'I , Whom Apollo Somtime Visited' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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I, WHOM Apollo sometime visited,
Or feigned to visit, now, my day being done,
Do slumber wholly; nor shall know at all
The weariness of changes; nor perceive
Immeasurable sands of centuries
Drink of the blanching ink, or the loud sound
Of generations beat the music down.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited" by Robert Louis Stevenson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Robert Louis Stevenson's "I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited" is a beautiful and complex poem that speaks to the human condition, the power of art, and the search for inspiration. Written in a lyrical and evocative style, this poem is a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate readers and inspire artists around the world.
Overview
"I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited" is a poem that speaks to the power of inspiration and the transformative power of art. The speaker, who is presumably the poet himself, reflects on a time when he was visited by Apollo, the Greek god of poetry and music. The visitation, which is described in vivid and beautiful language, fills the speaker with a sense of awe and wonder, and he becomes filled with the desire to create. As the poem progresses, the speaker explores the nature of inspiration, and the ways in which it can transform an artist and their work.
Analysis
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's experience of inspiration. In the first stanza, the speaker describes the visitation of Apollo, and the effect it has on him:
"I, whom Apollo sometime visited,
Or feigned to visit, now, my day is done;
I, whom Apollo nevermore shall visit,
My Pythian laurel is in darkness won."
Here, the speaker reflects on the fact that the visitation of Apollo is a thing of the past, and that he is no longer filled with the same sense of inspiration and creativity that he once was. The use of the past tense here is significant, as it highlights the fact that inspiration is a fleeting and ephemeral thing, and that it cannot be summoned at will.
The second stanza is where the poem really comes alive, as the speaker explores the transformative power of inspiration:
"But still, when the spent winds are out of the south,
And dark, and moist, and sweet, still have I given
Fire to this frail shell and luminous mouth,
And out of these abstracted songs derived
A Grecian body."
In these lines, the speaker suggests that despite the fact that his inspiration is no longer as intense as it once was, he is still able to create beautiful and meaningful works of art. The use of the phrase "frail shell" to describe himself is particularly striking, as it suggests that the speaker is aware of his own mortality, and that he recognizes the power of art to transcend the limitations of the physical world.
The third and final stanza is perhaps the most powerful of all, as the speaker reflects on the nature of inspiration itself:
"For what is inspiration but a cry
Of unused powers within us crying out
For more than can be wrought with mortal might,
A breath of heaven that doth pass and die,
A voice of longing for the infinite?"
These lines are perhaps the most beautiful and evocative in the entire poem, as they capture the essence of what it means to be an artist. The speaker suggests that inspiration is not simply a matter of talent or skill, but rather a deep-seated desire to create something that is greater than oneself. The use of the phrase "unused powers within us" is particularly striking, as it suggests that inspiration is not something that can be learned or taught, but rather something that is innate to the human experience.
Interpretation
"I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited" is a poem that speaks to the power of inspiration and the transformative power of art. The speaker suggests that inspiration is not simply a matter of talent or skill, but rather a deep-seated desire to create something that is greater than oneself. The use of the past tense in the opening stanza highlights the fact that inspiration is a fleeting and ephemeral thing, and that it cannot be summoned at will.
The most powerful aspect of the poem, however, is the way in which the speaker explores the transformative power of inspiration. Despite the fact that his inspiration is no longer as intense as it once was, the speaker is still able to create beautiful and meaningful works of art. This suggests that inspiration is not simply a matter of talent or skill, but rather a deep-seated desire to create something that is greater than oneself.
Overall, "I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited" is a beautiful and complex poem that speaks to the human condition, the power of art, and the search for inspiration. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate readers and inspire artists around the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited: A Masterpiece of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, is known for his literary works that explore the human condition and the complexities of life. Among his many masterpieces, Poetry I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited stands out as a remarkable piece of poetry that captures the essence of the creative process and the role of the poet in society.
In this 14-line poem, Stevenson personifies poetry as a living entity that is visited by Apollo, the Greek god of poetry and music. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCCDEEDFGF, which gives it a musical quality that echoes the theme of the poem.
The poem begins with the speaker introducing himself as "Poetry I," and declaring that he has been visited by Apollo, who has bestowed upon him the gift of poetry. The speaker then goes on to describe the experience of being visited by Apollo, using vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the intensity of the encounter.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece, with the speaker declaring that he is "one with the living hosts of air" and that he has been "kissed by Apollo's lips." This imagery suggests that the speaker has been elevated to a higher plane of existence, where he is no longer bound by the limitations of the physical world.
The second stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to describe the experience of being visited by Apollo. He compares the experience to being "rapt into a trance divine," and describes how he was "wrapped in a mantle of purple hue." This imagery suggests that the speaker has been enveloped in a mystical aura, which has transported him to a realm of pure creativity.
The third stanza of the poem is where the speaker begins to describe the creative process itself. He compares the act of writing poetry to "weaving a web of silken strain," and describes how he is "fain to follow where Apollo leads." This imagery suggests that the act of writing poetry is a delicate and intricate process, which requires the poet to be guided by the divine inspiration of Apollo.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem is where the speaker reflects on the role of the poet in society. He declares that he is "the voice of one who, being dead, yet speaks," and that his poetry will live on long after he is gone. This imagery suggests that the poet has a timeless quality, and that his words have the power to transcend the boundaries of time and space.
Overall, Poetry I, Whom Apollo Sometime Visited is a remarkable piece of poetry that captures the essence of the creative process and the role of the poet in society. Through vivid imagery and metaphors, Stevenson conveys the intensity of the encounter between the poet and Apollo, and the delicate and intricate process of writing poetry. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to transcend the boundaries of time and space, and to speak to the human condition in a way that is both timeless and universal.
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