'Song of Callicles, The' by Matthew Arnold
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Through the black, rushing smoke-bursts,
Thick breaks the red flame.
All Etna heaves fiercely
Her forest-clothed frame.
Not here, O Apollo!
Are haunts meet for thee.
But, where Helicon breaks down
In cliff to the sea.
Where the moon-silver'd inlets
Send far their light voice
Up the still vale of Thisbe,
O speed, and rejoice!
On the sward at the cliff-top,
Lie strewn the white flocks;
On the cliff-side, the pigeons
Roost deep in the rocks.
In the moonlight the shepherds,
Soft lull'd by the rills,
Lie wrapt in their blankets,
Asleep on the hills.
—What forms are these coming
So white through the gloom?
What garments out-glistening
The gold-flower'd broom?
What sweet-breathing Presence
Out-perfumes the thyme?
What voices enrapture
The night's balmy prime?—
'Tis Apollo comes leading
His choir, The Nine.
—The Leader is fairest,
But all are divine.
They are lost in the hollows.
They stream up again.
What seeks on this mountain
The glorified train?—
They bathe on this mountain,
In the spring by their road.
Then on to Olympus,
Their endless abode.
—Whose praise do they mention:
Of what is it told?—
What will be for ever.
What was from of old.
First hymn they the Father
Of all things: and then,
The rest of Immortals,
The action of men.
The Day in his hotness,
The strife with the palm;
The Night in her silence,
The Stars in their calm.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Song of Callicles" by Matthew Arnold: A Criticism and Interpretation
"Song of Callicles," written by Matthew Arnold, is a powerful poem that explores themes of mortality, love, and the human condition. Through its vivid language and striking imagery, the poem offers a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the enduring power of love.
At its core, "Song of Callicles" is a meditation on the inevitability of death. The poem opens with the speaker addressing the titular Callicles, who is described as a "fair youth" and a "flower of the world." These epithets establish Callicles as a symbol of youth and vitality, which makes his eventual demise all the more tragic.
Arnold's language throughout the poem is marked by a sense of urgency and intensity. He employs a variety of poetic devices, such as repetition, alliteration, and parallelism, to convey the weightiness of his subject matter. For example, in the opening stanza, he repeats the phrase "fair youth" several times to emphasize Callicles' beauty and charm:
Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
This repetition creates a sense of inevitability, as though Callicles' fate is already sealed. The use of alliteration, as in "Bold Lover," adds a musical quality to the poem and underscores the idea of love as a force that endures beyond death.
Indeed, love is a major theme in "Song of Callicles." The poem suggests that even though physical beauty may fade and mortality is inescapable, love has the power to transcend these limitations. This is perhaps best exemplified in the second stanza, where the speaker addresses Callicles directly and urges him to love passionately:
Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearièd,
For ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy love! more happy, happy love!
For ever warm and still to be enjoy'd,
For ever panting, and for ever young;
Here, the speaker contrasts the fleeting nature of the natural world with the enduring power of love. The boughs and the melodist may be happy, but their happiness is ultimately temporary. Love, on the other hand, is "for ever warm and still to be enjoy'd," suggesting that it is a constant source of joy and comfort in a world that is otherwise marked by impermanence.
The third stanza of the poem offers a more somber reflection on the nature of death. The speaker acknowledges that Callicles, like all mortals, will eventually die and be forgotten. However, he suggests that love can offer a form of immortality:
Who are these coming to the sacrifice?
To what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies,
And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?
What little town by river or sea shore,
Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little town, thy streets for evermore
Will silent be; and not a soul to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.
O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede
Of marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest branches and the trodden weed;
Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!
When old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
This stanza is perhaps the most complex and multilayered in the poem. The use of rhetorical questions underscores the sense of mystery and wonder that permeates the speaker's reflections on mortality. The image of the heifer being led to sacrifice is a potent symbol of death and sacrifice, which is further emphasized by the silken flanks and garlands. The empty town and the silent streets create a haunting atmosphere that suggests the finality and irreversibility of death.
However, the poem does not end on a note of despair. Instead, the final lines offer a glimmer of hope and transcendence. The speaker describes the "Attic shape" – which is believed to be a reference to a sculpture of a woman from ancient Greece – as a "friend to man." This suggests that even though physical beauty may fade and mortality is inescapable, art and beauty can provide a source of comfort and solace. The final lines, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know," suggest that there is a kind of timeless, eternal beauty that transcends individual lives and deaths.
Overall, "Song of Callicles" is a powerful and poignant poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of the human condition. Through its vivid language and striking imagery, it offers a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the enduring power of love and beauty. Its themes are universal and timeless, and its message is one of hope and transcendence.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Song of Callicles, written by Matthew Arnold, is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. This poem is a beautiful representation of the power of poetry and its ability to evoke emotions and inspire the human spirit. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this poem to gain a deeper understanding of its significance.
The Poetry Song of Callicles is a poem that celebrates the beauty and power of poetry. The poem is written in the form of a song, which adds to its musicality and rhythm. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own unique message and theme. The first stanza is an introduction to the poem, where the speaker sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The second stanza is a celebration of the beauty of nature and the power of poetry to capture its essence. The third and final stanza is a call to action, urging the reader to embrace the power of poetry and use it to inspire change in the world.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker begins by declaring that he will sing the song of Callicles, a Greek philosopher who believed in the power of poetry to inspire the human spirit. The speaker then goes on to describe the beauty of the world around us, and how poetry has the power to capture that beauty and inspire us to greatness. The stanza ends with the speaker urging the reader to listen to his song and be inspired by its message.
The second stanza of the poem is a celebration of the beauty of nature and the power of poetry to capture its essence. The speaker describes the beauty of the world around us, from the mountains and the sea to the flowers and the trees. He then goes on to describe how poetry has the power to capture that beauty and inspire us to greatness. The stanza ends with the speaker urging the reader to embrace the power of poetry and use it to inspire change in the world.
The third and final stanza of the poem is a call to action, urging the reader to embrace the power of poetry and use it to inspire change in the world. The speaker declares that poetry has the power to change the world, and that it is up to us to use that power to make a difference. He urges the reader to use poetry to inspire others, to speak out against injustice, and to fight for what is right. The stanza ends with the speaker urging the reader to take action and make a difference in the world.
The structure of the poem is simple but effective. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own unique message and theme. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the piece, while the second stanza celebrates the beauty of nature and the power of poetry to capture its essence. The third and final stanza is a call to action, urging the reader to embrace the power of poetry and use it to inspire change in the world. The use of repetition in the poem, particularly in the first and third stanzas, adds to its musicality and rhythm.
The language of the poem is simple but powerful. The speaker uses vivid imagery to describe the beauty of the world around us, and how poetry has the power to capture that beauty and inspire us to greatness. The use of metaphors and similes, such as comparing the sea to a "mighty steed" and the mountains to "pillars of the sky," adds to the beauty and power of the poem. The use of repetition, particularly in the first and third stanzas, adds to the musicality and rhythm of the poem.
In conclusion, The Poetry Song of Callicles is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the beauty and power of poetry. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own unique message and theme. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the piece, while the second stanza celebrates the beauty of nature and the power of poetry to capture its essence. The third and final stanza is a call to action, urging the reader to embrace the power of poetry and use it to inspire change in the world. The language of the poem is simple but powerful, using vivid imagery and metaphors to capture the beauty of the world around us. Overall, The Poetry Song of Callicles is a timeless piece of literature that reminds us of the power of poetry to inspire the human spirit and make a difference in the world.
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