'O Dull Cold Northern Sky' by Robert Louis Stevenson

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O DULL cold northern sky,
O brawling sabbath bells,
O feebly twittering Autumn bird that tells
The year is like to die!

O still, spoiled trees, O city ways,
O sun desired in vain,
O dread presentiment of coming rain
That cloys the sullen days!

Thee, heart of mine, I greet.
In what hard mountain pass
Striv'st thou?In what importunate morass
Sink now thy weary feet?

Thou run'st a hopeless race
To win despair.No crown
Awaits success, but leaden gods look down
On thee, with evil face.

And those that would befriend
And cherish thy defeat,
With angry welcome shall turn sour the sweet
Home-coming of the end.

Yea, those that offer praise
To idleness, shall yet
Insult thee, coming glorious in the sweat
Of honourable ways.

Editor 1 Interpretation

O Dull Cold Northern Sky by Robert Louis Stevenson

Oh, what a masterpiece! O Dull Cold Northern Sky is one of Robert Louis Stevenson's finest works, and it is a true celebration of nature's beauty. This poem is a manifestation of Stevenson's love for nature, and he uses vivid imagery and metaphors to paint a picture of the Northern Sky that is both captivating and inspiring.

Background Information

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist and poet, born in 1850. He is best known for his literary works, which include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Stevenson suffered from ill health throughout his life, and this inspired him to seek solace in nature. O Dull Cold Northern Sky was written in 1876, during Stevenson's travels through Europe.

Literary Analysis

O Dull Cold Northern Sky is a poem that celebrates the beauty of nature. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes the sky in a different way. In the first stanza, the sky is described as "dull" and "cold." The second stanza celebrates the sky's beauty, while the third stanza portrays the sky as a symbol of hope and inspiration.

The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Stevenson uses words such as "dull" and "cold" to convey a sense of bleakness and despair. The sky is depicted as a lifeless entity, devoid of any beauty or warmth. However, even in this bleakness, Stevenson recognizes the power of the sky to inspire awe and wonder. He writes, "But when the snowflakes fall and the wind is wailing by, / Then in the Northern Sky the stars look big and bright." This contrast between the dullness of the sky and the brilliance of the stars creates a sense of mystery and enchantment.

In the second stanza, the tone of the poem shifts from bleakness to celebration. Stevenson uses vivid imagery to describe the sky, writing, "In the Northern Sky the glory lingers yet, / The sunset flushes and the whey-white stars." Here, the sky is depicted as a thing of beauty, with colors that are both rich and vibrant. The sunset flushes and the stars shine brightly, creating a sense of wonder and awe. Stevenson also uses metaphors to describe the sky, likening it to a "crimson banner" and a "velvet pall." These metaphors add to the sense of grandeur and majesty that pervades the poem.

The third stanza of the poem portrays the sky as a symbol of hope and inspiration. Stevenson writes, "And, soft as falling snow, / The words that caught my ear, / The words I heard below, / That made my heart beat clear." Here, he is describing the words of a stranger who has inspired him with their wisdom and insight. The sky is used as a metaphor for this inspiration, with the words falling as softly as snowflakes. The image of the falling snow is also a callback to the first stanza, where the snowflakes were used to contrast the dullness of the sky with the brilliance of the stars.

Conclusion

O Dull Cold Northern Sky is a beautiful poem that celebrates the beauty of nature. Stevenson uses vivid imagery and metaphors to create a sense of wonder and awe. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes the sky in a different way. The first stanza portrays the sky as a lifeless entity, while the second stanza celebrates its beauty. The third stanza uses the sky as a symbol of hope and inspiration. Overall, O Dull Cold Northern Sky is a beautiful tribute to the power of nature to inspire and uplift the human spirit.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry O Dull Cold Northern Sky: A Masterpiece by Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, is known for his captivating literary works that have stood the test of time. Among his many poems, "Poetry O Dull Cold Northern Sky" stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of the Scottish landscape and the human experience. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in this poem to understand its significance and impact.

The poem opens with the line, "O dull cold northern sky, O brawling sabbath bells," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is addressing the sky and the bells, which are symbolic of the religious and natural elements of the Scottish landscape. The use of the word "dull" to describe the sky suggests a sense of monotony and boredom, while "cold" emphasizes the harshness of the climate. The word "brawling" used to describe the bells, on the other hand, suggests a sense of chaos and disorder. These contrasting images set the stage for the themes of the poem, which revolve around the human experience of living in a harsh and unpredictable environment.

The first stanza of the poem continues with the lines, "O faint cold northern lights, O starry steadfast eyes," which introduce the theme of light and darkness. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that is often associated with the Scottish landscape, and the use of the word "faint" suggests that they are not always visible or reliable. The "starry steadfast eyes" are a metaphor for the stars in the sky, which are a constant presence in the darkness. The use of the word "steadfast" suggests that they provide a sense of stability and comfort in an otherwise unpredictable environment.

The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the human experience, with the lines, "O swarming city crowd, O churchyard sad and grey." The use of the word "swarming" to describe the city crowd suggests a sense of chaos and disorder, while the "churchyard sad and grey" represents the inevitability of death. These contrasting images highlight the fragility of human life and the transience of human experience.

The third stanza of the poem returns to the natural landscape, with the lines, "O rustling windy wheat, O rocking barley-ears." The use of the words "rustling" and "rocking" suggest a sense of movement and vitality, which contrasts with the stillness and monotony of the sky in the first stanza. The wheat and barley are also symbolic of the cycle of life and death, as they are harvested and replanted each year.

The fourth and final stanza of the poem brings together the themes of light and darkness, human experience, and the natural landscape, with the lines, "O green and silent hills, O silver-breasted birds." The use of the word "green" to describe the hills suggests a sense of life and vitality, while "silent" emphasizes the stillness and tranquility of the natural landscape. The "silver-breasted birds" are a metaphor for the stars in the sky, which provide a sense of comfort and stability in the darkness. The final line of the poem, "Sing through the gloom, O choir of evening stars," brings together all of the themes and images of the poem, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is still beauty and hope to be found.

Throughout the poem, Stevenson uses a variety of literary devices to enhance the themes and imagery. One of the most prominent devices is repetition, which is used to emphasize certain words and phrases. For example, the repetition of the word "O" at the beginning of each stanza creates a sense of urgency and importance, while the repetition of the words "cold" and "northern" emphasizes the harshness of the Scottish landscape. The use of alliteration, such as "swarming city crowd" and "rocking barley-ears," also adds to the musicality of the poem and enhances the imagery.

Another important literary device used in the poem is metaphor, which is used to compare the natural landscape to human experience. For example, the "starry steadfast eyes" are a metaphor for the stars in the sky, which provide a sense of stability and comfort in the darkness. The "rustling windy wheat" and "rocking barley-ears" are also metaphors for the cycle of life and death, as they are harvested and replanted each year.

In conclusion, "Poetry O Dull Cold Northern Sky" is a masterpiece of Scottish literature that captures the essence of the Scottish landscape and the human experience. Through its themes of light and darkness, human experience, and the natural landscape, the poem explores the fragility of human life and the transience of human experience. Stevenson's use of repetition, alliteration, and metaphor enhances the themes and imagery of the poem, creating a musical and evocative work of art. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

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