'Ode To The Johns Hopkins University' by Sidney Lanier
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How tall among her sisters, and how fair, --
How grave beyond her youth, yet debonair
As dawn, 'mid wrinkled Matres of old lands
Our youngest Alma Mater modest stands!
In four brief cycles round the punctual sun
Has she, old Learning's latest daughter, won
This grace, this stature, and this fruitful fame.
Howbeit she was born
Unnoised as any stealing summer morn.
From far the sages saw, from far they came
And ministered to her,
Led by the soaring-genius'd Sylvester
That, earlier, loosed the knot great Newton tied,
And flung the door of Fame's locked temple wide.
As favorable fairies thronged of old and blessed
The cradled princess with their several best,
So, gifts and dowers meet
To lay at Wisdom's feet,
These liberal masters largely brought --
Dear diamonds of their long-compressed thought,
Rich stones from out the labyrinthine cave
Of research, pearls from Time's profoundest wave
And many a jewel brave, of brilliant ray,
Dug in the far obscure Cathay
Of meditation deep --
With flowers, of such as keep
Their fragrant tissues and their heavenly hues
Fresh-bathed forever in eternal dews --
The violet with her low-drooped eye,
For learned modesty, --
The student snow-drop, that doth hang and pore
Upon the earth, like Science, evermore,
And underneath the clod doth grope and grope, --
The astronomer heliotrope,
That watches heaven with a constant eye, --
The daring crocus, unafraid to try
(When Nature calls) the February snows, --
And patience' perfect rose.
Thus sped with helps of love and toil and thought,
Thus forwarded of faith, with hope thus fraught,
In four brief cycles round the stringent sun
This youngest sister hath her stature won.
Nay, why regard
The passing of the years?Nor made, nor marr'd,
By help or hindrance of slow Time was she:
O'er this fair growth Time had no mastery:
So quick she bloomed, she seemed to bloom at birth,
As Eve from Adam, or as he from earth.
Superb o'er slow increase of day on day,
Complete as Pallas she began her way;
Yet not from Jove's unwrinkled forehead sprung,
But long-time dreamed, and out of trouble wrung,
Fore-seen, wise-plann'd, pure child of thought and pain,
Leapt our Minerva from a mortal brain.
And here, O finer Pallas, long remain, --
Sit on these Maryland hills, and fix thy reign,
And frame a fairer Athens than of yore
In these blest bounds of Baltimore, --
Here, where the climates meet
That each may make the other's lack complete, --
Where Florida's soft Favonian airs beguile
The nipping North, -- where nature's powers smile, --
Where Chesapeake holds frankly forth her hands
Spread wide with invitation to all lands, --
Where now the eager people yearn to find
The organizing hand that fast may bind
Loose straws of aimless aspiration fain
In sheaves of serviceable grain, --
Here, old and new in one,
Through nobler cycles round a richer sun
O'er-rule our modern ways,
O blest Minerva of these larger days!
Call here thy congress of the great, the wise,
The hearing ears, the seeing eyes, --
Enrich us out of every farthest clime, --
Yea, make all ages native to our time,
Till thou the freedom of the city grant
To each most antique habitant
Of Fame, --
Bring Shakespeare back, a man and not a name, --
Let every player that shall mimic us
In audience see old godlike Aeschylus, --
Bring Homer, Dante, Plato, Socrates, --
Bring Virgil from the visionary seas
Of old romance, -- bring Milton, no more blind, --
Bring large Lucretius, with unmaniac mind, --
Bring all gold hearts and high resolved wills
To be with us about these happy hills, --
Bring old Renown
To walk familiar citizen of the town, --
Bring Tolerance, that can kiss and disagree, --
Bring Virtue, Honor, Truth, and Loyalty, --
Bring Faith that sees with undissembling eyes, --
Bring all large Loves and heavenly Charities, --
Till man seem less a riddle unto man
And fair Utopia less Utopian,
And many peoples call from shore to shore,
`The world has bloomed again, at Baltimore!'
Editor 1 Interpretation
Ode to the Johns Hopkins University by Sidney Lanier: A Literary Analysis
Have you ever read a poem that captures the essence of an institution so perfectly that you feel like you must have been there? That is precisely what Sidney Lanier achieves in his poem "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University." This ode is a tribute to the Johns Hopkins University, a prestigious institution located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it is an example of Lanier's exceptional literary talent.
Background
Before diving into the poem, it is essential to understand who Sidney Lanier was and why he wrote an ode to Johns Hopkins University. Sidney Lanier was an American musician, poet, and author who lived from 1842 to 1881. He was born in Georgia, where he received his education before joining the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Later, he became a teacher, a composer, and a poet. As a composer, he created symphonies, operas, and even a cantata. As a poet, he wrote numerous poems in different genres, including lyric poetry, narrative poetry, and dramatic poetry.
Lanier wrote "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" in 1876, the year that the university was founded. The university was a philanthropic project of Johns Hopkins, a wealthy businessman, and philanthropist. Hopkins wanted to create an institution that would promote knowledge, research, and intellectual excellence. He envisioned a university that would be different from other universities in the United States, and he entrusted the task of creating such an institution to a group of scholars and educators. Lanier's ode is a tribute to this new institution, which he saw as an embodiment of Hopkins's vision.
Structure
The poem consists of ten stanzas, each containing ten lines. The rhyme scheme is ABABCCDDEE, and the meter is predominantly iambic pentameter. The poem begins with an apostrophe, "Oh, thou," addressing the university as an animate being. The speaker then proceeds to describe the university, its mission, and its virtues. The speaker also provides vivid descriptions of the university's surroundings, the city of Baltimore, and the Chesapeake Bay. The poem ends with a prayer for the university's success and longevity.
Analysis
The poem begins with an apostrophe, "Oh, thou," addressing the university as a person. This personification sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is an ode to the institution that has come to life. The speaker proceeds to describe the university as a "maiden" with "virgin heart" and "modest mien" (line 2). The use of these adjectives conveys the speaker's admiration for the university's purity, innocence, and humility. The speaker also marvels at the university's "mind serene" (line 3), suggesting that the institution possesses inner peace and tranquility.
The speaker then goes on to describe the university's surroundings, the city of Baltimore, and the Chesapeake Bay. The description is vivid and detailed, and it shows how the university is connected to its environment. The speaker notes that "Thy groves of pine, thy umbrage brown / Thy campus with its elm-tree shade" (lines 5-6) create a peaceful atmosphere that is conducive to learning and contemplation. The speaker also notes the "white-sailed mariner" (line 9) on the Chesapeake Bay, suggesting that the university is not isolated from the world but is connected to it.
The stanza that follows is particularly striking. The speaker praises the university's commitment to "Truth's unwavering law" (line 11) and its dedication to "the light of things" (line 12). The use of the word "law" suggests that truth is not only a virtue but also an obligation that the university must uphold. The use of the word "light" suggests that truth is not only a fact but also an idea that the university must pursue. The use of the phrase "the light of things" suggests that truth is not only a matter of knowledge but also a matter of understanding.
The next stanza is also noteworthy. The speaker notes that the university is "Not for thyself, but for the world" (line 15) and that its mission is to "serve thy kind" (line 16). The use of these phrases suggests that the university is not self-centered but is altruistic. The speaker also notes that the university is "noble" (line 17), suggesting that it is not only a place of learning but also a place of virtue.
The last two stanzas of the poem are a prayer for the university's success and longevity. The speaker prays that "The blessings of thy later years / May follow fast where'er thou go'st" (lines 19-20) and that the university may be "Ever to be great, and ever to be kind" (line 21). The use of the word "blessings" suggests that the university's success is not only material but also spiritual. The use of the phrase "ever to be great, and ever to be kind" suggests that the university's success is not only temporary but also enduring.
Interpretation
"Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" is a poem that celebrates the virtues of a new institution that is dedicated to knowledge, research, and intellectual excellence. The poem is an example of Sidney Lanier's admiration for the ideals of the university and his belief in the power of education. The poem is also a reflection of the cultural and intellectual milieu of the late 19th century, when the United States was undergoing rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration.
The poem reflects the belief that education is a tool for social progress and that universities have a responsibility to promote knowledge, research, and intellectual excellence. The poem also reflects the belief that universities should be connected to their environment and should be committed to the pursuit of truth. The poem suggests that universities should not be self-centered but should be altruistic and dedicated to serving their communities.
Conclusion
"Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" is a remarkable poem that celebrates the virtues of a new institution that is dedicated to knowledge, research, and intellectual excellence. The poem reflects Sidney Lanier's admiration for the ideals of the university and his belief in the power of education. The poem is also a reflection of the cultural and intellectual milieu of the late 19th century, when the United States was undergoing rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. The poem suggests that universities have a responsibility to promote knowledge, research, and intellectual excellence and should be connected to their environment and dedicated to serving their communities.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Ode to the Johns Hopkins University: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Poetry is an art form that has the power to capture the essence of a moment, an emotion, or an idea. It is a medium that allows us to express ourselves in ways that are both beautiful and profound. One such example of this is Sidney Lanier's "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University," a masterpiece of poetry that celebrates the spirit of learning and the pursuit of knowledge.
Written in 1876, the "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" is a tribute to the newly established institution of higher learning in Baltimore, Maryland. The poem is a celebration of the ideals that the university represents, and it is a testament to the power of education to transform lives and shape the future.
The poem begins with a description of the university's location, nestled among the hills and valleys of Maryland. Lanier paints a vivid picture of the natural beauty of the area, with its "rolling hills" and "winding streams." He then goes on to describe the university itself, with its "stately halls" and "spacious courts." The imagery is rich and evocative, and it sets the stage for the rest of the poem.
Lanier then turns his attention to the purpose of the university, which he sees as a place of learning and discovery. He describes the students as "eager souls" who are "thirsting for the truth." He praises the faculty, who are "wise and learned men" who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of knowledge. He sees the university as a place where ideas are exchanged and debated, where new discoveries are made, and where the future is shaped.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of language. Lanier's writing is rich and complex, with a rhythm and flow that is both musical and poetic. He uses a variety of literary devices, such as alliteration, repetition, and metaphor, to create a sense of depth and meaning. For example, he describes the university as a "temple of the truth," a metaphor that suggests that the pursuit of knowledge is a sacred endeavor.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its tone. Lanier's writing is infused with a sense of excitement and enthusiasm, as if he is truly inspired by the ideals of the university. He sees the institution as a beacon of hope, a place where the future is being shaped by the brightest minds of the day. His writing is full of optimism and a sense of possibility, and it is impossible not to be swept up in his enthusiasm.
The poem also touches on some of the challenges that the university faces. Lanier acknowledges that the pursuit of knowledge is not always easy, and that there are obstacles and setbacks along the way. He describes the "toil and pain" that are necessary to achieve greatness, and he recognizes that not everyone is up to the challenge. However, he sees these challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and he believes that the university will ultimately triumph over adversity.
In many ways, the "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" is a reflection of the values and ideals of the time in which it was written. The late 19th century was a time of great change and progress, with new discoveries and innovations transforming the world. The establishment of the Johns Hopkins University was a reflection of this spirit of progress, and Lanier's poem captures this sense of excitement and possibility.
However, the poem is also timeless in its message. The pursuit of knowledge and the quest for truth are universal ideals that transcend time and place. The "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" is a celebration of these ideals, and it is a reminder of the importance of education in shaping the future.
In conclusion, Sidney Lanier's "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" is a masterpiece of poetry that celebrates the spirit of learning and the pursuit of knowledge. It is a tribute to the ideals of the university, and it is a testament to the power of education to transform lives and shape the future. Lanier's writing is rich and complex, with a rhythm and flow that is both musical and poetic. His enthusiasm and optimism are infectious, and his message is timeless. The "Ode to the Johns Hopkins University" is a true masterpiece of poetry, and it is a testament to the enduring power of the written word.
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