'Death , To The Dead For Evermore' by Robert Louis Stevenson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
DEATH, to the dead for evermore
A King, a God, the last, the best of friends -
Whene'er this mortal journey ends
Death, like a host, comes smiling to the door;
Smiling, he greets us, on that tranquil shore
Where neither piping bird nor peeping dawn
Disturbs the eternal sleep,
But in the stillness far withdrawn
Our dreamless rest for evermore we keep.
For as from open windows forth we peep
Upon the night-time star beset
And with dews for ever wet;
So from this garish life the spirit peers;
And lo! as a sleeping city death outspread,
Where breathe the sleepers evenly; and lo!
After the loud wars, triumphs, trumpets, tears
And clamour of man's passion, Death appears,
And we must rise and go.
Soon are eyes tired with sunshine; soon the ears
Weary of utterance, seeing all is said;
Soon, racked by hopes and fears,
The all-pondering, all-contriving head,
Weary with all things, wearies of the years;
And our sad spirits turn toward the dead;
And the tired child, the body, longs for bed.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Death, To The Dead For Evermore: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Oh wow, where do I even begin with Robert Louis Stevenson's "To The Dead For Evermore"? This classic poem is an absolute masterpiece, and every time I read it, I'm struck by its haunting beauty and depth of emotion. At its core, this poem is about death and how we cope with loss, but it's so much more than that. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I'll explore the themes, imagery, and language of "To The Dead For Evermore" and try to unpack what makes it such a powerful and timeless work of art.
Themes
Let's start with the themes of the poem. As I mentioned, "To The Dead For Evermore" is primarily about death and mourning. The speaker of the poem is addressing the dead, trying to come to terms with their loss and find some solace in the idea that they will live on forever in memory. But there's also a sense of acceptance here, a recognition that death is a natural part of life and that we must all eventually face it. This is reflected in lines like:
And though your dust be whirled about With every gust of crossing air, Then, fragile as your very hair, Some spark of you is left in doubt.
This stanza acknowledges the physical reality of death, that our bodies will eventually turn to dust and be scattered to the winds. But even in this fleeting form, the dead are still somehow present, still part of the world in some intangible way. The idea that we are all connected, that we are all part of the same cycle of life and death, is a recurring theme in Stevenson's work, and it's present here as well.
Another theme that emerges in "To The Dead For Evermore" is the idea of the eternal. The speaker of the poem suggests that, even though our physical bodies may decay and disappear, our memories and our spirits can endure forever. This is reflected in lines like:
And though the soul's too strong for Death, And hath eternal life in store, Yet sometimes in a quiet breath We hate the life that we live more.
Here, the speaker is acknowledging that death is not the end, that there is some part of us that transcends the physical world. But there's also a sense of melancholy here, a recognition that even eternal life can be a burden at times. It's a bittersweet sentiment, one that captures both the hope and the despair that can accompany the idea of immortality.
Imagery
Moving on to the imagery of the poem, one of the most striking things about "To The Dead For Evermore" is its use of nature imagery. This is something that Stevenson does throughout his work, using the natural world as a metaphor for human experience. In this poem, we see images of wind, dust, and flowers, all of which suggest the transience of life and the inevitability of death. But there's also a sense of beauty and renewal in these images, as if even in death there is a kind of rebirth.
One of the most powerful images in the poem is that of the "white narcissus." This flower is traditionally associated with death and mourning, and its presence here reinforces the theme of loss and remembrance. But it's also a beautiful image, one that suggests a kind of purity and innocence. The fact that the flower is "white" reinforces this sense of purity and suggests that even in the face of death, there is something pure and beautiful that endures.
Another image that emerges in the poem is that of the "spark." This is a metaphor for the part of us that endures after death, and it's a powerful one. The idea that, even as our bodies decay, there is some intangible part of us that lives on is both comforting and unsettling. It suggests that our existence is more complex and mysterious than we can ever fully understand, and that even in death there is a kind of magic.
Language
Finally, let's look at the language of the poem. Stevenson is known for his lyrical style, and "To The Dead For Evermore" is no exception. The poem is full of beautiful, evocative language that captures the complexities of grief and loss. One of the things that stands out to me is the way Stevenson uses repetition and variation to create a kind of musicality in the poem. For example, in the second stanza, he repeats the phrase "dead, dead, dead" three times, each time adding a new adjective ("cold," "dumb," and "still"). This repetition creates a kind of rhythm in the poem, as if the speaker is trying to drum the reality of death into their own head.
Another technique that Stevenson employs is the use of paradox. Throughout the poem, he juxtaposes images of beauty and decay, life and death, in a way that is both jarring and poignant. For example, in the third stanza, he writes:
'Tis not alone their pain we prize, Their dignity in grief is great; They teach us how to sympathise With agony that is intricate.
Here, he's suggesting that even in the depths of grief and pain, there is a kind of beauty and dignity that emerges. It's a paradoxical sentiment, one that captures the complexity of human emotion and experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "To The Dead For Evermore" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of death, mourning, and remembrance. Through its use of nature imagery, lyrical language, and paradoxical ideas, it captures the complexity and mystery of the human experience. It's a testament to Stevenson's skill as a poet that this poem still resonates with readers today, more than a century after it was written. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend taking the time to do so. It's a masterpiece that deserves to be savored and appreciated for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Robert Louis Stevenson's poem "To The Dead For Evermore" is a haunting and beautiful tribute to those who have passed away. The poem is a meditation on death and the afterlife, and it explores the idea that death is not the end, but rather a transition to a new state of being.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the dead, saying "They shall not return to us, the resolute, the young, / The eager and whole-hearted whom we gave." The speaker is acknowledging the finality of death, and the fact that those who have passed away will not be coming back to the world of the living. However, the speaker also suggests that the dead are not truly gone, but rather exist in a different form.
The second stanza of the poem explores this idea further, with the speaker saying "They shall not return to us; the strong men coldly slain / In sight of help denied from day to day." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the tragedy of death, particularly when it comes to those who have died in violent or unjust circumstances. However, the speaker also suggests that even in death, these individuals have a kind of power or strength that endures.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker declares "They shall not return to us, the splendid gone / And the great all-irrecoverable." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the loss of those who were truly exceptional, whether in terms of their talent, their intellect, or their character. However, the speaker also suggests that these individuals have left a lasting legacy, and that their greatness will continue to inspire and influence others.
The fourth stanza of the poem takes a slightly different turn, as the speaker addresses the living rather than the dead. The speaker says "And the best gallop of their laughter, / And their romance, lies down with them to sleep." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the fact that even the happiest and most joyful moments in life are fleeting, and that eventually they too will pass away. However, the speaker also suggests that these moments are worth cherishing, and that they can provide comfort and solace in times of grief.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem returns to the theme of death and the afterlife, with the speaker saying "But the dead are in their graves, and the living are here." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the fact that death is a natural part of life, and that we must learn to accept and cope with it. However, the speaker also suggests that the dead are not truly gone, but rather exist in a different form, and that they continue to have an impact on the world around us.
Overall, "To The Dead For Evermore" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of death, loss, and the afterlife. Through its beautiful language and haunting imagery, the poem encourages us to remember and honor those who have passed away, while also reminding us that death is not the end, but rather a transition to a new state of being. Whether we are grieving the loss of a loved one or simply contemplating our own mortality, this poem offers a message of hope and comfort that is both timeless and universal.
Editor Recommended Sites
Decentralized Apps - crypto dapps: Decentralized apps running from webassembly powered by blockchainStartup Gallery: The latest industry disrupting startups in their field
GPT Prompt Masterclass: Masterclass on prompt engineering
Data Ops Book: Data operations. Gitops, secops, cloudops, mlops, llmops
Dev Asset Catalog - Enterprise Asset Management & Content Management Systems : Manager all the pdfs, images and documents. Unstructured data catalog & Searchable data management systems
Recommended Similar Analysis
but if a living dance upon dead minds... (LXVIII) by e.e. cummings analysisRequiem by Anna Akhmatova analysis
Nick And The Candlestick by Sylvia Plath analysis
proud of his scientific attitude... (13) by e.e. cummings analysis
Go and Catach a Falling Star by John Donne analysis
The Line-Gang by Robert Frost analysis
Immortality by Matthew Arnold analysis
The Oxen by Thomas Hardy analysis
As I Walked Out One Evening by W.H. Auden analysis
Paradise Lost: Book 01 by John Milton analysis