'Break, Break, Break' by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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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.
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 on
To 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, break
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Break, Break, Break: A Literary Criticism
Alfred Lord Tennyson's Break, Break, Break is a melancholic poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and the passage of time. Despite its brevity, the poem's impact is undeniable, thanks to Tennyson's masterful use of language and imagery.
Background
First published in 1842, Break, Break, Break was included in Tennyson's collection of poetry, Poems. The poem is believed to be inspired by the death of Tennyson's dear friend, Arthur Hallam, who died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the young age of 22.
Tennyson was deeply affected by Hallam's death and spent years grieving his loss. Break, Break, Break is seen as a reflection of Tennyson's sorrow and his struggle to come to terms with his friend's untimely death.
Summary
Break, Break, Break is a short poem consisting of four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABBA.
The poem begins with the line "Break, break, break, / On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!" The repeated use of the word "break" creates a sense of urgency and desperation. Tennyson seems to be pleading with the sea to release him from his grief.
In the second stanza, Tennyson describes the "tender grace of a day that is dead." The image of a dead day is a metaphor for Hallam's death. Tennyson laments the loss of his friend and the passing of time.
The third stanza introduces a new image: "But O for the touch of a vanished hand, / And the sound of a voice that is still!" Tennyson longs for the presence of his friend, a longing that is made more poignant by the fact that Hallam is no longer alive to offer comfort.
The final stanza ends with the line "Break, break, break, / At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!" Tennyson's use of repetition in the opening and closing lines of the poem creates a sense of circularity, suggesting that his grief is a recurring theme in his life.
Analysis
Break, Break, Break is a deeply personal poem that explores Tennyson's grief and his struggle to come to terms with the loss of his friend. The poem is notable for its use of repetition, which creates a sense of urgency and desperation.
The repeated use of the word "break" is particularly effective. Tennyson seems to be pleading with the sea to release him from his grief, as if the crashing waves could somehow wash away his pain.
The metaphor of the dead day is also effective. Tennyson uses the image of a day that has passed to represent the death of his friend. The image emphasizes the passage of time and the finality of death.
The third stanza is particularly poignant. Tennyson longs for the touch of his friend's hand and the sound of his voice. This longing is made more heartbreaking by the fact that Hallam is no longer alive to offer comfort.
The final stanza is also notable for its circularity. The poem begins and ends with the same lines, suggesting that Tennyson's grief is a recurring theme in his life. The use of repetition in the closing lines creates a sense of finality, as if Tennyson has resigned himself to his grief.
Interpretation
Break, Break, Break is a powerful meditation on grief and loss. The poem is deeply personal, with Tennyson using his own experiences of loss to explore universal themes.
At its core, Break, Break, Break is a poem about the passage of time and the finality of death. Tennyson recognizes that life is fleeting and that death is inevitable. The image of the dead day represents the finality of death, while the repeated use of the word "break" suggests an urgency to make the most of the time we have.
The poem is also a reflection of Tennyson's own grief. By using the sea as a metaphor for his emotions, Tennyson suggests that grief is like the tide, always coming and going. The circularity of the poem suggests that Tennyson's grief is a recurring theme in his life, something that he must learn to live with.
Conclusion
Break, Break, Break is a powerful poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and the passage of time. Tennyson's use of repetition and metaphor creates a sense of urgency and desperation, emphasizing the importance of living in the moment.
The poem is deeply personal, with Tennyson using his own experiences of loss to explore universal themes. The image of the dead day represents the finality of death, while the repeated use of the word "break" suggests an urgency to make the most of the time we have.
Ultimately, Break, Break, Break is a reminder to cherish the moments we have with the people we love, as time is fleeting and death is inevitable.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Break, Break, Break: A Heartbreaking Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Alfred Lord Tennyson is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era. His works have been widely read and appreciated for their depth, beauty, and emotional intensity. One of his most famous poems is "Break, Break, Break," a poignant and heart-wrenching piece that captures the pain and sorrow of loss.
The poem was written in 1834, when Tennyson was only 24 years old. It was published in his second volume of poetry, "Poems," in 1842. The poem is a lyric, which means it is a short, emotional poem that expresses the thoughts and feelings of the speaker. In this case, the speaker is Tennyson himself, and the poem is a reflection on the death of his friend, Arthur Hallam.
The poem begins with the speaker standing on the beach, watching the waves break against the shore. He is filled with grief and sadness, and the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks seems to echo his pain. The repetition of the phrase "Break, break, break" emphasizes the relentless and unending nature of his sorrow.
The second stanza introduces a new element to the poem. The speaker sees a ship sailing out to sea, and he imagines that it is carrying his friend away from him. He longs to be with his friend again, but he knows that he can never be. The image of the ship sailing away is a powerful metaphor for the inevitability of death and the finality of loss.
In the third stanza, the speaker turns his attention to the world around him. He sees the fishermen going about their daily business, and he envies their simple lives. He wishes that he could be like them, free from the burden of grief and sorrow. However, he knows that he cannot escape his pain, and he is resigned to his fate.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. The speaker addresses his friend directly, telling him that he will never forget him. He says that he will always remember the sound of his voice and the touch of his hand. The repetition of the phrase "But O for the touch of a vanished hand" emphasizes the speaker's longing for his friend and his inability to ever be reunited with him.
Overall, "Break, Break, Break" is a deeply emotional and moving poem that captures the pain and sorrow of loss. Tennyson's use of imagery and metaphor is masterful, and his language is simple yet powerful. The poem is a testament to the enduring nature of grief and the human capacity for love and longing.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "Break, break, break" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the unending nature of the speaker's grief. The repetition also creates a sense of rhythm and musicality, which adds to the emotional impact of the poem.
Another notable feature of the poem is its use of metaphor. The image of the waves breaking against the shore is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's pain and sorrow. The ship sailing away is a metaphor for the inevitability of death and the finality of loss. These metaphors add depth and complexity to the poem, and they help to convey the speaker's emotions in a powerful and evocative way.
The poem is also notable for its use of imagery. Tennyson's descriptions of the beach, the waves, and the fishermen create a vivid and immersive world that draws the reader in. The imagery is both beautiful and haunting, and it helps to create a sense of atmosphere and mood that is essential to the poem's emotional impact.
In conclusion, "Break, Break, Break" is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry. It is a deeply emotional and moving poem that captures the pain and sorrow of loss in a powerful and evocative way. Tennyson's use of repetition, metaphor, and imagery is masterful, and his language is simple yet powerful. The poem is a testament to the enduring nature of grief and the human capacity for love and longing, and it remains a timeless classic of English literature.
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