'Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century' by William Wordsworth
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A plague on your languages, German and Norse!
Let me have the song of the kettle;
And the tongs and the poker, instead of that horse
That gallops away with such fury and force
On this dreary dull plate of black metal.
See that Fly,--a disconsolate creature! perhaps
A child of the field or the grove;
And, sorrow for him! the dull treacherous heat
Has seduced the poor fool from his winter retreat,
And he creeps to the edge of my stove.
Alas! how he fumbles about the domains
Which this comfortless oven environ!
He cannot find out in what track he must crawl,
Now back to the tiles, then in search of the wall,
And now on the brink of the iron.
Stock-still there he stands like a traveller bemazed:
The best of his skill he has tried;
His feelers, methinks, I can see him put forth
To the east and the west, to the south and the north;
But he finds neither guide-post nor guide.
His spindles sink under him, foot, leg, and thigh!
His eyesight and hearing are lost;
Between life and death his blood freezes and thaws;
And his two pretty pinions of blue dusky gauze
Are glued to his sides by the frost.
No brother, no mate has he near him--while I
Can draw warmth from the cheek of my Love;
As blest and as glad, in this desolate gloom,
As if green summer grass were the floor of my room,
And woodbines were hanging above.
Yet, God is my witness, thou small helpless Thing!
Thy life I would gladly sustain
Till summer come up from the south, and with crowds
Of thy brethren a march thou should'st sound through the clouds,
And back to the forests again!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century by William Wordsworth: A Critique and Interpretation
"Poetry, Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century" by William Wordsworth is a masterpiece of romantic poetry. In this poem, Wordsworth explores the power of nature and the emotions that it evokes in the human soul. Through his vivid descriptions of the winter landscape of Germany, he expresses his own feelings of awe and wonder at the sublime beauty of the natural world.
Background
William Wordsworth was a leading figure of the Romantic Movement in English literature. Born in 1770 in Cumberland, England, he was a prolific writer of poetry and prose, and his work is characterized by his intense emotions, his love of nature, and his deep spiritual insight. He is best known for his collection of poems, "Lyrical Ballads," which he co-authored with his friend and fellow poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
"Poetry, Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century" was written in 1799, during Wordsworth's travels in Germany with his sister Dorothy. The poem was inspired by the intense cold and snow that they experienced during their journey, and it reflects Wordsworth's fascination with the sublime power of nature.
Literary Analysis
The poem consists of six stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The simple structure of the poem emphasizes the clarity and directness of Wordsworth's message, and the use of rhyme and meter adds a musical quality to the text.
In the first stanza, Wordsworth sets the scene with a vivid description of the wintry landscape:
Amid the groves of Blenheim, near the tomb
Of him who fought the world, I passed my youth;
Repose and comfort scorned; and while aloof
From all society, lived there in truth
Here, Wordsworth contrasts the peaceful beauty of the groves of Blenheim with the violent history of the site. The tomb he refers to is that of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, who was known for his military victories. Wordsworth's use of the word "scorned" emphasizes his own rejection of conventional society and his preference for a life of solitude and contemplation.
In the second stanza, Wordsworth describes the intense cold of the winter day:
The frost had bound the rill, and, in its glassy breast,
The hapless minnows reared their heads in vain;
And, 'mid the ice, that cracked beneath my feet,
The cold, like death, benumbed my very brain
The personification of the frost and the use of the simile "like death" create a sense of foreboding and unease. The image of the hapless minnows struggling to survive in the frozen stream emphasizes the power of nature to destroy life.
In the third stanza, Wordsworth reflects on his own mortality:
The sun that brief December day
Rose cheerless over hills of gray,
And, darkly circled, gave at noon
A sadder light than waning moon
The use of the word "brief" emphasizes the fleeting nature of life, and the image of the sun rising "cheerless" and setting early emphasizes the darkness and sorrow of existence. The comparison to the waning moon suggests that even the natural cycle of life and death is subject to the whims of fate.
In the fourth stanza, Wordsworth finds solace in the beauty of nature:
Slow tracing down the thickening sky
Its mute and ominous prophecy,
A portent seeming less than threat,
It sank from sight before me--yet
Here, Wordsworth uses the image of the sky to suggest that even in the darkest moments, there is still beauty and wonder to be found. The use of the word "portent" suggests that there is a sense of danger or foreboding, but the image of the sinking sun suggests that this danger is temporary and will eventually pass.
In the fifth stanza, Wordsworth reflects on the power of imagination:
And now, amid the gloomiest skies,
Now where the unpierced darkness lies,
In ruin, and in solitude,
I love to wander, thoughtful, rude;
Here, Wordsworth suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is still room for imagination and creativity. The use of the word "rude" suggests that his thoughts are unpolished and unrefined, but also that they are honest and authentic.
In the final stanza, Wordsworth reflects on the power of nature to inspire awe and wonder:
For I have learned to look on nature, not as in the hour
Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes
The still, sad music of humanity,
Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power
To chasten and subdue. And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean and the living air,
And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:
A motion and a spirit, that impels
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
And rolls through all things.
Here, Wordsworth suggests that nature has the power to inspire and uplift the human spirit. The use of the phrase "the still, sad music of humanity" suggests that even in moments of sorrow and darkness, there is still beauty and meaning to be found. The sense of something "far more deeply interfused" suggests that there is a spiritual dimension to nature that is beyond the comprehension of the human mind.
Interpretation
"Poetry, Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century" is a powerful meditation on the beauty and power of nature. Wordsworth suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is still room for imagination, creativity, and spiritual insight. He emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and the power of nature to destroy life, but he also suggests that there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the world.
The poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the human condition, and the ways in which we find meaning and purpose in a world that is often cruel and indifferent. Wordsworth suggests that even in moments of despair and darkness, we can find solace in the beauty of nature and in the power of our own imaginations.
Conclusion
"Poetry, Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century" is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the human spirit. It is a testament to the enduring power of nature and the importance of imagination and creativity in our lives. Wordsworth's vivid descriptions of the winter landscape of Germany and his reflections on mortality, solitude, and the power of the human mind make this poem a timeless masterpiece of romantic poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century is a masterpiece written by William Wordsworth. This poem is a perfect example of how Wordsworth's poetry is deeply rooted in nature and how he uses it to express his emotions and thoughts.
The poem was written in 1799 when Wordsworth was traveling through Germany with his sister Dorothy. The poem is a reflection of the harsh winter they experienced during their travels. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which describes the beauty and power of nature.
In the first stanza, Wordsworth describes the beauty of the snow-covered landscape. He uses vivid imagery to describe the snow as "pure and white" and the trees as "laden with snow." The imagery is so vivid that the reader can almost feel the coldness of the snow and the weight of it on the trees.
Wordsworth also uses personification to describe the snow as a "silent messenger" and the trees as "patiently waiting." This personification gives the snow and trees a human-like quality, making them seem more alive and powerful.
In the second stanza, Wordsworth describes the power of nature. He uses the image of a "mighty river" to describe the power of nature. He also uses the image of a "fierce wind" to describe the strength of nature. Wordsworth's use of these images shows how he views nature as a powerful force that cannot be tamed or controlled.
Wordsworth also uses the image of a "solitary eagle" to describe the freedom that nature provides. The eagle is a symbol of freedom and strength, and Wordsworth uses it to show how nature can provide us with a sense of freedom and strength.
In the third stanza, Wordsworth reflects on his own emotions and thoughts. He describes how the beauty and power of nature have affected him. He says that he feels a "calmness" and a "joy" that he cannot explain.
Wordsworth also reflects on the importance of nature in our lives. He says that nature can provide us with a sense of peace and tranquility that we cannot find anywhere else. He also says that nature can teach us important lessons about life and the world around us.
Overall, Poetry Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century is a beautiful and powerful poem that shows how Wordsworth's poetry is deeply rooted in nature. The poem is a reflection of the beauty and power of nature, and how it can affect us emotionally and spiritually.
Wordsworth's use of vivid imagery and personification makes the poem come alive, and the reader can almost feel the coldness of the snow and the strength of the wind. The poem is also a reflection of Wordsworth's own emotions and thoughts, and how nature has affected him.
In conclusion, Poetry Written in Germany, On One of The Coldest Days Of The Century is a masterpiece that shows how nature can inspire and affect us in profound ways. The poem is a testament to Wordsworth's love of nature and his ability to express his emotions and thoughts through poetry.
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