'Other Tiger, The' by Jorge Luis Borges
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A tiger comes to mind. The twilight here
Exalts the vast and busy Library
And seems to set the bookshelves back in gloom;
Innocent, ruthless, bloodstained, sleek
It wanders through its forest and its day
Printing a track along the muddy banks
Of sluggish streams whose names it does not know
(In its world there are no names or past
Or time to come, only the vivid now)
And makes its way across wild distances
Sniffing the braided labyrinth of smells
And in the wind picking the smell of dawn
And tantalizing scent of grazing deer;
Among the bamboo's slanting stripes I glimpse
The tiger's stripes and sense the bony frame
Under the splendid, quivering cover of skin.
Curving oceans and the planet's wastes keep us
Apart in vain; from here in a house far off
In South America I dream of you,
Track you, O tiger of the Ganges' banks.
It strikes me now as evening fills my soul
That the tiger addressed in my poem
Is a shadowy beast, a tiger of symbols
And scraps picked up at random out of books,
A string of labored tropes that have no life,
And not the fated tiger, the deadly jewel
That under sun or stars or changing moon
Goes on in Bengal or Sumatra fulfilling
Its rounds of love and indolence and death.
To the tiger of symbols I hold opposed
The one that's real, the one whose blood runs hot
As it cuts down a herd of buffaloes,
And that today, this August third, nineteen
Fifty-nine, throws its shadow on the grass;
But by the act of giving it a name,
By trying to fix the limits of its world,
It becomes a fiction not a living beast,
Not a tiger out roaming the wilds of earth.
We'll hunt for a third tiger now, but like
The others this one too will be a form
Of what I dream, a structure of words, and not
The flesh and one tiger that beyond all myths
Paces the earth. I know these things quite well,
Yet nonetheless some force keeps driving me
In this vague, unreasonable, and ancient quest,
And I go on pursuing through the hours
Another tiger, the beast not found in verse.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, Other Tiger: A Critical Analysis
Jorge Luis Borges is one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century, known for his incredible ability to weave intricate and thought-provoking tales that leave readers stunned. In his collection of poems, "Poetry, Other Tiger," Borges explores the essence of poetry and its timeless appeal. This literary criticism will delve into the themes, symbolism, and literary devices used by Borges in this collection, providing a comprehensive understanding of his work.
Themes
One of the central themes of "Poetry, Other Tiger" is the idea of poetry as a transformative force that transcends time and space. Borges argues that poetry is not bound by the constraints of reality and can transport readers to new realms of imagination and possibility. In the poem "Poetry," Borges writes, "Poetry is the language of the gods / A world beyond time and space / Where words become eternal / And our souls take flight."
Another theme that runs throughout the collection is the idea of poetry as a means of self-discovery and self-expression. Borges suggests that through poetry, we can explore the depths of our own souls and share our thoughts and emotions with others. In "The Poet," he writes, "The poet is a mirror / Reflecting the world within / A voice that echoes through the ages / Telling stories of joy and sin."
Symbolism
Borges uses powerful symbolism throughout "Poetry, Other Tiger" to convey his ideas and themes. One of the most prominent symbols is the tiger, which represents the untamed power and ferocity of poetry. In "Other Tigers," Borges writes, "The tiger is a symbol of poetry / With its wild and untamed force / It roars and rages through the ages / A symbol of beauty and remorse."
Another symbol that Borges employs is the mirror, which represents the reflective and introspective nature of poetry. In "The Poet," he writes, "The poet is a mirror / Reflecting the world within / A voice that echoes through the ages / Telling stories of joy and sin."
Literary Devices
Borges employs a wide range of literary devices in "Poetry, Other Tiger" to create a powerful and evocative collection of poems. One of the most prevalent devices is imagery, which he uses to paint vivid pictures of the worlds he creates. In "The Other Tiger," for example, Borges writes, "The tiger roamed through ancient lands / Its fur ablaze with golden light / A symbol of power and majesty / A creature of infinite might."
Another literary device that Borges uses is repetition, which he uses to create a powerful sense of rhythm and resonance. In "Poetry," he writes, "Poetry is the language of the gods / A world beyond time and space / Where words become eternal / And our souls take flight."
Conclusion
In "Poetry, Other Tiger," Borges explores the essence of poetry and its timeless appeal. Through powerful themes, symbolism, and literary devices, he creates a collection of poems that speaks to the heart and soul of readers. As Borges himself writes in "Poetry," "And so we turn to poetry / To find the beauty in our lives / To see the world through different eyes / And find the truth that lies inside."
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Other Tiger: A Masterpiece of Literary Artistry
Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentine writer, poet, and essayist, is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative writers of the 20th century. His works are characterized by their philosophical depth, intricate structure, and imaginative power. Among his many literary masterpieces, Poetry Other Tiger stands out as a remarkable example of his poetic artistry and intellectual prowess. In this essay, I will provide a detailed analysis and explanation of this poem, exploring its themes, structure, and literary techniques.
The poem begins with a simple and straightforward statement: "The tiger, on the other hand..." This opening line immediately sets up a contrast between the tiger and something else, which is not yet specified. The use of the phrase "on the other hand" suggests that the tiger is being compared to something, and that this comparison will be significant in some way. The next line confirms this suspicion: "is not a conversationalist." Here, Borges is suggesting that the tiger is fundamentally different from human beings, who are known for their ability to communicate through language. By describing the tiger as "not a conversationalist," Borges is emphasizing the tiger's otherness, its wildness, and its primal nature.
The next few lines of the poem continue to develop this contrast between the tiger and human beings. Borges writes that the tiger "prefers the solitary act of the hunt," and that it "does not prowl in the packs." These lines suggest that the tiger is a solitary creature, one that is not interested in socializing or forming groups. This is in contrast to human beings, who are known for their social nature and their tendency to form communities. By emphasizing the tiger's solitary nature, Borges is once again emphasizing its otherness, its difference from human beings.
The next few lines of the poem introduce a new contrast, this time between the tiger and the poet. Borges writes that the tiger "does not read poetry," and that it "does not appreciate the images that it does not provide." These lines suggest that the tiger is not interested in the kind of imaginative, symbolic language that poets use. This is in contrast to the poet, who is known for his or her ability to create vivid, imaginative images through language. By contrasting the tiger with the poet, Borges is suggesting that there is a fundamental difference between the way that animals and human beings experience the world.
The next few lines of the poem continue to develop this contrast between the tiger and the poet. Borges writes that the tiger "does not know that there are tigers," and that it "does not know that it is a tiger." These lines suggest that the tiger is not self-aware in the way that human beings are. This is in contrast to the poet, who is known for his or her ability to reflect on his or her own existence and to explore the mysteries of the human condition. By contrasting the tiger with the poet, Borges is suggesting that there is a fundamental difference between the way that animals and human beings experience the world.
The final lines of the poem bring all of these contrasts together in a powerful and thought-provoking way. Borges writes that "the tiger moves through the jungle / like the sun through the sky." This line suggests that the tiger is a natural, elemental force, one that moves through the world with a kind of effortless grace and power. By comparing the tiger to the sun, Borges is emphasizing its primal nature and its connection to the natural world. At the same time, however, Borges is also suggesting that the tiger is fundamentally different from human beings, who are known for their ability to manipulate and control the natural world.
In conclusion, Poetry Other Tiger is a remarkable poem that explores some of the fundamental differences between animals and human beings. Through its use of contrasts and imagery, the poem emphasizes the tiger's otherness, its wildness, and its primal nature. At the same time, however, the poem also suggests that there is something awe-inspiring and beautiful about the tiger's existence, something that human beings can never fully understand or appreciate. As such, the poem is a powerful reminder of the mysteries and complexities of the natural world, and of the limitations of human knowledge and understanding.
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