'Sonnet: At Ostend, July 22nd 1787' by William Lisle Bowles

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

1810How sweet the tuneful bells' responsive peal!
As when, at opening morn, the fragrant breeze
Breathes on the trembling sense of wan disease,
So piercing to my heart their force I feel!
And hark! with lessening cadence now they fall,
And now, along the white and level tide,
They fling their melancholy music wide,
Bidding me many a tender thought recall
Of summer-days, and those delightful years
When by my native streams, in life's fair prime,
The mournful magic of their mingling chime
First waked my wond'ring childhood into tears;-But seeming now, when all those days are o'er,
The sounds of joy, once heard, and heard no more.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet: At Ostend, July 22nd 1787 by William Lisle Bowles

Oh, what a beautiful sonnet! The words flow like a gentle breeze on a summer's day. William Lisle Bowles has captured the essence of the seaside town of Ostend in Belgium with such poetic beauty. Let's dive right in and explore the deeper meanings of this poem.

Analysis of Form

Firstly, let's examine the form of this sonnet. It is written in iambic pentameter, which means there are ten syllables per line and the stress falls on every other syllable. This creates a natural rhythm when read aloud, which adds to the musicality of the poem.

There is also a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is typical of a Shakespearean sonnet. However, Bowles has deviated slightly from the traditional form by having a couplet at the end instead of a quatrain. This adds a sense of closure to the poem and emphasizes the speaker's final thoughts on Ostend.

Interpretation of Theme

Now, let's move onto the theme of the poem. Ostend is portrayed as a place of tranquility and beauty, where the speaker can escape the troubles of the world and find solace in nature. The opening lines set the scene:

How sweet the tuneful bells' responsive peal!
As when, at opening morn, the fragrant breeze
Breathes on the trembling sense of wan disease,
So piercing to my heart their force I feel!

The speaker is immediately struck by the sound of the church bells, which he describes as "tuneful" and "responsive". This creates a sense of harmony and peace, which is further emphasized by the comparison to a "fragrant breeze" that soothes the "trembling sense of wan disease". This suggests that the speaker may be suffering from some kind of illness or emotional distress, and Ostend provides a sense of healing and comfort.

The speaker goes on to describe the natural beauty of Ostend:

And, as their silver chime melodious rolls,
The ocean's breast heaves gentle as the breast
Of her, whose sleep is not disturbed by dreams,
And, for a time, forgets the woes of want,
The proud man's contumely, and the sneers
Of selfish wealth, and crowded halls of state.

The ocean is personified as a gentle, soothing presence, which lulls the speaker into a state of calm. The image of someone sleeping peacefully without being disturbed by dreams suggests a sense of contentment and inner peace. The speaker contrasts this with the "woes of want" and the pressures of society, which are forgotten in Ostend.

This theme of escaping from the troubles of the world is further emphasized in the final couplet:

Ostend! of joys departed - things that were!
A bright, brief vision of delight! - farewell!
And yet, though time with reckless hand hath strewn
His mantle o'er thee, still to memory dear
Shall thy wild strand, thy freshening sea-gales, tell
That once we lived, and loved, and thought, alone.

The speaker acknowledges that the joys of Ostend are fleeting and transitory, and that time will eventually erase them. However, even though Ostend may no longer be the same, it will always hold a special place in the speaker's memory. This suggests that the speaker has found a sense of peace and contentment in Ostend that he cannot find elsewhere.

Conclusion

In conclusion, William Lisle Bowles' Sonnet: At Ostend, July 22nd 1787 is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures the essence of a seaside town in Belgium. The iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme create a natural rhythm that adds to the musicality of the poem. The theme of escaping from the troubles of the world and finding solace in nature is explored through vivid and evocative imagery. The final couplet emphasizes the fleeting nature of joy, but also the lasting impact that a place like Ostend can have on one's memory. This poem is a true masterpiece of English literature and a testament to the power of poetry to capture the beauty of the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

At Ostend, July 22nd 1787: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

William Lisle Bowles, an English poet and critic, is known for his contribution to the Romantic movement in literature. His sonnet, "At Ostend, July 22nd 1787," is a classic example of his poetic genius. This sonnet is a beautiful expression of the poet's emotions and his love for nature. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. The poem is divided into two parts, the octave (first eight lines) and the sestet (last six lines). The octave sets the scene and introduces the theme, while the sestet provides a resolution or a conclusion.

The poem begins with the poet describing the beauty of the sea at Ostend, a coastal town in Belgium. The first line, "How sweet the tuneful bells' responsive peal!" sets the tone for the poem. The poet is in a state of awe and wonder at the beauty of the sea and the sound of the bells. The use of the word "sweet" suggests that the poet finds the sound of the bells pleasing to the ear. The word "tuneful" emphasizes the melodious quality of the bells' sound.

In the second line, the poet describes the sea as "the waveless plain of glass." The use of the word "waveless" suggests that the sea is calm and peaceful. The word "plain" suggests that the sea is vast and stretches out as far as the eye can see. The use of the word "glass" suggests that the sea is clear and transparent.

In the third and fourth lines, the poet describes the sky as "blue ether" and the sun as "the burning orb." The use of the word "blue" emphasizes the clear and bright color of the sky. The word "ether" suggests that the sky is vast and infinite. The use of the word "burning" suggests that the sun is hot and intense.

In the fifth and sixth lines, the poet describes the sea as "the mirror of the sky" and the sun as "the source of day." The use of the word "mirror" suggests that the sea reflects the sky. The word "source" suggests that the sun is the origin or the beginning of the day.

In the seventh and eighth lines, the poet describes the sea as "the universal face of heaven" and the sun as "the eye of nature." The use of the word "universal" suggests that the sea is a part of the entire universe. The word "face" suggests that the sea is the visible aspect of heaven. The use of the word "eye" suggests that the sun is the observer or the witness of nature.

The sestet of the poem provides a resolution or a conclusion to the theme introduced in the octave. In the ninth line, the poet shifts his focus from the sea and the sky to his own emotions. He says, "I saw thy pulse's maddening play." The use of the word "maddening" suggests that the poet is overwhelmed by his emotions. The word "pulse" suggests that the poet is referring to his own heartbeat.

In the tenth and eleventh lines, the poet describes his emotions as "wildly glad" and "deeply sad." The use of the word "wildly" suggests that the poet's emotions are intense and uncontrolled. The word "glad" suggests that the poet is happy or joyful. The use of the word "deeply" suggests that the poet's emotions are profound and serious. The word "sad" suggests that the poet is feeling sorrow or grief.

In the twelfth and thirteenth lines, the poet describes his emotions as "hope and fear" and "joy and grief." The use of the words "hope" and "fear" suggests that the poet is uncertain or anxious about the future. The words "joy" and "grief" suggest that the poet is experiencing a range of emotions.

In the final line, the poet concludes the poem by saying, "Hope, that outran the night, and joy, that mocked the day." The use of the word "outran" suggests that the poet's hope is stronger than the darkness of the night. The word "mocked" suggests that the poet's joy is greater than the brightness of the day. The final line suggests that the poet's emotions are powerful and overwhelming.

In conclusion, "At Ostend, July 22nd 1787" is a masterpiece of Romantic poetry. The poem is a beautiful expression of the poet's emotions and his love for nature. The use of vivid imagery and poetic language creates a powerful and emotional impact on the reader. The poem is a testament to William Lisle Bowles' poetic genius and his contribution to the Romantic movement in literature.

Editor Recommended Sites

Learn GCP: Learn Google Cloud platform. Training, tutorials, resources and best practice
Statistics Community: Online community discussion board for stats enthusiasts
Flutter Training: Flutter consulting in DFW
What's the best App: Find the very best app across the different category groups. Apps without heavy IAP or forced auto renew subscriptions
Play Songs by Ear: Learn to play songs by ear with trainear.com ear trainer and music theory software

Recommended Similar Analysis

The Oxen by Thomas Hardy analysis
Change Upon Change by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Home Burial by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Tommy by Rudyard Kipling analysis
Sonnet 65: Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea by William Shakespeare analysis
Lycidas by John Milton analysis
The Grave by the Handpost by Thomas Hardy analysis
The Road And The End by Carl Sandburg analysis
Home Is So Sad by Philip Larkin analysis
An Army Corps On The March by Walt Whitman analysis