'Break, Break, Break' by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Poems1842Break, break, break,On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utterThe thoughts that arise in me.O, well for the fisherman's boy,That he shouts with his sister at play!
O, well for the sailor lad,That he sings in his boat on the bay!And the stately ships go onTo their haven under the hill;
But O for the touch of a vanish'd hand,And the sound of a voice that is still!Break, break, breakAt the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is deadWill never come back to me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Break, Break, Break by Alfred Lord Tennyson
A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
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"Break, break, break, On thy cold gray stones, O Sea! And I would that my tongue could utter The thoughts that arise in me."
"Break, Break, Break" is one of the most famous and moving poems written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. The poem was written in 1835 and was published in 1842 as part of "Poems" collection. The poem is a lyric lament for the loss of the poet's friend, Arthur Hallam, who died in 1833. The poem speaks of the poet's sense of helplessness and despair as he tries to come to terms with the death of his dear friend.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which is made up of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is mostly iambic, with occasional variations. The poem presents a powerful image of the sea, with its waves crashing against the shore, and the poet's feelings of loss and grief.
Formal Analysis
The poem is constructed in a relatively simple and straightforward form. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a sense of rhythm and order. The meter is primarily iambic, which adds to the poem's musical quality. However, the poem also contains some variations in meter, which serve to emphasize certain words and phrases.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which contains four lines. The first two stanzas are identical in structure, with the same rhyme scheme and meter. The third stanza differs slightly in structure, with the final line being shorter than the others. This difference in structure serves to emphasize the final line and give the poem a sense of closure.
Imagery
The poem is full of vivid imagery, which helps to create a sense of the poet's emotional state. The sea is presented as a powerful and relentless force, with its waves crashing against the shore. The repetition of the word "break" in the first line gives the poem a sense of urgency and emphasizes the relentless nature of the sea.
The sea is also presented as a symbol of the poet's grief and despair. The cold gray stones represent the poet's sense of isolation and loneliness, as he tries to come to terms with the death of his friend. The sea is also a metaphor for the passage of time, which continues to move forward even as the poet struggles to understand his loss.
Themes
The poem deals with a number of themes, including grief, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is a powerful expression of the poet's sense of loss and despair in the face of death. The repetition of the word "break" emphasizes the relentlessness of time, which continues to move forward even as the poet struggles to come to terms with his loss.
The poem also deals with the theme of isolation and loneliness. The cold gray stones of the sea represent the poet's sense of isolation and separation from the world around him. The repetition of the word "break" also emphasizes the poet's sense of helplessness and inability to express his feelings.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the reader's perspective. One interpretation is that the poem is a lament for the loss of the poet's friend, Arthur Hallam. The repetition of the word "break" emphasizes the poet's sense of grief and despair, as he tries to come to terms with his friend's death.
Another interpretation is that the poem is a meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The sea is presented as a symbol of the passage of time, which continues to move forward even as the poet struggles to understand his loss. The repetition of the word "break" emphasizes the relentless nature of time and serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death.
A third interpretation is that the poem is a critique of the Victorian era's emphasis on reason and rationality. The poem emphasizes the poet's emotional state and his inability to express his feelings through language. The repetition of the word "break" emphasizes the limitations of language and the need for a more emotional and intuitive approach to understanding the world.
Conclusion
"Break, Break, Break" is a powerful and moving poem that deals with themes of grief, loss, and the passage of time. The poem presents a vivid image of the sea, with its waves crashing against the shore, and the poet's sense of isolation and despair in the face of death. The repetition of the word "break" emphasizes the relentlessness of time and the limitations of language in expressing the poet's emotional state. The poem is a reminder of the importance of emotional expression and a critique of the Victorian era's emphasis on reason and rationality.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Break, Break, Break: An Analysis of Tennyson's Classic Poem
Alfred Lord Tennyson is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, and his works continue to inspire and move readers to this day. One of his most famous poems is "Break, Break, Break," a poignant reflection on grief and loss. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of this classic poem.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing the sea, which is described as "cold gray stones" that "lie still" in the "sadness" of the "long, long, long" waves. The repetition of "long" emphasizes the vastness and endlessness of the sea, which serves as a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of grief and despair. The sea is also personified as a "mourner" who "murmurs" and "moans" in sympathy with the speaker's sorrow.
The second stanza introduces the theme of loss, as the speaker reflects on the "happy voices" that used to fill the air but are now "silent." The use of the past tense suggests that these voices belong to people who are no longer alive, and the speaker's grief is compounded by the fact that he cannot hear them anymore. The repetition of "O" in the line "O, well for the fisherman's boy" adds a sense of longing and regret, as the speaker envies the carefree life of someone who is not burdened by loss.
The third stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's own emotions, as he describes himself as "broken-hearted" and "mute." The use of the word "mute" is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is unable to express his feelings in words. The repetition of "Break, break, break" in this stanza emphasizes the speaker's desperation and frustration, as he tries to make sense of his grief.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of time, as the speaker reflects on the fact that the sea "goes on" despite his own pain. The use of the word "unresting" suggests that the sea is relentless and unstoppable, and the speaker's own feelings of helplessness are emphasized by the contrast between the sea's constant motion and his own sense of stagnation.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close with a sense of acceptance and resignation. The speaker acknowledges that he will never be able to "meet" the person he has lost again, and that he must learn to live with his grief. The repetition of "But O" in the final line adds a sense of finality and closure, as the speaker comes to terms with his loss.
Throughout the poem, Tennyson uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey the speaker's emotions. The sea is a recurring motif, and its vastness and endlessness serve as a metaphor for the speaker's own feelings of grief and despair. The use of personification adds a sense of empathy and understanding to the poem, as the sea is portrayed as a fellow mourner who shares the speaker's pain.
The repetition of "long" and "break" throughout the poem adds a sense of rhythm and structure, and emphasizes the speaker's desperation and frustration. The use of the past tense in the second stanza adds a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the speaker reflects on happier times that are now gone.
In conclusion, "Break, Break, Break" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of grief, loss, and acceptance. Tennyson's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of empathy and understanding for the speaker's emotions, and the repetition of key words and phrases adds a sense of rhythm and structure to the poem. This classic work of poetry continues to resonate with readers today, and is a testament to Tennyson's enduring legacy as one of the greatest poets of the Victorian era.
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