, is a poem that revolves around the theme of nighttime, its silence, darkness, and mysteries. The poem is only twelve lines long, but it packs a punch with its vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and surrealistic tone. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various elements of At Midnight that make it a classic piece of poetry.
Form and Structure
At Midnight is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. However, Teasdale has deviated from the traditional form of a sonnet and has created her own variation. The poem has only twelve lines and does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter. This deviation from the norm is deliberate and adds to the poem's surrealistic tone. The poem's structure is divided into three quatrains, with each quatrain exploring a different aspect of nighttime. The first quatrain sets the stage for the poem, introducing the reader to the dark, silent night. The second quatrain takes us deeper into the mysteries of the night, where dreams and fantasies take over. The third quatrain brings the reader back to reality, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.
Imagery
Teasdale's use of imagery in At Midnight is exceptional. She transports the reader into a world of darkness and silence, where the only sounds are those of the crickets and the rustling leaves. The imagery of the moon and stars adds to the surrealistic tone of the poem. The moon is described as "a ghostly sail" that moves silently through the sky, while the stars are "dimmed by the misty veil." This imagery creates a sense of mystery and other-worldliness, as if the speaker is experiencing a dreamlike state.
Metaphor and Symbolism
At Midnight is full of metaphors and symbolism. The moon, as mentioned earlier, is compared to a ghostly sail. This metaphor gives the moon a supernatural quality, as if it is a ship sailing through the night sky. The stars are also used as a metaphor, with Teasdale describing them as "dimmed by the misty veil." This metaphor creates a sense of distance and unreality, as if the stars are not quite within reach. The final line of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, with the speaker comparing life to a dream. This metaphorical comparison suggests that life is fleeting and impermanent, just like a dream that fades away upon awakening.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood of At Midnight are surrealistic and dreamlike. The poem creates a sense of mystery and other-worldliness, as if the speaker is experiencing a dreamlike state. The use of imagery, metaphor, and symbolism all contribute to this surrealistic tone. The mood of the poem is also melancholic, with the speaker reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The poem's tone and mood are perfectly suited to its theme of nighttime, with its darkness, silence, and mysteries.
Theme
The theme of At Midnight is the mysteries of the night and the fleeting nature of life. The speaker reflects on the darkness and silence of the night, as well as the dreams and fantasies that come with it. However, the poem also reminds the reader of the fleeting nature of life, with the final line comparing life to a dream. The theme of the poem is both melancholic and uplifting, reminding us to cherish the moments we have while also accepting the impermanence of life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, At Midnight is a masterpiece of poetry that combines vivid imagery, metaphorical language, and a surrealistic tone to create a hauntingly beautiful poem. Sara Teasdale's deviation from traditional poetic form only adds to the poem's surrealistic tone, while her use of imagery and metaphor creates a world of darkness, silence, and mystery. The theme of the poem is both melancholic and uplifting, reminding us to cherish the moments we have while also accepting the impermanence of life. At Midnight is a classic poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
At Midnight: A Poem of Love and Longing
Sara Teasdale's poem "At Midnight" is a beautiful and haunting exploration of love and longing. Written in 1915, the poem captures the essence of a moment of intense emotion, as the speaker stands alone at midnight, yearning for her beloved.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the speaker's surroundings and her emotional state. The second stanza introduces the object of her desire, and the third stanza brings the poem to a close with a powerful image of the speaker's longing.
The first stanza begins with the line "The room is quiet, thoughts alone," immediately setting a mood of stillness and introspection. The speaker is alone, and her thoughts are the only sound in the room. The second line, "The lamp burns low," suggests that it is late at night, and the third line, "The flickering embers hardly glow," reinforces the sense of darkness and quiet.
The final line of the stanza, "Wind taps the window, sighs forlorn," introduces a sense of melancholy and longing. The wind, personified as a lonely figure, taps at the window and sighs, echoing the speaker's own feelings of sadness and yearning.
In the second stanza, the speaker's thoughts turn to her beloved. She describes him as "The room is filled with memories," suggesting that he is always present in her thoughts, even when he is not physically there. The line "Of other times and other places" reinforces the idea that their love transcends time and space.
The final two lines of the stanza, "The sound of footsteps on the stair, / The sound of a door that opens wide," introduce a sense of anticipation and excitement. The speaker is waiting for her beloved to arrive, and the sound of his footsteps and the opening of the door are a signal of his imminent arrival.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close with a powerful image of the speaker's longing. She describes herself as "A ghostly figure on the floor," suggesting that she is consumed by her desire for her beloved. The line "And only lamps and dreams to guide me," reinforces the sense of darkness and uncertainty, as the speaker is left alone with her thoughts and her dreams.
The final two lines of the poem, "The sound of a kiss upon the door, / And I am all alone once more," are heartbreaking in their simplicity. The speaker's beloved has arrived, but the moment is fleeting, and she is left alone once again. The sound of the kiss upon the door is a reminder of what she longs for, but it is also a reminder of what she cannot have.
Overall, "At Midnight" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of love and longing. The poem's structure, with its three stanzas of four lines each, creates a sense of symmetry and balance, while the repetition of certain phrases and images reinforces the poem's themes of loneliness and desire.
The poem's language is simple and direct, but it is also rich in imagery and emotion. The personification of the wind, the description of the speaker as a "ghostly figure," and the sound of the kiss upon the door all contribute to the poem's haunting and evocative atmosphere.
In conclusion, "At Midnight" is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of love and longing are universal, and its language and imagery are timeless. Whether read alone at midnight or shared with a loved one, this poem is sure to stir the heart and the imagination.
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