'Elementalist' by Robert Service
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Could Fate ordain a lot for me
Beyond all human ills,
I think that I would choose to be
A shephard of the hills;
With shaggy cloak and cape where skies
Eternally are blue
How I would stare with quiet eyes
At passing you!
And you would stare at static me,
Beside my patient flock;
And I would watch you silently,
A one with time and rock.
Then foreign farings you would chart,
And fly with fearsome wings,
While I would bide to be a part
Of elemental things.
Yet strangely I would have it so,
Since I am kin to these,--
To heather heath and bloom ablow,
And peaks and piney trees.
As diamond star at evenfall,
And pearly morning mist
Sing in my veins, myself I call
An Elementalist.
So as in city dirt and din
I push a grubby pen,
And toil, my bed and board to win,
I hate the haunts of men.
Beyond brick wall I seem to see
Fern dells and rocky rills . . .
O crazy dream! O God, to be
A shephard of the hills!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Elementalist: A Journey through the Elements
Oh, what a poem! Robert Service, the legendary poet, has done it again. The Elementalist is a masterpiece that captures the beauty and power of the elements. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will take you on a journey through the poem, exploring its themes, symbols, and literary devices.
The Elementalist is a poem about a man who has mastered the elements. He is a wizard, a magician, an alchemist, who can control fire, water, earth, and air. He can make the wind blow, the rain fall, the earth shake, and the fire dance. He is a force of nature, a god-like figure who can create and destroy at will.
The poem begins with the Elementalist standing on a mountain top, gazing at the world below. He is surrounded by clouds, mist, and wind. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, establishing the Elementalist as a powerful figure who commands the elements:
Out of the winds of the northland, From the forests and fenlands, From the mountains, the moors, and the meadows, Came the word our brave fathers had spoken, And the voice of the land's heart that called us, And we heard, and we knew it was Canada, The great lone land of the North.
The opening lines are rich with imagery and symbolism. The "winds of the northland" represent the power and unpredictability of nature. The "forests and fenlands" suggest a wild and untamed landscape. The "mountains, the moors, and the meadows" evoke a sense of vastness and grandeur. The "word our brave fathers had spoken" suggests a sense of tradition and heritage. The "voice of the land's heart that called us" implies a spiritual connection to the land.
The next stanza introduces the Elementalist himself:
He was the master elementalist, Magician, wizard, alchemist, Who knew the secrets of the air, The earth, the water, and the fire, And from them wrought his heart's desire.
Here we see the Elementalist as a figure of power and mystery. The use of words like "master", "magician", and "alchemist" suggest that he has achieved a level of mastery that few others can match. The fact that he "knew the secrets" of the elements implies that he has access to knowledge that is hidden from most mortals. The phrase "and from them wrought his heart's desire" suggests that he is able to use his knowledge to create and shape the world as he sees fit.
The third stanza describes the Elementalist's ability to control the elements:
He had the power of the thunder, The lightning's swift and awful wonder, The rain, the hail, the sleet, the snow, The wind that comes and the wind that goes, The sun, the moon, the stars, the sky, And all the mysteries on high.
Here we see the full extent of the Elementalist's power. He can control not just one element, but all of them. The fact that he has "the power of the thunder" and "the lightning's swift and awful wonder" implies that he can summon and direct the most destructive forces of nature. The mention of "the rain, the hail, the sleet, the snow" suggests that he can manipulate the weather. The reference to "the wind that comes and the wind that goes" implies that he can control the very air itself.
The fourth stanza explores the Elementalist's relationship to the elements:
He loved the wind and the tempest's roar, The lightning flash and the ocean's floor, The mountain peak and the desert's plain, The foreland steep and the wooded main, The sun and moon and the starry host, And all the things that he loved the most.
Here we see the Elementalist as more than just a master of the elements; we see him as a lover of nature. The fact that he "loved the wind and the tempest's roar" suggests that he finds beauty and power in even the most destructive forces of nature. The mention of "the ocean's floor" implies that he has explored the depths of the sea. The reference to "the mountain peak and the desert's plain" suggests that he has traveled far and wide, experiencing the full range of the earth's landscapes.
The fifth stanza introduces a kind of moral dimension to the poem:
He had a heart that was pure and true, And a spirit that nothing could subdue, And he used his power for good alone, To help the weak and to shield the lone, To bind the wounds that were sore and deep, And to give the sad and the lonely sleep.
Here we see that the Elementalist is not just a figure of power and mystery; he is also a figure of compassion and altruism. The fact that he has "a heart that was pure and true" suggests that he is motivated by a sense of goodness and righteousness. The reference to "the weak and the lone" implies that he uses his power to help those who are most vulnerable. The phrase "to bind the wounds that were sore and deep" suggests that he is a kind of healer, using his power to alleviate suffering.
The sixth and final stanza brings the poem to a close:
He stood on the mountain top alone, And gazed on the world that was his own, And the wind blew sweet and the sun shone bright, And the Elementalist knew the right To be master of earth and sea and sky, And to use his power till he came to die.
Here we see the Elementalist as a figure of triumph and conquest. The fact that he stands "on the mountain top alone" implies that he has achieved a level of mastery that is beyond the reach of others. The reference to "the wind [blowing] sweet and the sun [shining] bright" suggests that he has brought harmony and balance to the elements. The phrase "to be master of earth and sea and sky" implies that he has achieved a kind of god-like status. The final line, "and to use his power till he came to die", suggests that he has found a purpose and a meaning that will sustain him until the end of his life.
In conclusion, the Elementalist is a poem of extraordinary power and beauty. It captures the majesty and mystery of the elements, while also exploring themes of power, compassion, and conquest. Robert Service's use of imagery, symbolism, and literary devices is masterful, creating a vivid and compelling portrait of a man who has achieved a level of mastery that few others can match. If you love poetry, if you love nature, if you love the power of words, then the Elementalist is a poem that you simply must read.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Elementalist: A Poem of the Power of Nature
Robert Service’s Elementalist is a classic poem that captures the awe-inspiring power of nature and the elemental forces that shape our world. With vivid imagery and a powerful narrative, Service takes us on a journey through the natural world, exploring the raw power of the elements and the mysterious forces that govern them. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and motifs of Elementalist, examining how Service uses language and imagery to create a vivid and compelling portrait of the natural world.
The poem begins with a description of a stormy night, with the wind howling and the rain lashing against the windows. The speaker, who is unnamed, is sitting by the fire, listening to the storm outside. Suddenly, he hears a knock at the door, and when he opens it, he is confronted by a mysterious figure, who introduces himself as the Elementalist. The Elementalist is a man who has the power to control the elements, and he has come to the speaker’s house to demonstrate his abilities.
The first element that the Elementalist controls is the wind. He stands outside in the storm, and with a wave of his hand, he calms the wind and brings it under his control. The speaker is amazed by this display of power, and he watches in awe as the Elementalist moves on to the next element: water.
The Elementalist takes the speaker to a nearby river, where he demonstrates his ability to control the water. He commands the river to rise and fall at his will, and he creates waves and whirlpools with a flick of his wrist. The speaker is once again amazed by this display of power, and he begins to realize that the Elementalist is not just a man, but a force of nature in his own right.
Next, the Elementalist turns his attention to fire. He takes the speaker to a nearby forest, where he creates a massive bonfire with a snap of his fingers. The fire roars and crackles, and the Elementalist dances around it, controlling its every movement. The speaker is once again amazed by this display of power, and he begins to understand that the Elementalist is not just a man, but a manifestation of the elemental forces that govern our world.
Finally, the Elementalist turns his attention to the earth. He takes the speaker to a nearby mountain, where he causes an earthquake with a stamp of his foot. The ground shakes and trembles, and rocks and boulders tumble down the mountain. The speaker is once again amazed by this display of power, and he begins to realize that the Elementalist is not just a man, but a force of nature in his own right.
Throughout the poem, Service uses vivid imagery and powerful language to create a sense of awe and wonder in the reader. He describes the wind as “a wild thing with a thousand tongues,” and the water as “a serpent with a thousand coils.” He describes the fire as “a dragon with a thousand teeth,” and the earth as “a giant with a thousand hands.” These descriptions create a sense of the elemental forces as living, breathing entities, with their own personalities and desires.
Service also uses repetition and rhyme to create a sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem. The repeated use of the phrase “with a wave of his hand” creates a sense of continuity and fluidity, as if the Elementalist is moving seamlessly from one element to the next. The rhyme scheme, with its use of internal rhyme and slant rhyme, creates a sense of musicality and harmony, as if the poem itself is a manifestation of the elemental forces that it describes.
At its core, Elementalist is a poem about the power of nature and the mysterious forces that govern our world. It is a reminder that we are not the masters of the universe, but merely humble observers of the elemental forces that shape our lives. It is a call to respect and honor the natural world, and to recognize the power and majesty of the elements that surround us.
In conclusion, Robert Service’s Elementalist is a classic poem that captures the awe-inspiring power of nature and the elemental forces that shape our world. With vivid imagery and a powerful narrative, Service takes us on a journey through the natural world, exploring the raw power of the elements and the mysterious forces that govern them. Through his use of language and imagery, Service creates a sense of awe and wonder in the reader, reminding us of the power and majesty of the natural world.
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