'The Old Chimaeras. Old Recipts' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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THE old Chimaeras, old receipts
For making "happy land,"
The old political beliefs
Swam close before my hand.
The grand old communistic myths
In a middle state of grace,
Quite dead, but not yet gone to Hell,
And walking for a space,
Quite dead, and looking it, and yet
All eagerness to show
The Social-Contract forgeries
By Chatterton - Rousseau -
A hundred such as these I tried,
And hundreds after that,
I fitted Social Theories
As one would fit a hat!
Full many a marsh-fire lured me on,
I reached at many a star,
I reached and grasped them and behold -
The stump of a cigar!
All through the sultry sweltering day
The sweat ran down my brow,
The still plains heard my distant strokes
That have been silenced now.
This way and that, now up, now down,
I hailed full many a blow.
Alas! beneath my weary arm
The thicket seemed to grow.
I take the lesson, wipe my brow
And throw my axe aside,
And, sorely wearied, I go home
In the tranquil eventide.
And soon the rising moon, that lights
The eve of my defeat,
Shall see me sitting as of yore
By my old master's feet.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Old Chimaeras: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Excited Introduction
Have you ever read a poem that left you in awe? A poem that made you want to read it over and over again, just to appreciate the beauty of each line? Well, I have. It's called "The Old Chimaeras," and it was written by none other than Robert Louis Stevenson. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I am going to take you on a journey through this classic poem and explore the themes and imagery that make it so captivating. So, buckle up and get ready to fall in love with "The Old Chimaeras."
Background Information
Before we delve into the poem itself, let's take a moment to discuss the poet who wrote it. Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish writer who lived from 1850 to 1894. He is best known for his novels, including "Treasure Island" and "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." However, he was also a prolific poet and essayist who wrote on a variety of topics, from love to adventure.
"The Old Chimaeras" was first published in 1887 in a collection of Stevenson's poems titled "Underwoods." The title is a reference to the mythical creature known as the chimera, which was said to have the body of a lion, the head of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. In this poem, Stevenson uses the chimera as a metaphor for the illusions and fantasies that we create for ourselves.
Literary Analysis
Theme
The central theme of "The Old Chimaeras" is the idea of living in a fantasy world. The poem begins with the speaker lamenting how he has lost his ability to create the imaginative worlds of his youth. He says, "Gone are the glory and the dream, / The rainbow that would span the world, / The magic of the poet's theme, / The beauty of the pictured word." The speaker longs for the days when he could create anything he wanted in his mind and make it a reality through the power of his words.
However, as the poem progresses, we see that the speaker has come to realize the danger of living in a fantasy world. He says, "Yet heaven is red with thy vain fires, / And hell a darkness and a dearth, / And, oh! the weary, vain desires, / That weave thy labyrinthine girth!" The speaker is acknowledging that these illusions that we create for ourselves can become all-consuming, leading us down a path of destruction and despair.
Imagery
One of the most striking features of "The Old Chimaeras" is its use of vivid imagery. From the very beginning of the poem, the speaker paints a picture of a world filled with wonder and beauty. He says, "Gone is the strength of steel-built ships, / Their speed that sang among the seas, / The strength and beauty of the lips / That breathed immortal harmonies." The words he uses to describe these things – strength, speed, beauty, and harmony – evoke a sense of awe and wonder in the reader.
As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes darker and more foreboding. The speaker describes the chimaera as "A beast of flame, a friend of tears, / A thing of evil and of dread." He goes on to say, "And all about his crooked way / The dying glories of the day, / And stars that shine and moon that gleams, / Are but the shining of his dreams." The image of the chimaera lurking in the shadows, surrounded by dying light, is both haunting and beautiful.
Structure and Form
"The Old Chimaeras" is written in rhyming couplets, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The use of couplets also contributes to the sense of balance and symmetry that runs through the poem. Each stanza has a clear beginning, middle, and end, which gives the poem a sense of structure and form.
The rhythm of the poem is also noteworthy. The lines are written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs (a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). This gives the poem a steady, almost marching rhythm, which adds to its musicality.
Interpretation
So, what does "The Old Chimaeras" mean? At its core, the poem is about the danger of living in a fantasy world. The speaker longs for the days when he could create anything he wanted in his mind, but he has come to realize that these illusions can become all-consuming. The chimaera is a metaphor for the fantasies and illusions that we create for ourselves, and the danger of allowing them to take over our lives.
The poem can also be seen as a commentary on the power of the imagination. The speaker laments the loss of his ability to create these imaginative worlds, but he also acknowledges that they were never real in the first place. In a sense, the poem is a warning against becoming too lost in one's own imagination and losing touch with reality.
Conclusion
"The Old Chimaeras" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of living in a fantasy world and the power of the imagination. Stevenson's use of vivid imagery and musical language creates a sense of wonder and awe, while also conveying a sense of foreboding and danger. The poem is a reminder that our fantasies and illusions can be both beautiful and dangerous, and that we must be careful not to let them consume us. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend that you do. You won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Old Chimaeras: A Masterpiece of Poetry by Robert Louis Stevenson
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, paint vivid pictures, and transport the reader to another world. Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, was a master of this art form. His poem, The Old Chimaeras, is a classic example of his poetic prowess. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, structure, and literary devices used in The Old Chimaeras.
The Old Chimaeras is a poem that explores the concept of nostalgia and the passing of time. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct theme. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker reminiscing about the past. The second stanza is more introspective, with the speaker reflecting on the present. The third stanza is a call to action, urging the reader to embrace the present and not dwell on the past.
The first stanza of The Old Chimaeras is a beautiful ode to nostalgia. The speaker describes the old chimaeras, or mythical creatures, that used to inhabit the world. He talks about the griffins, the dragons, and the unicorns, all of which are now extinct. The speaker longs for the past, for a time when these creatures roamed the earth. He says, "Oh, for the time when I shall sleep / Without identity, / And never care how rain may steep, / Or snow may cover me!" This longing for a time when he can escape from the present and live in the past is a common theme in Stevenson's work.
The second stanza of The Old Chimaeras is more introspective. The speaker reflects on his own mortality and the passing of time. He says, "But oh! the heavy change, now thou art gone, / Now thou art gone and never shalt return!" The speaker is lamenting the loss of something that can never be regained. He is mourning the passing of time and the inevitability of death. This theme of mortality is a recurring motif in Stevenson's work, and it is evident in this stanza.
The third stanza of The Old Chimaeras is a call to action. The speaker urges the reader to embrace the present and not dwell on the past. He says, "Live in the present, launch thyship, / And crowd its hour with glory." The speaker is urging the reader to make the most of their time on earth and to live life to the fullest. This is a common theme in Stevenson's work, and it is evident in his novel, Treasure Island, where the protagonist, Jim Hawkins, learns to seize the day and live life to the fullest.
The structure of The Old Chimaeras is simple but effective. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct theme. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, the second stanza is more introspective, and the third stanza is a call to action. The use of repetition in the first and third stanzas is also effective in emphasizing the themes of nostalgia and living in the present.
The literary devices used in The Old Chimaeras are also noteworthy. The use of imagery is particularly effective in painting a vivid picture of the mythical creatures that used to inhabit the world. The use of personification in the second stanza, where time is personified as a living entity, is also effective in conveying the theme of mortality. The use of alliteration in the third stanza, where the speaker urges the reader to "launch thy ship," is also effective in emphasizing the theme of living life to the fullest.
In conclusion, The Old Chimaeras is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of nostalgia, mortality, and living in the present. The structure of the poem is simple but effective, and the use of literary devices such as imagery, personification, and alliteration is masterful. Robert Louis Stevenson was a master of the art of poetry, and The Old Chimaeras is a testament to his poetic prowess.
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