A Dream Analysis

In visions of the dark night
I have dreamed of joy departed-
But a waking dream of life and light
Hath left me broken-hearted.

Ah! what is not a dream by day
To him whose eyes are cast
On things around him with a ray
Turned back upon the past?

That holy dream- that holy dream,
While all the world were chiding,
Hath cheered me as a lovely beam
A lonely spirit guiding.

What though that light, thro' storm and night,
So trembled from afar-
What could there be more purely bright
In Truth's day-star?

.: :.

my interpretation to the poem:
In the poem, poe is distinguishing two kinds of dreams: day- dream and night- dream.Both are accompanied by unique descriptions; day-dream with light, life, holliness, happiness and guidance, as he says on the first verse "But (as opposed to a night-dream) a waking dream (a day-dream) of life and light/Hath left me broken-hearted"- a day -dream,as opposed to a night-dream is so good that poe compares its depart to the depart of one's lover- leaves him "broken-heared".
The night-dream is accompanied by death, sadness where "joy-departed", dark and lost.
The purpose of this comperison is to show the speaker has learned from some-what experience and now he has come with new conclusions in his song for the future. That's why the poem is written in the past. The speaker remembers dreams from his past, for example, his surprise call on the third verse "ah ! what is not a dream by day"or another example on the third verse "that holy dream-that holy dream" using the world "that" hints that the object is far from him, in this case "the dream".
The third verse leads me to my second point. Though through-out the whole poem, Poe is "praising" the day- it is most clear on the third verse and actually leads the readers to the main meaning and message of the poem. Saying "that holy dream" and repeat on it twice, showing the day dream as an imgine of a magical place one can run away to "while all the world were chiding",the day dream is the guidance of the speaker's life which apparently is not easing on him, it's the one that "hath cheered ma as a lovely beam/A lonely spirit guiding".
As I started to say before, the speaker's experience has taught him and got him to the conclusion that the day dream is his answer. The forth verse shows it brighly. Poe is suggesting that dreaming in the night is part of one's hard day-to-day life, the reality. It's the routine of life- you wake up, you eat, you work, you pee, you eat again, you come home, you shower and you go to bad and dream. Because escaping to the day dream from reality is the solution as far to the speaker, night-dreams are just not good and pure enough cause they are a part of the day-to-day routine and because of that, they can't be used as "a shelter from the storm",a shelter from life. On the other hand, a day-dream can- "what though that light, thro' storm and night". Poe choses to write these conclusions on the positive way, he refers to the adventages of a day-dream only and by that he eliminates the night-dream and emphasizes the importance of the day-dream.
The last verse is strongly focused on the praise of the da-dream. The truth is found in the "day-star" and it's "purely bright" and not in the stars of the night, when we usually dream our dreams.
"Day-star" is another form to day-dream and since the poem is abstract it is more than welcome to the logical thinking of the readers.
To conclude, Poe is so sure about his assumption about the day- dream that he even dares to use a rhetorical question by the end of the poem, asking so surley within the answer " What could there be more purely bright/ In Truth's day-star?"

| Posted on 2009-10-16 | by rog

.: :.

Okay, this is what I think it means. I think it means that he's happier asleep than he is awake. In the first lines, he speaks of waking up as a bad thing. Then, he goes on to say that it isn't a dream to those stuck in the past, and continues onto say that its the inspiration to hope to think of joys deprived. It has helped through the true darkness of actual life, despite others negativity of focusing on the past.
That's what I got, what do you think?

| Posted on 2009-06-18 | by a guest

.: :.

I'm not quite sure if my analysis is correct, but this is what I have so far in analyzing this poem, and I do hope someone responds and perhaps helps me a bit?
"A Dream" was a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe and published after his death in 1849. As a dark romantic writer, Poe is able to connect his emotions and feelings with his writings; thus writing this lyric poem. This poem is organized in a Shakespearean quatrain structure, which composes of four stanzas with four lines in each stanza. Poe uses a rhyme scheme: abab; cdcd; efef; agag and can be seen through his use of perfect rhymes. Tone, stylistic devices, and effects of sounds, meter, and rhyme are present in Poe’s poem, resulting the establishment of the theme of reality versus dream.
Poe’s usage of emotion plays with the reader’s imagination, and sets the mood suitable for the theme. He speaks of sorrow as though it is something that should be escaped from, and it is a common theme throughout the poem. Poe uses, “A lonely spirit guiding” 12 to find a clash of optimism through sadness, which corresponds with the theme of finding an escape when sadness is present. Furthermore, a prominent recurring theme is the way in which Poe illustrates his disappointment in waking up, expressing the contrast between reality and dreams, and his comprehension of the two separate worlds.
Poe uses this dream as an extended metaphor for dawn scenery, and proposes that in the darkness of night, there is still hope, as the sun will eventually rise. He ends with “In Truth’s day-star” 12, an allusion to the sun, to express that the sun has fully risen and how Truth brightens the skies and begins a new day. This creates the mood of hopefulness and corresponds to the theme of reality versus dream, because the sun is part of reality, however he uses sarcasm when asking “What could there be more purely bright / In Truth’s Day Star” 11, as though mocking the idea of Truth. This portrays an image of Poe using a grand idea of contrasting reality with an ideal utopian world through dreams.it follows a rhyme scheme of abab. It is about him being left and heart broken by his love. He talks about truth and stuff. He also uses allusions meaning he refers to religion like when he says holy dream-that holy dream. This is annoying.it follows a rhyme scheme of abab. It is about him being left and heart broken by his love. He talks about truth and stuff. He also uses allusions meaning he refers to religion like when he says holy dream-that holy dream. This is annoying.The poem is about a lost love. He had a dream about her and was broken hearted to find her gone when he woke up. In the second stanza he asks how if your always looking at the psat how is it that everything you look at now not a dream. The third stanza he is explaining how most people say paying attention to dreams is stupid. He believes that the dream was an angel helping him move forward by reminding him of the past. In the 4th stanza. Light represents the dream or angel. He says if it could reach him through the night and storm than it is even brighter and greater than the sun.ok, what's with the whole love thing? he says a joy departed, can it not be a referal to something in the past that was good for him, like when life was just good in general? he never mentions love in the poem, you are all just asumming! the first stanza is about a lost joy, the second about him being stuck in the moment, so even if he's in the here and now he cannot help but be in the past. in the third stanza he talks about this holy dream of joy guiding him. in the last he just glorifies it even more.

| Posted on 2009-06-10 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem is about a lost love. He had a dream about her and was broken hearted to find her gone when he woke up. In the second stanza he asks how if your always looking at the psat how is it that everything you look at now not a dream. The third stanza he is explaining how most people say paying attention to dreams is stupid. He believes that the dream was an angel helping him move forward by reminding him of the past. In the 4th stanza. Light represents the dream or angel. He says if it could reach him through the night and storm than it is even brighter and greater than the sun.

| Posted on 2009-06-10 | by a guest

.: :.

Poe’s life had influenced many of his writings. His life was specifically influenced by this poem because in the beginning poem he talks about being a dream leaving him heart broken. He is explaining to us how in reality dreaming left him broken hearted. He also explains in the poem how dreams comforted him from the real world. Poe always used to dream to help him get over his depression. In “A Dream” the last two stanzas say “What could there be more purely bright, In Truth’s day star. In the he is referring to the Truth day star being the star. Poe is trying to explain that Truth brightens the skies and begins a new day. It also corresponds to the theme of reality versus a dream. In the poem and in the story he is trying to escape from reality in a good and bad way. I think that while he was writing this poem, he was depressed. Basically Edgar Allen Poe’s life was like a roller coaster.

| Posted on 2009-03-24 | by a guest

.: :.

I'm not quite sure if my analysis is correct, but this is what I have so far in analyzing this poem, and I do hope someone responds and perhaps helps me a bit?
"A Dream" was a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe and published after his death in 1849. As a dark romantic writer, Poe is able to connect his emotions and feelings with his writings; thus writing this lyric poem. This poem is organized in a Shakespearean quatrain structure, which composes of four stanzas with four lines in each stanza. Poe uses a rhyme scheme: abab; cdcd; efef; agag and can be seen through his use of perfect rhymes. Tone, stylistic devices, and effects of sounds, meter, and rhyme are present in Poe’s poem, resulting the establishment of the theme of reality versus dream.
Poe’s usage of emotion plays with the reader’s imagination, and sets the mood suitable for the theme. He speaks of sorrow as though it is something that should be escaped from, and it is a common theme throughout the poem. Poe uses, “A lonely spirit guiding” 12 to find a clash of optimism through sadness, which corresponds with the theme of finding an escape when sadness is present. Furthermore, a prominent recurring theme is the way in which Poe illustrates his disappointment in waking up, expressing the contrast between reality and dreams, and his comprehension of the two separate worlds.
Poe uses this dream as an extended metaphor for dawn scenery, and proposes that in the darkness of night, there is still hope, as the sun will eventually rise. He ends with “In Truth’s day-star” 12, an allusion to the sun, to express that the sun has fully risen and how Truth brightens the skies and begins a new day. This creates the mood of hopefulness and corresponds to the theme of reality versus dream, because the sun is part of reality, however he uses sarcasm when asking “What could there be more purely bright / In Truth’s Day Star” 11, as though mocking the idea of Truth. This portrays an image of Poe using a grand idea of contrasting reality with an ideal utopian world through dreams.

| Posted on 2008-11-23 | by a guest

.: :.

It is a good dream of the past when awoken he is thrown into the dark reality that he was only dreaming. His life is on a roller coaster of hardships. He feels very alone and is guided by rays of past and lights. These are the only things keeping him going.

| Posted on 2008-06-30 | by a guest

.: :.

In his dreams he dreams of being somber and a great lack of happiness, even in the day after he has escaped his terror in his dreams he remains miserable. Every time he looks into the past he slips back into a very deep depression. Despite all of the horrid acts that are falling upon him he has something holy, a light, which keeps him from “throwing in the towel.” He is showing us throughout this life he is constantly facing adversity but still makes it through the days.
Ryan S.

| Posted on 2008-06-11 | by a guest

.: :.

I am doing a response to lit on the poem right now and here is what I have So far: In Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, The Dream, he tells about how dreams can be an escape from reality in a good way and a bad way. I think Edgar Allen Poe was depressed when he wrote this poem. In the first two lines he says,” In visions of the dark night I have dreamed of joy departed,” which means in a dream I have dreamed of joy leaving me, or being depressed.
In the third and fourth lines he tells about how in reality dreaming left him broken-hearted. In the second verse he talks about how dreams can be a comfort from the real world. He tells how turning back upon the past is not good and will only bring back the bad memories.
Here’s my interpretation of the entire third stanza:
That holy dream- that holy dream: This line is telling us he had an amazing and fantastic dream. While all the world were chiding: this is saying that in his dream everything was perfect but in reality people were still doing bad things. Hath cheered me as a lovely beam, A lonely spirit guiding: I believe when he wrote these lines he was thinking of his dream as a guide through the harsh and bitter reality, Such as a beam shooting ahead of you to clear a path.
In the entire fourth stanza Edgar Allen Poe is trying to get the image across, that a dream is stronger than light, thro’ storm and night. Without a doubt Edgar was in a depressed mood when he wrote this poem. With the Rhythm of A B A B the poem turned out to be a good poem with a nice story line. In conclusion Poe was trying to say that dreams can be an escape from reality but can also bring back memories from the past.

| Posted on 2008-05-11 | by a guest

.: english :.

I think that the first stanza describes how dreams cause him pain. That in a sense dreams are like a drug, like his alchohol, that it makes everything better for a while but when he is sober,awake, he is depressed yet again and leaves him broken-hearted.

| Posted on 2008-04-30 | by a guest

.: My thoughts :.

I think that Poe was so depressed when he wrote this poem that he is heartbroken when he wakes from it. The dreams are the only thing he has left to keep him going-but it is a powerful force for him. Although he hates his life, he looks forward to the dark night when he can dream and escape. The two worlds are like night and day for him. Poe wrote this probably in late 1848. It was published in 1849. This was at the end of his life, where he went through many struggles, such as alcohol addiction and mood swings. He attempted suicide in 1848, so that shows how strong and depressing the storms and darkness he experiences all the time are.

| Posted on 2008-04-24 | by a guest

.: A Dream Poem :.

This Poem is AWEsome. It rhymes. BRoken hearted rhymes with a joy departed.His nightmares are his conflicts and problems in his real life. IT has an A B A B A B A b rhyme scheme. Go Ryan Radcliff!!! Go Fairview!!!

| Posted on 2008-03-18 | by a guest

.: HELP!!!! :.

hi i'm so sorry but could you please delete the analysis called "The REAL Analysis xD" off of this site for a few weeks!!
my brother put that message up when i havent even handed it in yet!!! i'm afraid mi teacher will think i've cheated!!!
HELP!!!
i put so much time into it!
can u take it off this site JUST for a few days!!!
i'm begging you!!!
i dont have enough time to start a new analysis!!!
I'M BEGGING YOU!!!
u can put it bak on in a few days!!!
PLEASE =[
from a desperate school kid!!

| Posted on 2008-03-18 | by a guest

.: The REAL Analysis xD :.

The overall message of the poem is that dreams are your sub- conscious; that you can escape painful memories by entering them. In this poem he is comparing his dreams with his memories. I think he is depicting nightmares as conflicts and problems in his life. Whereas his “holy” dreams (as described in the poem) are sacred and describe his happiest of memories. He implies that the only reason we dream at night is to work through the struggles in life.
Edgar is escaping from his cold reality by visiting his dreams where he writes he experiences joy. In the first verse he describes his desperation for anything but his life. He wishes to remain in his joyous dreams forever but knows that he must return to his every-day life in which day by day he is left feeling heartbroken. In the second and third verse Edgar is talking about how you should not dwell on the past. He says that dreams can be a comfort and help you to let go of feelings that will leave you heartbroken etc.
The structure of the poem is A-B-A-B and is constant throughout the poem.
In this poem the literary devices used are end rhymes, extended metaphor, a rhyming meter, alliteration, and imagery.
This is not about love! I repeat NOT about love!
Hope this helps =] =]
xD

| Posted on 2008-03-11 | by a guest

.: analysis of the poem :.

dreams are in your subconcious nd the only reason that you have dreams is to work through the struggles in your life....

| Posted on 2008-01-01 | by a guest

.: analysis :.

This poem describes the struggle between the dream world and reality. The narrator hides from reality through dreams and memories, but realizes that in the end, he will have to face the 'real world'.
In the first verse, the narrator longs for something other than reality, but knows that after returning to reality, he will feel heartbroken and will just want to go back to his fantasy world.
In the second and third verses, the narrator says that, though you shouldn't dwell on the past, dreams can be a comfort.
Finally, in the last verse, the narrator realizes that reality has caught up with him and that you should live on today.
I don't think this poem is about 'lost love.' It's about living on dreams and escaping from reality. Edgar Allan Poe probably went through a stage in his life when he wanted to hide away from the real world.

| Posted on 2007-12-11 | by a guest

.: poe :.

i believe it is about a previous lover who is now dead
" joy departed"
" hath left me broken hearted"
he is dreaming about his lover
the whole point is that it is better to be dreaming and with your lover than alive and alone

good day to you all.

| Posted on 2007-10-08 | by a guest

.: :.

This poem describes poes struggle between the dream world and the world of reality.Poe uses light imagery to depict the truth in reality and in dreams. Poe at first sees his dreams as "Holy". With holyness comes purity. In the end however he comes to the realization that the ture purity is in reality.

| Posted on 2007-03-18 | by a guest

.: A Dream :.

I'm speaking as a recovering alcoholic. I'm aware that many would characterize Poe's drinking as problematic. I can't speak for him, but for me, when drinking, the present was usually a mess and the future a horrifying nightmare. The past offered some solace and a degree of certainty that existed nowhere else in time. "A Dream" illustrates this feeling, I think. Poe, like many alcholics, may have been clinging to the past for fear of present and what the future might bring.

| Posted on 2007-03-04 | by a guest

.: Analysis of "A Dream" :.

The poem "A Dream" can have many alternative meanings, however, this one stood the most out to me. As the obvious states, his dreams are compared to his memories, while nightmares are symbolic for conflicts or depressing memories. Even though there is discussion that this poem is focused on romance, that is not entirely true. The main point that the author is trying to get across is that the speaker uses his memories to guide him through life, acting as a sort of torch. The speaker also believes that his dreams are sacred, as he says his dreams are "holy." The speaker also has reason to believe that the world disapproves of him, however, he can keep going on through life by clinging onto his memories. I believe that because the speaker relates his dreams to memories, that his memories are slipping away and are difficult to grasp, like dreams are.
Some literary devices used in this poem include end rhymes, extended metaphor, a rhyming meter, alliteration, and imagery. The rhyming scheme follows as "A-B-A-B" and is consitent throughout the poem.
I am drawing to the conclusion of my brief summary of the poem, and hope that you can figure the rest out by yourself. Remember to hang onto your dreams and follow your goals!
Signed,
Edgar Allan Poe Fan


| Posted on 2007-02-28 | by a guest

.: A Dream Analysis :.

His dreams, of course, are a connection to his memories, whether being good or bad. His "nightmares" are associated with the bad memories of his lifetime, while his regular dreams are good memories. He uses both these good and bad memories to continue on in life, and uses them as a sort of torch on a dark night. This poem may not be about a lost love, but it is certainly about a world that the poet created for himself when times were harsh.

| Posted on 2007-02-18 | by a guest

.: A Dream Analysis :.

Excuse me but stupid is not a vocabulary term that high quality gentle-ladies would use. Now excuse me while I dominate all of you puny pathetic people and give the right analysis that this poem needs. *ahem* His dreams, of course, are a connection to his memories, whether being good or bad. His "nightmares" are associated with the bad memories of his lifetime, while his regular dreams are good memories. He uses both these good and bad memories to continue on in life, and uses them as a sort of torch on a dark night. This poem may not be about a lost love, but it is certainly about a world that the poet created for himself when times were harsh.

| Posted on 2007-02-18 | by a guest

.: hello :.

the poem is NOT about love, during the time when he wrote this poem, he was going through a lot of problems, such as his dad not paying for his college funds and not having the money to support his self. the "Joy departed" is his past, the time when things were easier and he had less to worry about and didnt have to worry about supporting his self. so HAH :D

| Posted on 2006-06-20 | by Approved Guest

.: :.

I believe that perhaps this poem is more simple than others are making it out to be. It is my opinion that he is speaking of a daydream, looking upon something and remembering. He speaks of how though people are all around him living their daily lives he cherishes the moment where he can escape, reflect on the past. Not necessarily on a past love. Almost as if he's dreaming of something that has left him, good times. Poe was human too and surely he must have also had some good times in his life. The daydream probably cheered him up when he was having a rough day, or reminded him that things would get better. I hope this analysis makes sense to you... I know it's a bit jumpy.

| Posted on 2006-05-22 | by Approved Guest

.: that dude :.

ok, what's with the whole love thing? he says a joy departed, can it not be a referal to something in the past that was good for him, like when life was just good in general? he never mentions love in the poem, you are all just asumming! the first stanza is about a lost joy, the second about him being stuck in the moment, so even if he's in the here and now he cannot help but be in the past. in the third stanza he talks about this holy dream of joy guiding him. in the last he just glorifies it even more.

| Posted on 2006-01-09 | by Approved Guest

.: :.

The poem is about a lost love. He had a dream about her and was broken hearted to find her gone when he woke up. In the second stanza he asks how if your always looking at the psat how is it that everything you look at now not a dream. The third stanza he is explaining how most people say paying attention to dreams is stupid. He believes that the dream was an angel helping him move forward by reminding him of the past. In the 4th stanza. Light represents the dream or angel. He says if it could reach him through the night and storm than it is even brighter and greater than the sun.

| Posted on 2005-05-30 | by Approved Guest

.: english :.

it follows a rhyme scheme of abab. It is about him being left and heart broken by his love. He talks about truth and stuff. He also uses allusions meaning he refers to religion like when he says holy dream-that holy dream. This is annoying.it follows a rhyme scheme of abab. It is about him being left and heart broken by his love. He talks about truth and stuff. He also uses allusions meaning he refers to religion like when he says holy dream-that holy dream. This is annoying.

| Posted on 2005-05-29 | by Approved Guest