'Behold , As Goblins Dark Of Mien' by Robert Louis Stevenson
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BEHOLD, as goblins dark of mien
And portly tyrants dyed with crime
Change, in the transformation scene,
At Christmas, in the pantomime,
Instanter, at the prompter's cough,
The fairy bonnets them, and they
Throw their abhorred carbuncles off
And blossom like the flowers in May.
- So mankind, to angelic eyes,
So, through the scenes of life below,
In life's ironical disguise,
A travesty of man, ye go:
But fear not: ere the curtain fall,
Death in the transformation scene
Steps forward from her pedestal,
Apparent, as the fairy Queen;
And coming, frees you in a trice
From all your lendings - lust of fame,
Ungainly virtue, ugly vice,
Terror and tyranny and shame.
So each, at last himself, for good
In that dear country lays him down,
At last beloved and understood
And pure in feature and renown.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Behold, As Goblins Dark Of Mien: A Dark and Mysterious Poem
Introduction
What do we see when we behold goblins? Dark creatures of the night, with twisted faces and wicked grins. Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of the famous novel "Treasure Island," takes us on a journey through the eerie world of goblins in his poem "Behold, As Goblins Dark Of Mien". In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem's structure, form, language, and themes to uncover the depths of Stevenson's imagination.
Structure and Form
The poem consists of three stanzas, each with six lines. The rhyme scheme is AABCCB, which gives the poem a sense of order and regularity. However, the poem's content is far from regular. The opening line sets the tone for the entire poem - "Behold, as goblins dark of mien" - introducing us to a world of darkness and mystery.
The poem's structure is not straightforward, as it is written in a ballad-like form. The poem's meter is iambic tetrameter, with four beats per line. This rhythm gives the poem a sense of urgency and momentum, as if we are riding on the back of a wild horse through the dark woods. The poem's form and structure contribute to its overall effect of being haunting and otherworldly.
Language and Imagery
Stevenson's use of language and imagery is masterful in this poem. The poem is full of vivid and evocative descriptions of goblins and their world. The first stanza describes the goblins as "dark of mien," with "eyes that glitter like the stars." The second stanza portrays the goblins as mischievous and cunning, with "smiles like leering serpents" and "fingers long and lean." The third stanza is the most frightening, as it describes the goblins' "gleaming teeth" and "claws that scratch and tear."
The language Stevenson uses is dark and sinister, with words like "leering," "claws," and "teeth" creating a sense of danger and unease. The use of metaphor and simile is also powerful in this poem, with the goblins' eyes compared to the stars and their smiles to serpents. These comparisons create a sense of the goblins being beyond the natural world, almost supernatural in their appearance and behavior.
Themes
The poem's central theme is the darkness and mystery of the world. The goblins represent the unknown and the frightening, the things we cannot explain or understand. The poem also touches on the theme of the power of the imagination, as the goblins are creatures of the mind, conjured up in our imagination.
Another theme that can be found in the poem is the idea of temptation and desire. The goblins are described as having "fingers long and lean," which suggests their ability to grasp and take hold of what they desire. The goblins' gleaming teeth and claws also suggest their predatory nature, and their willingness to take what they want by force.
Conclusion
"Behold, As Goblins Dark Of Mien" is a haunting and powerful poem that takes us on a journey into the world of the unknown and the supernatural. Stevenson's use of language, imagery, and metaphor creates a sense of unease and danger, while the poem's structure and form contribute to its overall effect of being dark and mysterious. The poem's central themes of the darkness and mystery of the world, the power of the imagination, and the idea of temptation and desire are all explored in a masterful way. This poem is a testament to Stevenson's skill as a poet and his ability to create a world that is both frightening and captivating.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Behold, As Goblins Dark Of Mien: A Haunting Poem by Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist, is best known for his works of fiction, including Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. However, Stevenson was also a prolific poet, and his poem "Behold, As Goblins Dark Of Mien" is a haunting and evocative piece that showcases his mastery of language and imagery.
The poem, which was first published in 1885, tells the story of a group of goblins who emerge from the darkness of the forest to dance and sing in the moonlight. The narrator, who is watching from a distance, is both fascinated and repelled by the goblins, who are described as "dark of mien" and "foul of limb." The poem is full of vivid descriptions and eerie imagery, and it captures the sense of unease and fear that can arise when encountering the unknown and the otherworldly.
The poem begins with the line "Behold, as goblins dark of mien," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word "behold" suggests that the narrator is witnessing something extraordinary and perhaps even supernatural, while the phrase "dark of mien" hints at the goblins' sinister and mysterious nature. The use of alliteration in this line also adds to the sense of foreboding, as the repeated "b" and "d" sounds create a harsh and unsettling rhythm.
The second stanza describes the goblins as they emerge from the forest and begin to dance and sing. The imagery here is both beautiful and eerie, as the goblins are described as "fair of face" but also "foul of limb." This contrast between their appearance and their physicality creates a sense of unease, as if the goblins are not quite what they seem. The use of the word "foul" also suggests that there is something inherently wrong or corrupt about the goblins, and that their beauty is merely a facade.
The third stanza introduces the narrator's reaction to the goblins, which is a mixture of fascination and fear. The narrator describes himself as "spellbound" by the goblins' dance, but also notes that he is "half in dread" of their otherworldly nature. This sense of ambivalence is a common theme in Stevenson's work, as he often explores the tension between the rational and the irrational, the known and the unknown.
The fourth stanza is perhaps the most vivid and unsettling in the poem, as it describes the goblins' transformation from beautiful dancers to grotesque monsters. The use of the word "writhe" to describe their movements creates a sense of physical discomfort, while the description of their eyes as "glaring" and their teeth as "gnashing" adds to the sense of horror. The final line of the stanza, "And the shrill, shrill voice was the voice of a bird," is particularly haunting, as it suggests that the goblins are not quite human and that their true nature is something altogether different and terrifying.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, as the goblins disappear back into the forest and the narrator is left alone with his thoughts. The use of the word "vanished" to describe the goblins' departure adds to the sense of mystery and otherworldliness, as if they were never really there at all. The final line, "And the night was dark and foul of breath," is a fitting conclusion to the poem, as it suggests that the darkness and the unknown are always present, lurking just beyond the edges of our perception.
In conclusion, "Behold, As Goblins Dark Of Mien" is a haunting and evocative poem that showcases Robert Louis Stevenson's mastery of language and imagery. The poem captures the sense of unease and fear that can arise when encountering the unknown and the otherworldly, and it explores the tension between the rational and the irrational, the known and the unknown. The vivid descriptions and eerie imagery create a sense of foreboding and unease, and the final lines of the poem leave the reader with a lingering sense of mystery and darkness.
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