'The Grave Of Shelley' by Oscar Wilde
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LIKE burnt-out torches by a sick man's bed
Gaunt cypress-trees stand round the sun-bleached stone;
Here doth the little night-owl make her throne,
And the slight lizard show his jewelled head.
And, where the chaliced poppies flame to red,
In the still chamber of yon pyramid
Surely some Old-World Sphinx lurks darkly hid,
Grim warder of this pleasaunce of the dead.
Ah! sweet indeed to rest within the womb
Of Earth, great mother of eternal sleep,10
But sweeter far for thee a restless tomb
In the blue cavern of an echoing deep,
Or where the tall ships founder in the gloom
Against the rocks of some wave-shattered steep.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Grave of Shelley: An Exploration of Oscar Wilde's Interpretation of the Poet's Legacy
As a writer, Oscar Wilde was known for his wit and cleverness, his plays and stories often tinged with a biting sense of humor that sometimes bordered on cynicism. Yet, in his poem "The Grave of Shelley," Wilde reveals a more serious and contemplative side of himself, paying tribute to one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era.
But what makes Wilde's interpretation of Shelley's legacy so compelling? What does he bring to the table that other literary critics have overlooked? In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore these questions and more, delving into the depths of Wilde's poetic tribute and the themes and ideas that underlie it.
The Poem: A Brief Overview
Before we dive into our analysis, let's take a moment to examine the poem itself. "The Grave of Shelley" was first published in Wilde's collection of poetry, "Poems," in 1881. It is a sonnet, following the traditional 14-line form, and is written in iambic pentameter. Here is the poem in full:
"Mercy and Truth met together. Righteousness and Peace kissed each other. — PSALM LXXXV. 10.
ITALY, 1873.
The Shelley monument at University College, Oxford.
(First published in "Poems," 1881).
Nay, Oscar, 'tis not strangeness that affrights us, Not the thin ghosts who glide along the dim Moon-haunted avenues, and cannot slim Their gilded wings from the swift air that smites us.
'Tis not the midnight cry of death that frights us, 'Tis not the ghostly wind that moans adown The grey corridors, while the dim lamps crown The silent air with misty incantations.
Nay, wildered by the pulsing of the air, The music of the motion, and the swift Passion of things that pass, we seek the fair Divine far-off, the hidden soul that sift The gross world's dust, yet fills the sifted clay, Saying, "The world was made for this, to pray
The Shelley Monument and the Theme of Immortality
At the heart of "The Grave of Shelley" is the theme of immortality, a concept that was central to Shelley's own poetry. Wilde begins the poem with a reference to Psalm 85:10, which speaks of "Mercy and Truth" meeting together and "Righteousness and Peace" kissing each other. This biblical allusion sets the tone for the rest of the poem, suggesting that Shelley's legacy is one of justice and compassion.
The poem then shifts its focus to the Shelley monument at University College, Oxford, which was unveiled in 1892. The monument depicts Shelley's drowned body being lifted from the waves by two figures, representing the spirits of the sea. This image of Shelley being rescued from the depths of the ocean is symbolic of his own journey towards immortality, as his poetry continues to inspire and move readers long after his death.
Wilde's use of the Shelley monument as a symbol of immortality is particularly poignant, given that he himself would die only a few years after its unveiling. By paying tribute to Shelley's legacy in this way, he is also grappling with his own mortality and perhaps even looking to the poet as a source of comfort and inspiration in the face of death.
The Role of Nature in Shelley's Legacy
Another important theme in "The Grave of Shelley" is the role of nature in Shelley's poetry. Throughout his work, Shelley celebrated the beauty and power of the natural world, often using it as a metaphor for political, social, and spiritual transformation. Wilde picks up on this theme in his poem, describing the "music of the motion" and the "passion of things that pass" as the source of our desire to seek out the divine.
This connection between nature and divinity is central to Shelley's own philosophy, which held that the natural world was a reflection of the divine and that beauty was a powerful force for social and political change. Wilde's use of nature in "The Grave of Shelley" thus serves as a tribute to Shelley's own legacy, as well as an acknowledgement of his profound influence on the Romantic movement as a whole.
The Legacy of Shelley's Poetry
Finally, "The Grave of Shelley" is an exploration of the lasting impact of Shelley's poetry on the world. Wilde celebrates him as a poet whose work continues to inspire and challenge readers, even long after his death. He describes Shelley as a figure who "fills the sifted clay" of the world with his ideas and ideals, inspiring us to seek out the divine and to fight for justice and equality.
In this way, Wilde's poem is not just a tribute to Shelley himself, but a call to action for readers to continue to engage with his work and to carry on his legacy. By engaging with his poetry, we can keep his ideas and ideals alive, and perhaps even make the world a better place in the process.
Conclusion: The Significance of "The Grave of Shelley"
In conclusion, "The Grave of Shelley" is a powerful and poignant tribute to one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era. Wilde's interpretation of Shelley's legacy is both insightful and deeply personal, revealing a side of himself that is often overshadowed by his more flamboyant persona. By exploring themes of immortality, nature, and legacy, Wilde highlights the lasting impact that Shelley's poetry has had on the world, and encourages readers to continue to engage with his work and to carry on his legacy for generations to come.
As we reflect on Wilde's poem and the themes it explores, we are reminded of the power of poetry to move and inspire us, even in the face of death and hardship. Shelley's legacy, as Wilde reminds us, is one that continues to shape and challenge us, and it is up to us to keep his flame alive for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Grave of Shelley: An Ode by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish poet, playwright, and novelist, was known for his wit, humor, and flamboyant personality. However, he was also a serious poet who wrote some of the most beautiful and haunting verses of his time. One such poem is "The Grave of Shelley: An Ode," which was written in 1889, almost forty-six years after the death of Percy Bysshe Shelley, the great English Romantic poet. In this poem, Wilde pays tribute to Shelley, who he considered to be one of the greatest poets of all time.
The poem begins with a description of the grave of Shelley, which is located in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome. Wilde describes the cemetery as a place of "silence and slow decay," where the "ivy-mantled tower" and the "broken arches" stand as a testament to the passage of time. The grave of Shelley, however, is a "shrine" that stands out from the rest of the cemetery. It is "adorned with all the gifts of the wise and the great," and is a place of pilgrimage for poets and lovers of poetry.
Wilde then goes on to describe the life and work of Shelley, who he calls the "poet of poets." He describes Shelley as a "soul of fire," who was "born to sing" and whose "lyre was tuned to love." He talks about Shelley's revolutionary ideas and his belief in the power of poetry to change the world. Wilde also mentions Shelley's tragic death, which occurred when he drowned in the Gulf of Spezia at the age of thirty.
The poem then takes a more personal turn, as Wilde talks about his own relationship with Shelley. He describes how he first discovered Shelley's poetry when he was a young man, and how it had a profound impact on him. He talks about how he was inspired by Shelley's "passionate song," and how it gave him the courage to pursue his own dreams. Wilde also talks about how he feels a deep connection to Shelley, and how he believes that they are kindred spirits.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Wilde describes how he feels when he stands at the grave of Shelley, and how he is filled with a sense of awe and reverence. He talks about how he feels as though he is in the presence of a great spirit, and how he is humbled by the knowledge that he is standing on "holy ground." He ends the poem with a call to all poets and lovers of poetry to come and pay their respects to Shelley, and to be inspired by his life and work.
Overall, "The Grave of Shelley: An Ode" is a beautiful and moving tribute to one of the greatest poets of all time. Wilde's use of language is masterful, and his descriptions of the cemetery and Shelley's life and work are both vivid and evocative. The poem is also deeply personal, as Wilde shares his own feelings and experiences with the reader. Ultimately, the poem is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire, to move, and to connect us to the great spirits of the past.
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