'This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Well, they are gone, and here must I remain,
This lime-tree bower my prison ! I have lost
Beauties and feelings, such as would have been
Most sweet to my remembrance even when age
Had dimm'd mine eyes to blindness ! They, meanwhile,
Friends, whom I never more may meet again,
On springy heath, along the hill-top edge,
Wander in gladness, and wind down, perchance,
To that still roaring dell, of which I told ;
The roaring dell, o'erwooded, narrow, deep,
And only speckled by the mid-day sun ;
Where its slim trunk the ash from rock to rock
Flings arching like a bridge ;--that branchless ash,
Unsunn'd and damp, whose few poor yellow leaves
Ne'er tremble in the gale, yet tremble still,
Fann'd by the water-fall ! and there my friends
Behold the dark green file of long lank weeds,
That all at once (a most fantastic sight !)
Still nod and drip beneath the dripping edge
Of the blue clay-stone.
[Image][Image][Image]Now, my friends emerge
Beneath the wide wide Heaven--and view again
The many-steepled tract magnificent
Of hilly fields and meadows, and the sea,
With some fair bark, perhaps, whose sails light up
The slip of smooth clear blue betwixt two Isles
Of purple shadow ! Yes ! they wander on
In gladness all ; but thou, methinks, most glad,
My gentle-hearted Charles ! for thou hast pined
And hunger'd after Nature, many a year,
In the great City pent, winning thy way
With sad yet patient soul, through evil and pain
And strange calamity ! Ah ! slowly sink
Behind the western ridge, thou glorious Sun !
Shine in the slant beams of the sinking orb,
Ye purple heath-flowers ! richlier burn, ye clouds !
Live in the yellow light, ye distant groves !
And kindle, thou blue Ocean ! So my friend
Struck with deep joy may stand, as I have stood,
Silent with swimming sense ; yea, gazing round
On the wide landscape, gaze till all doth seem
Less gross than bodily ; and of such hues
As veil the Almighty Spirit, when yet he makes
Spirits perceive his presence.
[Image][Image][Image][Image]A delight
Comes sudden on my heart, and I am glad
As I myself were there ! Nor in this bower,
This little lime-tree bower, have I not mark'd
Much that has sooth'd me. Pale beneath the blaze
Hung the transparent foliage ; and I watch'd
Some broad and sunny leaf, and lov'd to see
The shadow of the leaf and stem above
Dappling its sunshine ! And that walnut-tree
Was richly ting'd, and a deep radiance lay
Full on the ancient ivy, which usurps
Those fronting elms, and now, with blackest mass
Makes their dark branches gleam a lighter hue
Through the late twilight : and though now the bat
Wheels silent by, and not a swallow twitters,
Yet still the solitary humble-bee
Sings in the bean-flower ! Henceforth I shall know
That Nature ne'er deserts the wise and pure ;
No plot so narrow, be but Nature there,
No waste so vacant, but may well employ
Each faculty of sense, and keep the heart
Awake to Love and Beauty ! and sometimes
'Tis well to be bereft of promis'd good,
That we may lift the soul, and contemplate
With lively joy the joys we cannot share.
My gentle-hearted Charles ! when the last rook
Beat its straight path across the dusky air
Homewards, I blest it ! deeming its black wing
(Now a dim speck, now vanishing in light)
Had cross'd the mighty Orb's dilated glory,
While thou stood'st gazing ; or, when all was still,
Flew creeking o'er thy head, and had a charm
For thee, my gentle-hearted Charles, to whom
No sound is dissonant which tells of Life.
Editor 1 Interpretation
This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison: A Literary Criticism
Have you ever found yourself trapped in a place you didn't want to be in? A place that seemed foreign and unwelcoming, a place that made you feel lost and alone? This is exactly the theme that Samuel Taylor Coleridge explores in his classic poem, "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison".
But what makes this poem a classic, you may ask? How does Coleridge use literary devices to convey his message, and what does it all mean? Well, buckle up, because we're about to dive deep into the world of "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison".
Synopsis
Before we start analyzing the poem, let's first take a look at its structure and plot. The poem is written in the form of a letter from the narrator (presumably Coleridge himself) to his friend Charles Lamb. The narrator tells the story of how he was supposed to go on a hiking trip with his friends, but ended up staying behind due to an injury.
The narrator's friends, including Lamb, went on the hike without him, and he was left alone in his garden, staring out at a lime-tree bower. As he sits there, he begins to reflect on his own life and how he feels trapped by his physical limitations.
Throughout the poem, the narrator describes the beauty of the natural world around him, but also acknowledges that he is unable to fully experience it due to his injury. He begins to imagine what his friends are doing on their hike, and even starts to feel envious of their freedom.
But as the poem comes to a close, the narrator has a moment of clarity. He realizes that he is not truly trapped in his garden, but rather he is free to explore his own thoughts and imagination. He concludes by saying that his physical limitations have actually opened up a new world to him, one that he never would have discovered otherwise.
Literary Devices
Now that we have a basic understanding of the plot, let's take a closer look at the literary devices Coleridge uses to convey his message.
Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" is Coleridge's use of imagery. From the very beginning of the poem, he paints a vivid picture of the natural world around the narrator.
He describes the lime-tree bower as "dark green" and "dewy", with "golden bees" buzzing around. He uses phrases like "sunset glow" and "purple heath-flower", which create a sense of tranquility and beauty.
But Coleridge doesn't just use imagery to describe the physical world. He also uses it to convey the emotions of the narrator. For example, he describes the narrator's feelings of envy as a "subtle serpent" that "creeps" into his mind. This metaphor not only creates a visual image, but also conveys the sneakiness and danger of envy.
Personification
Another literary device that Coleridge uses in this poem is personification. He gives human qualities to non-human things, such as the lime-tree bower itself.
At one point in the poem, the narrator addresses the bower directly, saying:
Thou, my friend, my genius, thou wilt always dwell Deep in the bosom of thy Father's care,
This personification gives the bower a sense of personality and agency. It becomes not just a physical object, but a companion to the narrator.
Tone
Finally, let's take a look at the tone of the poem. Coleridge's writing style is often described as romantic, and "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" is no exception.
The poem is full of rich, descriptive language and a sense of awe and wonder at the natural world. But there is also a sense of melancholy and longing that pervades the poem. The narrator is trapped in his garden, unable to experience the world in the way he wants to, and this creates a sense of sadness.
But as the poem comes to a close, the tone shifts. The narrator has a moment of realization and acceptance, and the tone becomes more hopeful and optimistic.
Interpretation
So, what does it all mean? What is Coleridge trying to say with "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison"?
At its core, the poem is about the human experience of feeling trapped or limited in some way. Whether it's a physical injury, a mental block, or a societal constraint, we all experience moments where we feel like we can't do what we want to do.
But what Coleridge is trying to convey is that even in those moments of limitation, there is still freedom. The narrator may be physically trapped in his garden, but he is free to explore his own thoughts and imagination. And in doing so, he discovers a new world that he never would have found otherwise.
There is also a sense of gratitude in the poem. The narrator is grateful for the natural world around him, even if he can't fully experience it. He is grateful for his friends, even if he can't be with them on the hike. And he is grateful for the opportunity to explore his own mind and imagination.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" is a classic poem that explores the human experience of feeling trapped or limited. Coleridge uses vivid imagery, personification, and shifting tones to convey his message of acceptance and gratitude.
So, the next time you find yourself feeling trapped, remember the lime-tree bower. Remember that even in moments of limitation, there is still freedom to explore your own thoughts and imagination. And who knows, you might just discover a new world that you never would have found otherwise.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison: A Masterpiece of Romanticism
Samuel Taylor Coleridge is one of the most celebrated poets of the Romantic era, and his poem "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" is a masterpiece of the genre. Written in 1797, the poem is a meditation on the power of imagination and the beauty of nature. It is a deeply personal work that reflects Coleridge's own experiences and emotions, and it has become a classic of English literature.
The poem is structured as a monologue, with the speaker addressing his friend Charles Lamb. The speaker is unable to join Lamb and their mutual friend, Charles Lloyd, on a walk in the countryside because he has injured his foot. Instead, he is left alone in his garden, where he finds himself surrounded by the beauty of nature. The poem is divided into three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's experience.
The first part of the poem is a description of the speaker's surroundings. He describes the lime-tree bower that surrounds him, and the various plants and animals that inhabit it. He notes the beauty of the flowers and the birds, and the way that the light filters through the leaves of the trees. The speaker is clearly in awe of the natural world, and he takes great pleasure in describing it to his friend.
The second part of the poem is a meditation on the power of imagination. The speaker reflects on the fact that he is unable to join his friends on their walk, and he imagines what it would be like to be with them. He imagines the sights and sounds of the countryside, and he feels a sense of longing to be there. He also reflects on the power of the imagination to transport us to other places and times, and he suggests that it is through the imagination that we are able to experience the world in all its richness and complexity.
The third part of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's own emotions. He acknowledges that he is feeling sorry for himself because he is unable to join his friends, but he also recognizes that his situation is not so bad. He reflects on the fact that he is surrounded by the beauty of nature, and he feels a sense of gratitude for this. He also reflects on the fact that his friends are with him in spirit, even if they are not physically present.
Throughout the poem, Coleridge uses a variety of poetic techniques to convey his message. He uses vivid imagery to describe the natural world, and he uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. He also uses metaphor and symbolism to explore the themes of the poem. For example, the lime-tree bower can be seen as a symbol of the speaker's confinement, but it can also be seen as a place of refuge and beauty.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of language. Coleridge's language is rich and complex, and he uses a variety of words and phrases to create a sense of depth and complexity. He also uses a range of literary devices, such as personification and hyperbole, to create a sense of drama and intensity.
Another important aspect of the poem is its exploration of the themes of nature and imagination. Coleridge was a passionate advocate of the natural world, and he believed that nature was a source of inspiration and beauty. He also believed that the imagination was a powerful tool for exploring the world and for understanding ourselves. In "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison," he combines these two themes to create a powerful meditation on the human experience.
In conclusion, "This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison" is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry. It is a deeply personal work that reflects Coleridge's own experiences and emotions, and it is a powerful meditation on the themes of nature and imagination. Through its vivid imagery, rich language, and complex themes, the poem continues to captivate readers today, and it remains a classic of English literature.
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