'Two Children' by Robert Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Rhymes for My RagsGive me your hand, oh little one!Like children be we two;
Yet I am old, my day is doneThat barely breaks for you.
A baby-basket hard you hold,With in it cherries four:
You cherish them as men do gold,And count them o'er.And then you stumble in your walk;The cherries scattered lie.
You pick them up with foolish talkAnd foolish glad am I,
When you wipe one quite clean of dustAnd give it unto me;
So in the baby-basket justAre three.All this is simple, I confess,A moment piled with peace;
Yet loving men have died for less,And will till time shall cease. . . .
A silken hand in crinkled one--O Little Innocence!
O blessed moment in the sonE'er I go hence!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Two Children by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you a fan of poetry? Do you love reading and analyzing classic poems that have stood the test of time? Then you'll love this literary criticism and interpretation of Two Children, a beautiful and poignant poem by Robert Service. In this 4000-word article, we'll delve deep into the themes, motifs, and literary devices used in the poem, and explore the emotional impact it has on the reader.
Overview of Two Children
Two Children is a poem that tells the story of two children, a boy and a girl, who live in a small village. The poem is set in the winter, and we get a sense of the cold and harsh conditions they're living in. The girl is sick and dying, and the boy is trying to keep her warm and comfort her. The poem explores themes of love, death, and the harsh realities of life.
Structure and Form
The poem is written in free verse, which means that it doesn't have a strict rhyme scheme or meter. However, there is a subtle sense of rhythm in the poem, which is created by the repetition of certain phrases and the use of short, simple sentences. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each with four lines.
The first and third stanzas describe the setting of the poem and the dire condition of the girl. The second and fourth stanzas focus on the boy's efforts to keep her warm and alive, and his realization that she's dying.
Themes and Motifs
Love and Sacrifice: One of the central themes of the poem is the power of love and the sacrifices that people make for those they love. The boy is willing to brave the cold and risk his own health to keep the girl warm and comfort her. He sacrifices his own comfort and safety for hers, even though he knows that she's dying.
Death and Loss: Another prominent theme in the poem is death and loss. The girl is dying, and the boy knows that he's going to lose her. This theme is reinforced by the harsh winter setting, which suggests the harsh realities of life and the inevitability of death.
Nature and the Environment: The winter setting of the poem is also significant, as it highlights the harshness of the natural environment and its impact on the characters. The snow and cold are both beautiful and deadly, and they serve as a metaphor for the beauty and danger of life itself.
Literary Devices
Repetition: One of the most powerful literary devices used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "the cold bites shrewd and keen" is repeated twice in the first stanza, emphasizing the harshness of the environment and its impact on the characters. The repetition of the phrase "I love her so" in the second stanza reinforces the boy's love and devotion to the girl.
Metaphor: The snow and cold are both used as metaphors for the beauty and danger of life. The snow is described as a "counterpane of white" in the first stanza, which creates a sense of beauty and wonder. However, in the second stanza, the snow is described as "a shroud of death," emphasizing its deadly potential.
Imagery: The poem is full of vivid imagery, which helps to create a sense of place and emotion. The image of the "counterpane of white" in the first stanza is particularly striking, as it creates a sense of beauty and wonder. The image of the girl "tossed on a bed of snow" in the second stanza reinforces her vulnerability and the harshness of her situation.
Interpretation
Two Children is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the themes of love, death, and the harsh realities of life. The boy's love and sacrifice for the girl are both inspiring and heartbreaking, as we see him struggle to keep her warm and comfort her in her final moments.
The winter setting of the poem is also significant, as it highlights the harshness of the natural environment and its impact on the characters. The snow and cold are both beautiful and deadly, and they serve as a metaphor for the beauty and danger of life itself.
The repetition of certain phrases, such as "the cold bites shrewd and keen" and "I love her so," reinforces the emotional impact of the poem and creates a sense of rhythm and structure.
Overall, Two Children is a beautiful and poignant poem that reminds us of the power of love and the inevitability of death. It's a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move and inspire us, even after all these years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Two Children is a masterpiece of poetry that deserves to be read and studied by all lovers of literature. Its themes of love, death, and the harsh realities of life are timeless and universal, and its use of literary devices such as repetition, metaphor, and imagery are both powerful and effective.
Whether you're a seasoned poetry enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, Two Children is a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Its emotional impact and stark beauty are a testament to the enduring power of poetry to move and inspire us, even in the most difficult of times.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, paint vivid pictures in our minds, and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "Two Children" by Robert Service. This classic poem is a beautiful portrayal of innocence, friendship, and the joys of childhood. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, literary devices, and the impact it has had on readers over the years.
The poem "Two Children" is a short but powerful piece that tells the story of two children who are playing together in a garden. The poem begins with the speaker describing the scene before him. He sees two children, a boy and a girl, playing together in a garden. The children are laughing and having fun, and the speaker is struck by their innocence and joy.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker describes the children as "two little waifs of the world" who are "playing in the garden." The use of the word "waifs" immediately creates a sense of vulnerability and innocence. The children are not just playing, they are lost in their own world, free from the worries and troubles of the adult world.
The second stanza of the poem is where the true beauty of the piece lies. The speaker describes the children's game, which involves the boy pretending to be a knight and the girl pretending to be a lady. The boy is chivalrous and protective of the girl, and the girl is grateful and admiring of the boy. The game is a perfect representation of the innocence and purity of childhood. The children are not concerned with gender roles or societal expectations. They are simply playing and enjoying each other's company.
The third stanza of the poem takes a darker turn. The speaker describes how the children's game is interrupted by the arrival of the girl's mother. The mother scolds the girl for playing with the boy and tells her to come inside. The boy is left alone in the garden, and the speaker is struck by the sudden change in the atmosphere. The joy and innocence of the children's game is replaced by a sense of sadness and loss.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of childhood. The speaker realizes that the children's game is just a moment in time, and that soon they will grow up and leave their innocence behind. The poem ends with the speaker wishing that he could go back to that moment in the garden and relive the joy and innocence of childhood.
One of the most striking aspects of "Two Children" is the use of imagery. Robert Service paints a vivid picture of the children playing in the garden, and the reader can almost feel the warmth of the sun and the softness of the grass. The use of imagery is particularly effective in the second stanza, where the reader can almost see the children's game unfolding before their eyes.
Another literary device that is used in the poem is symbolism. The boy's role as a knight and the girl's role as a lady represent the innocence and purity of childhood. The fact that the girl's mother interrupts the game and takes her away symbolizes the loss of innocence that comes with growing up.
The poem "Two Children" has had a profound impact on readers over the years. It has been praised for its simplicity and its ability to capture the essence of childhood. The poem has been translated into multiple languages and has been taught in schools around the world. It has also been adapted into music and has been performed by various artists.
In conclusion, "Two Children" is a beautiful poem that captures the innocence and joy of childhood. Robert Service's use of imagery and symbolism creates a vivid picture of the children playing in the garden, and the poem's themes of innocence and loss resonate with readers of all ages. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds.
Editor Recommended Sites
Best Strategy Games - Highest Rated Strategy Games & Top Ranking Strategy Games: Find the best Strategy games of all timeOpen Models: Open source models for large language model fine tuning, and machine learning classification
SRE Engineer: Guide to SRE engineering
Docker Education: Education on OCI containers, docker, docker compose, docker swarm, podman
Build Quiz - Dev Flashcards & Dev Memorization: Learn a programming language, framework, or study for the next Cloud Certification
Recommended Similar Analysis
Elegy by Dylan Thomas analysisPioneers ! O Pioneers! by Walt Whitman analysis
Ballad Of The Despairing Husband by Robert Creeley analysis
Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins analysis
Fragmentary Blue by Robert Frost analysis
Three Sundays In A Week by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
On Time by John Milton analysis
Bereft by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Village Blacksmith, The by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
Frost At Midnight by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis