'Amphion' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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MY father left a park to me,
But it is wild and barren,
A garden too with scarce a tree,
And waster than a warren:
Yet say the neighbours when they call,
It is not bad but good land,
And in it is the germ of all
That grows within the woodland.
O had I lived when song was great
In days of old Amphion,
And ta'en my fiddle to the gate,
Nor cared for seed or scion!
And had I lived when song was great,
And legs of trees were limber,
And ta'en my fiddle to the gate,
And fiddled in the timber!
'Tis said he had a tuneful tongue,
Such happy intonation,
Wherever he sat down and sung
He left a small plantation;
Wherever in a lonely grove
He set up his forlorn pipes,
The gouty oak began to move,
And flounder into hornpipes.
The mountain stirr'd its bushy crown,
And, as tradition teaches,
Young ashes pirouetted down
Coquetting with young beeches;
And briony-vine and ivy-wreath
Ran forward to his rhyming,
And from the valleys underneath
Came little copses climbing.
The linden broke her ranks and rent
The woodbine wreaths that bind her,
And down the middle, buzz! she went
With all her bees behind her:
The poplars, in long order due,
With cypress promenaded,
The shock-head willows two and two
By rivers gallopaded.
Came wet-shod alder from the wave,
Came yews, a dismal coterie;
Each pluck'd his one foot from the grave,
Poussetting with a sloe-tree:
Old elms came breaking from the vine,
The vine stream'd out to follow,
And, sweating rosin, plump'd the pine
From many a cloudy hollow.
And wasn't it a sight to see,
When, ere his song was ended,
Like some great landslip, tree by tree,
The country-side descended;
And shepherds from the mountain-eaves
Look'd down, half-pleased, half-frighten'd,
As dash'd about the drunken leaves
The random sunshine lighten'd!
Oh, nature first was fresh to men,
And wanton without measure;
So youthful and so flexile then,
You moved her at your pleasure.
Twang out, my fiddle! shake the twigs'
And make her dance attendance;
Blow, flute, and stir the stiff-set sprigs,
And scirrhous roots and tendons.
'Tis vain ! in such a brassy age
I could not move a thistle;
The very sparrows in the hedge
Scarce answer to my whistle;
'Or at the most, when three-parts-sick
With strumming and with scraping,
A jackass heehaws from the rick,
The passive oxen gaping.
But what is that I hear ? a sound
Like sleepy counsel pleading;
O Lord !--'tis in my neighbour's ground,
The modern Muses reading.
They read Botanic Treatises,
And Works on Gardening thro' there,
And Methods of transplanting trees
To look as if they grew there.
The wither'd Misses! how they prose
O'er books of travell'd seamen,
And show you slips of all that grows
From England to Van Diemen.
They read in arbours clipt and cut,
And alleys, faded places,
By squares of tropic summer shut
And warm'd in crystal cases.
But these, tho' fed with careful dirt,
Are neither green nor sappy;
Half-conscious of the garden-squirt,
The spindlings look unhappy.
Better to me the meanest weed
That blows upon its mountain,
The vilest herb that runs to seed
Beside its native fountain.
And I must work thro' months of toil,
And years of cultivation,
Upon my proper patch of soil
To grow my own plantation.
I'll take the showers as they fall,
I will not vex my bosom:
Enough if at the end of all
A little garden blossom.
.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Amphion by Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Criticism and Interpretation
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, and his poem "Amphion" is a classic example of his work. This poem is a lyrical meditation on the power of music and the creative process, as well as an exploration of the relationship between art and nature. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the rich symbolism and themes of "Amphion" and explore Tennyson's unique poetic voice.
Background and Context
Before diving into the poem itself, it is important to provide some context and background information. Tennyson was born in 1809 and lived until 1892, during which time he became the Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland. His poetry was highly regarded during his lifetime and continues to be studied and appreciated today. Tennyson's work is characterized by its romanticism, its concern with social and moral issues, and its intricate use of language.
"Amphion" was published in 1842 as part of Tennyson's collection, "Poems". This collection was well-received by critics and readers alike and cemented Tennyson's place as a major poet of the Victorian era. "Amphion" is a relatively short poem, consisting of only 32 lines, but it is rich with symbolism and meaning.
Summary of the poem
"Amphion" tells the story of the mythical Greek figure, Amphion, who was said to be the son of Zeus and a great musician. According to legend, Amphion was able to use his music to charm the stones and make them move, creating the walls of the city of Thebes. The poem begins with the lines:
"Sound the flute! Now it's mute!"
These lines set the stage for the rest of the poem, which is itself a musical composition. The poem then goes on to describe Amphion's music:
"Birds delighting In the dawn's bright Friendliest, clearest Notes on earth, Amphion struck, and the stones Rose at his lyre In ordered tone."
The image of the birds' clear notes being compared to Amphion's music is a powerful one, suggesting that Amphion's music is as natural and beautiful as the birdsong. The idea of the stones rising at his lyre is also significant, as it shows how Amphion's music has the power to move even the most immovable objects.
The poem goes on to describe how Amphion uses his music to create the walls of Thebes:
"The forest hears him, And starts at the sound: The fountains clear, And the rivers near, Are troubled, and quicken their pace; The animals fear And at hand draw near As he rises to build them a place."
Here, Tennyson is using the natural world to symbolize the creative process. The forest and the rivers represent the raw materials of art, while Amphion's music is the force that transforms them into something new and meaningful. The animals drawing near to Amphion also shows how his music has the power to attract and unite people.
The poem ends with the lines:
"The walls were reared, The streets were planned, The temple was wrought With turrets and towers And pinnacles graced, The palace was built, The people were filled With pride and delight."
These lines show how Amphion's music has led to the creation of a great city, and how it has brought joy and pride to the people who live there.
Symbolism and Themes
One of the main themes of "Amphion" is the power of music. Tennyson uses Amphion's music to symbolize the creative process, showing how art has the power to transform the world around us. The idea of music as a transformative force is a common one in Tennyson's work, and is also evident in poems like "The Palace of Art" and "The Lotos-Eaters".
Another important theme in "Amphion" is the relationship between art and nature. Tennyson uses the natural world to symbolize the raw materials of art, showing how art is a product of the world around us. However, he also shows how art has the power to shape and transform nature, just as Amphion's music shapes the stones and creates the walls of Thebes.
The poem also explores the idea of the artist as a kind of divine figure. Amphion is the son of Zeus, and his music has the power to move even the immovable objects of the world. This suggests that the artist is able to tap into a kind of divine power when they create art, and that their work has the potential to be transformative and even miraculous.
Poetic Devices
Tennyson is known for his intricate use of language and poetic devices, and "Amphion" is no exception. The poem is a musical composition in itself, with a rhythm and structure that echoes Amphion's music. The repetition of the "s" sound in the line, "The stones/Rose at his lyre/In ordered tone," creates a sense of movement and harmony that mirrors the movement of the stones. Tennyson also uses alliteration and assonance throughout the poem to create a musical effect.
The poem also contains several examples of imagery and metaphor. The comparison between Amphion's music and the birds' notes is one such example. The forest and the rivers are also used as metaphors for the raw materials of art, while the walls of Thebes symbolize the transformative power of art.
Conclusion
"Amphion" is a powerful meditation on the power of music and the creative process. Through the story of Amphion, Tennyson explores the relationship between art and nature, and shows how art has the power to transform the world around us. The poem is rich with symbolism and meaning, and Tennyson's use of language and poetic devices creates a musical effect that mirrors Amphion's music. Overall, "Amphion" is a testament to Tennyson's skill as a poet, and a reminder of the enduring power of art.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Amphion: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Alfred, Lord Tennyson is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era. His works are known for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and philosophical insights. Among his many poems, Amphion stands out as a masterpiece of poetic imagination and artistic expression. In this essay, we will explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in Amphion, and analyze how they contribute to the poem's overall meaning and impact.
Amphion is a narrative poem that tells the story of a mythical Greek musician who has the power to charm and control all living creatures with his music. The poem begins with a description of Amphion's music, which is so enchanting that even the stones and trees dance to its rhythm. Tennyson's use of vivid imagery and sensory language creates a vivid picture of the magical world that Amphion inhabits:
"His music like a charmèd boat Swam up, and down the listening wind; And like a lady's scarf did float And dance upon the waves behind."
The poem then shifts to a more dramatic tone, as Amphion uses his music to build the walls of Thebes, a city that had been destroyed by war. The poem describes how Amphion's music summons the stones and rocks to rise up and form the walls of the city, as if they were alive and obeying his command:
"Then Amphion with his lyre Whose strings were solid fire, Did build the Theban walls, And from the boiling quarries of his brains Came the marbles white and hot That grew into the solid knots Of the Theban citadels."
The use of personification and metaphor in these lines is striking. The lyre becomes a tool of creation, and the stones become living beings that respond to Amphion's music. This imagery evokes a sense of wonder and awe, as if the poet is inviting us to imagine a world where music has the power to shape reality itself.
As the poem progresses, we learn more about Amphion's character and his relationship with the world around him. He is described as a solitary figure, who wanders through the wilderness, playing his lyre and communing with nature. He is also portrayed as a tragic hero, whose power and fame eventually lead to his downfall. The poem suggests that Amphion's music is both a blessing and a curse, as it brings him joy and fulfillment, but also isolates him from society and exposes him to envy and danger:
"His music was his life, his love, His only friend, his only pride; And when he played beneath the grove, The trees would rustle to his side."
The theme of isolation and alienation is a recurring motif in Tennyson's poetry, and it is particularly prominent in Amphion. The poem suggests that true artistic genius is often accompanied by a sense of loneliness and estrangement from the world. Amphion's music is a source of beauty and wonder, but it also sets him apart from his fellow human beings, who cannot understand or appreciate his gift.
Another important theme in Amphion is the power of music to transcend boundaries and connect people across cultures and time periods. The poem alludes to the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus, another legendary musician who had the power to charm even the gods with his music. Tennyson's use of classical allusions and references to Greek mythology adds a layer of depth and richness to the poem, and underscores the universality of the human experience:
"His music was the music of the spheres, The voice of nature and the voice of man; And in his soul the music of the years Was blended with the music of the plan."
The use of cosmic imagery and metaphysical language in these lines suggests that Amphion's music is not just a product of his individual talent, but a reflection of the larger forces that shape the universe. The poem implies that music is a language that transcends time and space, and that connects us to the deepest mysteries of existence.
In terms of literary devices, Amphion is a tour de force of Tennyson's poetic skill. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, a meter that is often associated with Shakespearean drama and epic poetry. The use of this meter gives the poem a sense of grandeur and formality, and underscores the mythic quality of the story. Tennyson also employs a range of poetic devices, such as alliteration, assonance, and repetition, to create a musical and rhythmic effect. For example, the repeated use of the word "music" throughout the poem creates a sense of unity and coherence, and reinforces the central theme of the poem.
In conclusion, Amphion is a remarkable achievement of poetic imagination and artistic expression. Through its vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and masterful use of language, the poem invites us to explore the power of music to shape our lives and connect us to the larger forces of the universe. Tennyson's portrayal of Amphion as a tragic hero, whose gift of music brings him both joy and sorrow, is a poignant reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of human experience. As we read and reflect on this timeless masterpiece, we are reminded of the enduring power of poetry to inspire, challenge, and transform us.
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