'To Night' by Percy Bysshe Shelley
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Swiftly walk o'er the western wave,
Spirit of Night!
Out of the misty eastern cave,
Where, all the long and lone daylight,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear,
Which make thee terrible and dear--
Swift be thy flight!
Wrap thy form in a mantle gray,
Star-inwrought!
Blind with thine hair the eyes of day;
Kiss her until she be wearied out,
Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land,
Touching all with thine opiate wand--
Come, long-sought!
When I arose and saw the dawn,
I sighed for thee;
When light rode high, and the dew was gone,
And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,
And the weary day turned to his rest,
Lingering like an unloved guest,
I sighed for thee.
Thy brother Death came, and cried,
Wouldst thou me?
Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,
Murmured like a noontide bee,
Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me?--And I replied,
No, not thee!
Death will come when thou art dead,
Soon, too soon--
Sleep will come when thou art fled;
Of neither would I ask the boon
I ask of thee, beloved Night--
Swift be thine approaching flight,
Come soon, soon!
Editor 1 Interpretation
"To Night" by Percy Bysshe Shelley: An Analysis of Love and Death
"To Night" by Percy Bysshe Shelley is a classic poem that explores the themes of love and death. Shelley was a romantic poet who often wrote about the beauty of nature and the power of human emotions. In "To Night," he uses the image of the night sky to convey a sense of longing and melancholy that is both haunting and beautiful.
The Poem
Before delving into the analysis of the poem, let us first take a look at the text itself:
I Swiftly walk o’er the western wave, Spirit of Night! Out of the misty eastern cave, Where, all the long and lone daylight, Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear, Which make thee terrible and dear,— Swift be thy flight!
II Wrap thy form in a mantle gray, Star-inwrought! Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day; Kiss her until she be wearied out, Then wander o’er city and sea and land, Touching all with thine opiate wand— Come, long-sought!
III When I arose and saw the dawn, I sighed for thee; When light rode high, and the dew was gone, And noon lay heavy on flower and tree, And the weary Day turned to his rest, Lingering like an unloved guest, I sighed for thee.
IV Thy brother, Death, came, and cried, Wouldst thou me? Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, Murmured like a noontide bee, Shall I nestle near thy side? Wouldst thou me?—And I replied, No, not thee!
V Death will come when thou art dead, Soon, too soon— Sleep will come when thou art fled; Of neither would I ask the boon I ask of thee, beloved Night— Swift be thine approaching flight, Come soon, soon!
Analysis
The poem is divided into five stanzas, each with a distinct theme and mood. The first stanza sets the scene and invokes the "Spirit of Night," who is described as weaving dreams of joy and fear. The second stanza invokes Night to come and "wrap thy form in a mantle gray" and to "wander o'er city and sea and land." The third stanza expresses the speaker's longing for Night, as he sighs for her during the day. The fourth stanza introduces the themes of death and sleep, as Death and Sleep are personified and asked if they would come to the speaker. The fifth and final stanza expresses the speaker's desire for Night to come soon.
The Spirit of Night
The Spirit of Night is a central figure in the poem, and it is through her that Shelley explores the themes of love and death. Night is described as weaving dreams of joy and fear, which make her both "terrible and dear." This duality is central to the poem, as it reflects the complex emotions that the speaker feels towards Night, and towards love and death more broadly.
Longing for Night
The third stanza expresses the speaker's longing for Night, as he sighs for her during the day. This longing is central to the poem, as it reflects the speaker's desire for an escape from the harsh realities of life. The day is described as "weary" and the speaker refers to it as an "unloved guest." This suggests that the speaker is unhappy with his life and is looking for something more meaningful.
Death and Sleep
The fourth stanza introduces the themes of death and sleep, which are often associated with Night. Death and Sleep are personified and asked if they would come to the speaker. The speaker rejects Death, but seems to be more open to the idea of Sleep. This suggests that the speaker is not necessarily afraid of death, but rather is afraid of the pain and suffering that often accompanies it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "To Night" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of love and death. The image of Night is used to convey a sense of longing and melancholy that is both universal and timeless. Shelley's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to his skill as a poet.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry To Night: A Masterpiece of Romanticism
Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the most prominent figures of the Romantic era, was a poet who believed in the power of imagination and the beauty of nature. His works were characterized by their emotional intensity, their revolutionary ideas, and their lyrical style. Among his many poems, "Poetry To Night" stands out as a masterpiece of Romanticism, a hymn to the creative spirit that animates the universe and the human soul.
In this essay, I will analyze and explain the main themes, symbols, and stylistic features of "Poetry To Night," and show how they reflect Shelley's vision of the world and his poetic philosophy.
The poem begins with an invocation to Night, the goddess of darkness and mystery, who is addressed as a "queen" and a "mother." Night is not only a physical phenomenon, but also a symbol of the unconscious, the irrational, and the poetic imagination. Shelley sees Night as a source of inspiration and a muse for the poet, who can tap into her secrets and create beauty out of chaos.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Shelley describes the "solemn beauty" of Night and her "star-inwoven" robe. The imagery is rich and evocative, as the poet uses metaphors and personification to create a sense of wonder and awe. The stars are not just celestial bodies, but also symbols of the divine spark that animates all things. The "eternal beams" of the stars suggest the idea of immortality and transcendence, as if the poet's words could reach beyond the limits of time and space.
In the second stanza, Shelley addresses Night as a "lover" and a "friend," emphasizing the intimate relationship between the poet and his muse. He asks Night to "unfold" her "purple wings" and "o'er the world's dim verge" to "scatter" her "magic dew." The language is sensual and mystical, as if the poet were invoking a spell or a ritual. The "purple wings" suggest the idea of royalty and power, while the "magic dew" evokes the idea of transformation and regeneration.
The third stanza introduces the main theme of the poem, as Shelley declares that "Poetry is the breath and finer spirit of all knowledge." This is a bold statement, as it implies that poetry is not just a form of entertainment or decoration, but a fundamental aspect of human consciousness and culture. Shelley sees poetry as a way of accessing the hidden depths of reality, of revealing the mysteries of existence, and of expressing the highest ideals of humanity. He believes that poetry is not just a product of the imagination, but a force that shapes reality and transforms the world.
The fourth stanza develops this idea further, as Shelley describes the power of poetry to "create anew the universe." He uses the metaphor of the "golden chain" to suggest the idea of a cosmic harmony, a unity that connects all things. The "golden chain" is also a symbol of the poetic imagination, which can link together disparate elements and create new meanings. Shelley sees poetry as a way of transcending the limitations of the material world, of reaching towards a higher realm of beauty and truth.
The fifth stanza returns to the image of Night, as Shelley asks her to "teach" him "thy song." He wants to learn from Night's wisdom and experience, to absorb her secrets and make them his own. The language is humble and reverential, as if the poet were acknowledging the superiority of his muse. Shelley sees the poet as a student of nature, a seeker of truth, and a servant of the creative spirit.
The sixth and final stanza brings the poem to a close, as Shelley declares that "Poetry is not like reasoning, a power to be exerted according to the determination of the will." He rejects the idea that poetry is a mere intellectual exercise, a form of logic or argumentation. Instead, he sees poetry as a spontaneous outpouring of the soul, a natural expression of the poet's innermost feelings and thoughts. The language is passionate and emotional, as if the poet were defending the integrity of his art. Shelley believes that poetry is not just a craft, but a calling, a vocation, a way of life.
In conclusion, "Poetry To Night" is a masterpiece of Romanticism, a hymn to the creative spirit that animates the universe and the human soul. Shelley's vision of the world is one of beauty, mystery, and transcendence, where poetry is not just a form of entertainment or decoration, but a fundamental aspect of human consciousness and culture. The poem is rich in imagery, symbolism, and metaphor, as if the poet were trying to capture the ineffable essence of reality. Shelley's poetic philosophy is one of imagination, inspiration, and intuition, where the poet is a visionary, a prophet, and a magician. "Poetry To Night" is a testament to the power of poetry to transform the world and the human heart.
Editor Recommended Sites
Prompt Engineering Jobs Board: Jobs for prompt engineers or engineers with a specialty in large language model LLMsFanic: A fanfic writing page for the latest anime and stories
Tech Debt: Learn about technical debt and best practice to avoid it
Knowledge Graph: Reasoning graph databases for large taxonomy and ontology models, LLM graph database interfaces
ML Cert: Machine learning certification preparation, advice, tutorials, guides, faq
Recommended Similar Analysis
We play at paste, by Emily Dickinson analysisLove After Love by Derek Walcott analysis
June Night by Sarah Teasdale analysis
Constantly Risking Absurdity by Lawrence Ferlinghetti analysis
A Fever by John Donne analysis
Fancy by John Keats analysis
Aboard At A Ship's Helm by Walt Whitman analysis
Saturday At The Canal by Gary Soto analysis
The Coming Of Arthur by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
Fire-Caught by Langston Hughes analysis