'Fear' by Robert Service


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


I know how father's strap would feel,
If ever I were caught,
So mother's jam I did not steal,
Though theft was in my thought.
Then turned fourteen and full of pitch,
Of love I was afraid,
And did not dare to dally with
Our pretty parlour maid.

And so it is and always was,
The path of rectitude
I've followed all my life because
The Parson said I should.
The dread of hell-fire held me straight
When I was wont to stray,
And though my guts I often hate,
I walk the narrow way.

I might have been a bandit or
A Casanovish blade,
But always I have prospered for
I've always been afraid;
Ay, fear's behind the best of us
And schools us for success,
And that is why I'm virtuous,
And happy - more or less.

So let me hail that mighty power
That goads me to be good,
And makes me cannily to cower
Amid foolhardihood;
Though I be criminal in gain,
My virtue a veneer,
I thank the God who keeps me sane,
And shields me from distress and pain,
And thrifts me on to golden gain,
Almighty Fear.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Fear That Haunts Us All: A Critical Analysis of Robert Service's Poem

Oh, how often we are besieged by Fear! Fear of the unknown, fear of the past, fear of the future, and most of all, fear of ourselves. Fear is a universal experience that every human being has to grapple with at some point in their lives. It is a powerful force that can paralyze us, hold us back, and prevent us from realizing our true potential. Fear is the subject of Robert Service's poem aptly titled "Fear," which explores the many facets of this emotion and its impact on our lives.

Background on Robert Service

Before we dive into the poem, let's take a brief moment to learn more about the poet behind it. Robert Service was a Scottish-Canadian writer and poet who lived from 1874-1958. He was known for his ballads and poems that captured the rugged spirit of the Canadian North and the Yukon Gold Rush. Service's other famous works include "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee."

Fear as a Universal Experience

Now, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. "Fear" is a four-stanza poem that explores fear as a universal experience that we all share. In the first stanza, Service describes fear as something that "creeps" and "crawls" in our minds, suggesting that it is a dark and insidious force that can take hold of us without warning. He also uses the metaphor of a "phantom" to describe fear, suggesting that it is something intangible and elusive.

In the second stanza, Service delves deeper into the nature of fear, describing it as a force that can "numb" and "paralyze" us. He suggests that fear is a hindrance to our ability to think and act, and that it can prevent us from achieving our goals. He also notes that fear can be irrational, and that it can sometimes take hold of us even when there is no real danger present.

The third stanza of the poem explores the idea that fear is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Service suggests that when we give in to fear, we are more likely to experience the very thing that we are afraid of. He uses the metaphor of a "bog" to describe the way in which fear can trap us and prevent us from moving forward.

Finally, in the fourth stanza, Service offers a glimmer of hope. He suggests that while fear may be a powerful force, it is not invincible. He notes that we can overcome fear by facing it head-on, and that in doing so, we can discover a strength within ourselves that we might not have known existed.

Interpretation of the Poem

At its core, "Fear" is a poem about the human condition. It speaks to our shared experience of fear and the many ways in which it can impact our lives. Service's use of metaphors and imagery is particularly effective in conveying the complex nature of this emotion.

One of the most striking things about the poem is the way in which Service describes fear as a force that can both paralyze us and propel us forward. In the second stanza, he notes that fear can make us "shirk" and "quail," suggesting that it has the power to hold us back. However, in the fourth stanza, he also suggests that facing our fears can lead to a newfound sense of strength and courage.

Another interesting aspect of the poem is Service's use of the metaphor of a "bog" to describe the way in which fear can trap us. This metaphor is particularly effective because it conveys the sense of being stuck and unable to move forward. It also suggests that fear is a quagmire that can be difficult to escape from.

Finally, it is worth noting that while the poem does offer a glimmer of hope, it does not shy away from the darker aspects of fear. Service's use of the metaphor of a "phantom" in the first stanza suggests that fear is something that can haunt us, even when there is no real danger present. This idea is further reinforced by the way in which he describes fear as creeping and crawling in our minds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Robert Service's poem "Fear" is a powerful exploration of the many facets of this complex emotion. Through his use of metaphors and imagery, Service conveys the way in which fear can both hold us back and propel us forward. He also suggests that while fear may be a powerful force, it is not invincible, and that we can overcome it by facing it head-on. Ultimately, "Fear" is a poem that speaks to the human condition and the many ways in which we grapple with the challenges and uncertainties of life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Fear: A Poem of the Human Condition

Robert Service’s poem, Fear, is a haunting and evocative exploration of the human condition. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Service captures the essence of fear and its impact on our lives. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes and motifs of the poem, examining its structure and language to understand its deeper meaning.

The poem opens with a striking image of a man walking alone in the night, his heart beating with fear. The darkness and silence of the night create an atmosphere of foreboding, and the man’s fear is palpable. Service uses the metaphor of a “beast” to describe the man’s fear, suggesting that it is a primal and instinctual emotion that cannot be tamed or controlled. The man’s fear is not rational or logical, but rather a deep-seated feeling that is rooted in his subconscious.

As the poem progresses, Service explores the different manifestations of fear. He describes fear as a “ghost” that haunts us, a “demon” that possesses us, and a “shadow” that follows us. These metaphors suggest that fear is not a tangible thing, but rather an intangible force that can take on many different forms. Fear is not something that can be easily defined or understood, but rather a complex and multifaceted emotion that can have a profound impact on our lives.

Service also explores the physical and emotional effects of fear. He describes the man’s heart as “pounding like a drum”, his breath as “coming hard and fast”, and his body as “trembling like a leaf”. These physical symptoms of fear are well-known to anyone who has experienced it, and Service captures them with great accuracy. He also describes the emotional toll that fear can take, with the man feeling “lonely as a cloud” and “lost as a soul”. These lines suggest that fear can be a deeply isolating emotion, cutting us off from the world around us and leaving us feeling alone and adrift.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of repetition. Service repeats the phrase “fear is” throughout the poem, each time adding a new description or metaphor to further explore the nature of fear. This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, driving the poem forward and emphasizing the importance of its message. It also reinforces the idea that fear is a complex and multifaceted emotion that cannot be easily defined or understood.

The poem’s structure is also significant. It is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of fear. The first stanza focuses on the physical and emotional effects of fear, while the second stanza explores the different manifestations of fear. The final stanza is the most powerful, as it offers a glimpse of hope in the face of fear. Service writes:

“But fear itself is a coward, And will not stay to look behind; For fear is a lurking shadow, And I am a hunter of mankind.”

These lines suggest that fear is not something that can be defeated, but rather something that can be overcome. The man in the poem is not running from his fear, but rather hunting it down. He is facing his fear head-on, refusing to let it control him. This message of courage and resilience is a powerful one, and it offers hope to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by fear.

In conclusion, Robert Service’s poem, Fear, is a powerful exploration of the human condition. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Service captures the essence of fear and its impact on our lives. The poem’s use of repetition and structure reinforce its message, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum that drives the poem forward. Ultimately, the poem offers a message of hope in the face of fear, reminding us that we have the strength and resilience to overcome even our deepest fears.

Editor Recommended Sites

Learn Redshift: Learn the redshift datawarehouse by AWS, course by an Ex-Google engineer
Skforecast: Site dedicated to the skforecast framework
Cloud events - Data movement on the cloud: All things related to event callbacks, lambdas, pubsub, kafka, SQS, sns, kinesis, step functions
Kanban Project App: Online kanban project management App
React Events Online: Meetups and local, and online event groups for react

Recommended Similar Analysis

The Mask by William Butler Yeats analysis
Thou Whose Spell Can Raise the Dead by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
Sympathy by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
Holy Willie's Prayer by Robert Burns analysis
A Child Asleep by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
The Human Seasons by John Keats analysis
Music Swims Back To Me by Anne Sexton analysis
Sonnet 19 by John Milton analysis
London, 1802 by William Wordsworth analysis
All Is Truth by Walt Whitman analysis