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Question:
But
the fair guerdon when we hope to find,
And
think to burst out into sudden blaze,
Comes
the blind Fury with th'abhorred shears,
And
slits the thin-spun life. 73-76
Explanation:
These lines express the
speaker's frustration and grief over Lycidas's death. He reflects on how
Lycidas had great potential and hoped to achieve remarkable things ("fair
guerdon"). Just as someone expects to burst into success and recognition
("sudden blaze"), Lycidas's life is tragically cut short. The
unexpectedness and finality of death are emphasized by the contrast between the
anticipated "blaze" and the abrupt ending.
Key terms:
·
Guerdon: Reward, usually
for achievement or merit.
·
Blaze: Sudden burst of
light or glory.
·
Fury: In Greek
mythology, the Erinyes were vengeful goddesses associated with violence
and retribution. Here, "Fury" is personified as a blind
force representing death.
·
Shears: An instrument used
for cutting, symbolizing the finality of death.
·
Thin-spun life: A metaphor for the
fragility of human life.
Question
"He knew Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme./
He must not float upon his watery bier/
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind," (Lines 105-109)
Explanation:
The lines you provided are from John Milton's
elegy "Lycidas," lamenting the death of a young poet named Edward
King. Let's break down the meaning of each line and the overall message:
Line 105: "He knew Himself to sing, and
build the lofty rhyme."
·
This line
establishes that Lycidas was not only talented but also self-aware of his
poetic ability.
·
"Sing"
and "build the lofty rhyme" both refer to his skill in crafting
poetry, likely of a grand and ambitious style.
Line 106: "He must not float upon his
watery bier"
·
Here, "watery
bier" is a metaphor for the ocean, where Lycidas drowned.
·
A bier is
a platform on which a corpse is placed before burial, emphasizing the
finality of Lycidas's death.
Line 107: "Unwept, and welter to the
parching wind,"
·
"Unwept"
indicates a fear that Lycidas might be forgotten and unmourned.
·
"Welter"
means to toss about violently, suggesting the image of his body being
battered by the ocean waves.
·
"Parching
wind" adds a layer of harshness and discomfort to the already bleak image.
Line 108: "Without the meed of some
melodious tear."
·
"Meed"
means a deserved reward or offering.
·
A
"melodious tear" is a metaphor for a poem, specifically a lament
or elegy written in his honor.
·
This line
emphasizes the importance of poetry as a form of commemoration and mourning.
Overall Message:
These lines express the speaker's deep grief
for Lycidas and their belief that he deserves to be remembered and honored
through poetry. They argue that his talent and potential merit a
"melodious tear," ensuring his legacy isn't lost to the harshness of
nature and oblivion.
Additional Points:
·
The
reference to Lycidas's own ability to "build the lofty rhyme" creates
a sense of tragic irony, highlighting the loss of his potential.
·
The
speaker's passionate call for a "melodious tear" sets the stage for
the rest of the poem, which itself becomes a fulfillment of that wish.
"Look homeward Angel now, and melt with
ruth:/
And, O ye Dolphins', waft the hapless
youth." (Lines 163-164) –
This line appeals to divine intervention and suggests faith as a source of comfort Explain?
Interpretation:
·
Look homeward
Angel: The speaker implores a guardian angel to return to its heavenly
home. This implies that the angel has been present on Earth, potentially
protecting Lycidas, the drowned young shepherd.
·
And melt with
ruth: The speaker asks the angel to be moved by compassion ("ruth")
for Lycidas' unfortunate fate.
·
And, O ye Dolphins',
waft the hapless youth: The speaker pleads with the dolphins to transport
Lycidas' body safely back to his home.
Symbolic Interpretation:
·
Angel: The angel
can represent various interpretations. It could be a literal guardian angel, a
symbol of divine protection, or even a metaphor for Lycidas' own soul ascending
to heaven.
·
Melting with
ruth: This can signify either the angel's own sorrow for Lycidas or its
power to intercede with God on his behalf.
·
Dolphins: In
mythology, dolphins were often associated with guidance and safe passage,
making them symbolic vessels for carrying Lycidas home.
Faith as Comfort:
By appealing to the angel and dolphins, the
speaker expresses hope for something beyond human control. This act of faith,
even in the face of immense grief, offers comfort in the possibility of divine
intervention and a peaceful afterlife for Lycidas.
However, it's important to note that there's a
subtle ambiguity in the lines.
·
Is the speaker genuinely
hopeful, or is this a desperate plea in the face of tragedy?
·
Does the poem
ultimately offer solace through faith, or does it highlight the limitations of
human control and the unknown nature of the afterlife?
Milton leaves these questions open to interpretation,
inviting readers to engage with the complex nature of faith and grief.
Question:
"Fame is no plant that grows on mortal
soil,/Nor in the glistering foil/Set off to th'world, nor in broad rumour
lies," (Lines 70-72) - This line challenges the idea of earthly fame
and suggests that true recognition comes from God Explain?
Ans: John Milton's poem "Lycidas,"
express a clear skepticism towards worldly fame and recognition. Let's unpack
the points further:
1. Mortality of earthly fame: "Fame is
no plant that grows on mortal soil" emphasizes the fleeting nature of
earthly recognition. By calling it a "plant" that grows on
"mortal soil," the speaker highlights its
impermanence, suggesting that fame based on earthly achievements withers
and dies along with our mortality.
2. Superficiality of appearances: "Nor
in the glistering foil/Set off to th'world" criticizes the shallowness of
outward appearances and public perception. "Glistering foil"
symbolizes a superficial, attention-grabbing facade that may attract immediate
recognition but lacks depth and substance.
3. Impermanence of rumors: "Nor in
broad rumour lies" dismisses the fleeting and unreliable nature of popular
chatter. Rumors may bring temporary fame, but they are often
inaccurate, distorted, and quickly forgotten.
By contrasting these earthly sources of fame
with the "Immortal Amaranth" mentioned later in the poem, the speaker
suggests that true recognition comes from God and endures beyond our mortal
existence. This aligns with religious and philosophical perspectives that see
true value in spiritual growth and connection with a higher power rather than
fleeting, earthly achievements.
It's important to note that not everyone
interprets these lines in the same way. Some might focus on the critique of
shallow fame without necessarily attributing true recognition to God.
Ultimately, the poem invites introspection and individual interpretation on the
value and meaning of true recognition.
Question:
Ay me! Whilst thee the shores and sounding
Seas
Wash far away, where ere thy bones are hurld,
(Lines
154-155)
Explanation:
These lines express the speaker's deep grief
and anguish over the death of Lycidas. He imagines Lycidas's body being tossed
around by the waves of the vast and powerful sea, far away from any land.
"Ay me!": This is an exclamation of
lament, expressing the speaker's sorrow and despair.
"Whilst thee the shores and sounding
Seas/Wash far away": This personifies the sea, imagining it as an active
force that is carrying Lycidas's body away. The use of "sounding
Seas" emphasizes the vastness and power of the ocean, which seems to dwarf
and isolate Lycidas.
"where ere thy bones are hurld":
This further emphasizes the sense of Lycidas being lost and alone at sea. The
image of his bones being "hurled" suggests a lack of control and
finality.
Overall, these lines create a powerful image
of Lycidas's isolation and the speaker's helplessness in the face of death.
Additional notes:
The line "sounding Seas" is an
example of Milton's use of alliteration, which can create a sense of rhythm and
emphasis.
The image of the sea is also significant in
the poem because it is often associated with death and the underworld in
mythology and literature.
These lines are part of a larger section of
the poem where the speaker is lamenting the loss of Lycidas and questioning the
meaning of life and death.
Question
"And now the sun had stretch'd out all
the hills,
And now was dropp'd into the western bay;
At last he rose, and twitch'd his mantle blue:
To-morrow to fresh woods, and pastures
new."
Lines 190 - 193
Explanation:
These lines are from the concluding part of
John Milton's pastoral elegy "Lycidas." Let's break down the lines:
1. "And now the sun had stretch'd out all
the hills": This line indicates the passage of time as the sun has spread
its light across the landscape, covering all the hills. It suggests the
completion of a day or a phase.
2. "And now was dropp'd into the western
bay": The sun has descended and disappeared into the western horizon,
signifying the end of the day as it sets over the sea.
3. "At last he rose, and twitch'd his mantle
blue": This refers to the rising of a new day. The sun, personified here,
"rises" and seems to adjust or shake off its "mantle,"
symbolizing the morning sky. The "mantle blue" likely refers to the color
of the sky at dawn.
4. "To-morrow to fresh woods, and pastures
new": The speaker expresses anticipation for the coming day. The sun,
having set, is expected to rise again tomorrow. The phrase "fresh woods,
and pastures new" suggests a sense of renewal and the promise of new
experiences or opportunities. It reflects a hopeful and forward-looking
attitude.
In these lines, Milton uses the imagery of the
sun's cycle to convey the cyclical nature of life and the idea of renewal and
new beginnings, echoing the broader themes of the poem.
