'Forgotten Master' by Robert Service

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Rhymes of a RoughneckAs you gaze beyond the bay
With such wanness in your eyes,
You who have out-stayed your day,
Seeing other stars arise,
Slender though your lifehold be,
Still you dream beside the sea.We, alas! may live too long,
Know the best part of us die;
Echo of your even-song
Hushes down the darkling sky . . .
But your greatness would be less
If you cherished bitterness.I am sure you do not care
Though the rabble turn thumbs down;
Their neglect you well can bear,
knowing you have won your crown,
proudly given of your best . . .
Masterlinck, leave God the rest.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Forgotten Master: An In-Depth Analysis of Robert Service's Classic

As the world of literature evolves, it is easy to forget the masters that came before us. One such forgotten master is Robert Service, a writer who was once revered for his poetry and storytelling. His work, including the classic "The Cremation of Sam McGee," is still read and enjoyed, but is often overlooked in modern times. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a deep dive into Service's classic poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and explore its themes, motifs, and symbolism.

Background and Context

First, let's provide some context for the poem. "The Cremation of Sam McGee" was first published in 1907 in Service's book "Songs of a Sourdough," which was a collection of his poetry about the Yukon Gold Rush. At the time of its publication, the Yukon Gold Rush was still fresh in the minds of many, and Service's poetry captured the spirit and hardships of the people who lived through it.

Service himself was born in England in 1874, but his family moved to Scotland when he was a child. He worked various jobs before moving to Canada in 1896, where he eventually became a banker. It wasn't until he was in his thirties that he started pursuing writing as a career. He published his first book of poetry, "The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses," in 1907, which included "The Cremation of Sam McGee."

Service's poetry was popular in his time, but he fell out of favor in the literary world as modernism took hold. His work was seen as too simplistic and populist, and he was labeled a "verse-maker" rather than a poet. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in his work, and some literary critics are reevaluating his place in literary history.

Themes and Motifs

Now, let's dive into the themes and motifs of "The Cremation of Sam McGee." On the surface, the poem is a macabre tale of a man named Sam McGee who dies in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon and is cremated by his friend, who promised to do so before he died. However, there are deeper themes at play in the poem.

One of the most prominent themes is the idea of the unknown and the fear it inspires. The Yukon wilderness is a harsh and unforgiving place, and Service captures its danger and mystery in his poetry. The opening lines of "The Cremation of Sam McGee" set the tone:

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

These lines set the scene for a story that is both strange and unsettling. The use of the word "queer" is particularly interesting, as it has a different connotation today than it did in Service's time. In the early 1900s, "queer" was often used to mean "strange" or "unusual," but today it is primarily used to refer to LGBTQ+ individuals. This shift in language highlights the way that language and culture change over time.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of friendship and loyalty. The narrator of the poem is a friend of Sam McGee, and he promises to cremate him after he dies. Despite the harsh conditions and the difficulty of the task, the narrator remains loyal to his friend and follows through on his promise. This theme is especially poignant when we consider the setting of the poem. In the Yukon Gold Rush, people often formed close bonds with one another out of necessity, as they relied on each other for survival. Service captures this sense of camaraderie in his poetry.

Symbolism and Imagery

In addition to its themes and motifs, "The Cremation of Sam McGee" is also rich in symbolism and imagery. One of the most striking examples of this is the use of fire throughout the poem. Fire is a powerful symbol in literature and can represent a variety of things, including passion, destruction, and rebirth. In "The Cremation of Sam McGee," fire represents all of these things.

At first, fire represents the warmth and comfort that Sam McGee craves as he is dying in the cold. The narrator promises to build a fire to warm him up, saying:

He was always cold, but the land of gold
Seemed to hold him like a spell;
Though he'd often say in his homely way
That "he'd sooner live in hell."
"Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold
It stabbed like a driven nail.
If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze
Till sometimes we couldn't see;
It wasn't much fun, but the only one
To whimper was Sam McGee.

However, as the poem progresses, fire takes on a more sinister tone. The narrator is forced to build a fire to cremate Sam McGee's body, and the fire is described in vivid and gruesome detail:

Then I made a hike, for I didn't like
To hear him sizzle so;
And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled,
And the wind began to blow.
It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled
Down my cheeks, and I don't know why;
And the greasy smoke in an inky cloak
Went streaking down the sky.

Through these lines, Service captures the horror and violence of the cremation process. The fire is no longer a source of warmth and comfort, but a force of destruction that consumes Sam McGee's body.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Cremation of Sam McGee" is a classic poem that deserves to be revisited and appreciated. Through its themes, motifs, and symbolism, it captures the spirit and hardships of the Yukon Gold Rush and explores universal themes of fear, loyalty, and mortality. Robert Service may have been a forgotten master, but his legacy lives on in his poetry.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Forgotten Master: A Masterpiece by Robert Service

Robert Service, a renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his exceptional works. Among his many masterpieces, Poetry Forgotten Master stands out as a true gem. This poem is a reflection of Service's deep understanding of the human psyche and his ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful words. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, structure, and literary devices used in Poetry Forgotten Master.

The poem begins with the line, "I have forgotten him, the poet who sang so sweetly." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a lament for a forgotten poet. The speaker of the poem expresses regret for not remembering the poet's name, but he remembers the beauty of his words. This is a common theme in Service's work, where he often explores the idea of memory and its fleeting nature.

The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a musical quality. The simplicity of the structure allows the words to flow smoothly, making it easy for the reader to get lost in the beauty of the language. The use of repetition in the first and last lines of each stanza also adds to the musicality of the poem.

The first stanza sets the scene for the rest of the poem. The speaker describes the poet as someone who "sang so sweetly." This line is a testament to the poet's ability to create beauty through his words. The speaker also mentions that the poet's words were like "a silver stream that rippled in the sun." This metaphor creates an image of the poet's words flowing effortlessly, like a stream of water. The use of the sun as a reference point adds to the beauty of the image, as it suggests warmth and light.

In the second stanza, the speaker expresses his regret for not remembering the poet's name. He says, "I cannot recall his name, but his words are with me yet." This line highlights the idea that memory is not always reliable, but the beauty of the poet's words has stayed with the speaker. The speaker also mentions that the poet's words were "like a lark that sang in the morning sky." This metaphor creates an image of the poet's words soaring high, like a bird in the sky. The use of the morning sky adds to the beauty of the image, as it suggests a new beginning.

The third stanza is where the poem takes a darker turn. The speaker says, "I wonder if he died, or if he still is singing." This line suggests that the poet may no longer be alive, and his beautiful words may have been lost forever. The speaker also mentions that the poet's words were "like a rose that bloomed in the desert sand." This metaphor creates an image of the poet's words as something rare and beautiful, growing in a place where it shouldn't be able to survive. The use of the desert sand adds to the beauty of the image, as it suggests a harsh and unforgiving environment.

The final stanza is a plea for the poet to be remembered. The speaker says, "Oh, let us find his name, and write it in the sky." This line suggests that the poet's name should be remembered forever, like a message written in the sky. The speaker also mentions that the poet's words were "like a flame that burned in the darkest night." This metaphor creates an image of the poet's words as something that can light up even the darkest of places. The use of the darkest night adds to the beauty of the image, as it suggests a time of great despair.

Throughout the poem, Service uses various literary devices to convey his message. The use of metaphors, such as the silver stream, the lark, the rose, and the flame, creates vivid images in the reader's mind. The repetition of the first and last lines of each stanza creates a musical quality that adds to the beauty of the language. The use of rhetorical questions, such as "I wonder if he died," creates a sense of uncertainty and adds to the emotional impact of the poem.

In conclusion, Poetry Forgotten Master is a masterpiece by Robert Service that explores the themes of memory, beauty, and the power of words. The poem's structure, use of literary devices, and musical quality make it a joy to read. Service's ability to convey complex emotions through simple yet powerful words is a testament to his skill as a poet. This poem is a reminder that even though people may be forgotten, their words can live on forever.

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