'Lines to a Don' by Hilaire Belloc
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Remote and ineffectual Don
That dared attack my Chesterton,
With that poor weapon, half-impelled,
Unlearnt, unsteady, hardly held,
Unworthy for a tilt with men--
Your quavering and corroded pen;
Don poor at Bed and worse at Table,
Don pinched, Don starved, Don miserable;
Don stuttering, Don with roving eyes,
Don nervous, Don of crudities;
Don clerical, Don ordinary,
Don self-absorbed and solitary;
Don here-and-there, Don epileptic;
Don puffed and empty, Don dyspeptic;
Don middle-class, Don sycophantic,
Don dull, Don brutish, Don pedantic;
Don hypocritical, Don bad,
Don furtive, Don three-quarters mad;
Don (since a man must make and end),
Don that shall never be my friend.
Don different from those regal Dons!
With hearts of gold and lungs of bronze,
Who shout and bang and roar and bawl
The Absolute across the hall,
Or sail in amply bellying gown
Enormous through the Sacred Town,
Bearing from College to their homes
Deep cargoes of gigantic tomes;
Dons admirable! Dons of Might!
Uprising on my inward sight
Compact of ancient tales, and port
And sleep--and learning of a sort.
Dons English, worthy of the land;
Dons rooted; Dons that understand.
Good Dons perpetual that remain
A landmark, walling in the plain--
The horizon of my memories--
Like large and comfortable trees.
Don very much apart from these,
Thou scapegoat Don, thou Don devoted,
Don to thine own damnation quoted,
Perplexed to find thy trivial name
Reared in my verse to lasting shame.
Don dreadful, rasping Don and wearing,
Repulsive Don--Don past all bearing.
Don of the cold and doubtful breath,
Don despicable, Don of death;
Don nasty, skimpy, silent, level;
Don evil, Don that serves the devil.
Don ugly--that makes fifty lines.
There is a Canon which confines
A Rhymed Octosyllabic Curse
If written in Iambic Verse
To fifty lines. I never cut;
I far prefer to end it--but
Believe me I shall soon return.
My fires are banked, but still they burn
To write some more about the Don
That dared attack my Chesterton.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Lines to a Don: A Masterpiece of Satire by Hilaire Belloc
What makes a great satirical poem? Is it the wit and humor that delivers a sharp critique of society? Or is it the skillful use of language that creates a vivid and memorable image in the reader's mind? In the case of Hilaire Belloc's "Lines to a Don," it is both.
"Lines to a Don" is a satirical poem that takes aim at the educational system and the class divide in early 20th century England. Originally published in 1902, the poem is a commentary on the elitism and snobbery of the Oxbridge establishment, which favored the sons of the wealthy and privileged over those who came from humbler backgrounds.
The poem is written in the form of a mock-heroic ode to a donkey, which represents the average student who is overlooked and belittled by the academic elite. Through a series of clever and humorous comparisons, Belloc exposes the absurdity of the educational system and the prejudices of those who run it.
Structure and Form
Belloc's use of form and structure is one of the poem's most impressive features. The poem is written in rhyming couplets, with each line containing ten syllables. This creates a singsong rhythm that adds to the poem's mocking tone.
Belloc also employs several literary devices to enhance the poem's satirical effect. These include hyperbole, irony, and parody. For example, he describes the donkey as "nobler" than the "new-caught sullen peoples," a clear exaggeration that pokes fun at the inflated sense of self-importance of the academic elite.
The Donkey as a Metaphor
The donkey is the central metaphor of the poem, representing the average student who is undervalued and underestimated by the educational system. Belloc portrays the donkey as a creature of intelligence and dignity, despite its humble appearance. He compares the donkey to the great thinkers of the past, such as Aristotle and Plato, and suggests that it possesses a wisdom that is overlooked by the academic establishment.
Belloc also uses the donkey as a metaphor for the class divide in England at the time. The poem suggests that the educational system is designed to favor the wealthy and privileged, who are groomed for success from an early age, while those who come from humbler backgrounds are left to struggle on their own. This idea is encapsulated in the line "For every man that breeds a score, a donkey is still born."
The Irony of "Classical Education"
One of the most biting critiques in the poem is Belloc's commentary on the idea of a "classical education." He suggests that the curriculum, which focuses on the classics of Greek and Roman literature, is designed to create a particular type of person: one who is well-versed in the "great" works of the past, but who is ill-equipped to deal with the complexities of the modern world.
Belloc's use of irony is particularly effective here. He describes the donkey as having a "classical education," which is clearly ridiculous given its animal nature. This points to the absurdity of the notion that a particular type of education can make a person "better" than others. It also highlights the fact that the educational system is designed to perpetuate the class divide, rather than promote equality and opportunity.
The Importance of Satire
"Lines to a Don" is a masterpiece of satire, a genre of literature that uses humor and exaggeration to expose the flaws and follies of society. Satire is a powerful tool for social commentary, as it allows the writer to critique social norms and values in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Belloc's use of satire in "Lines to a Don" is particularly effective because it is aimed at a specific target: the Oxbridge establishment. By using humor and irony to expose the elitism and snobbery of the academic elite, Belloc encourages the reader to question the values and assumptions of the educational system.
Conclusion
"Lines to a Don" is a powerful and enduring work of literature. Its use of form, structure, and language is masterful, and its satire is both humorous and insightful. The poem's message is as relevant today as it was over a century ago, as the issues of social class and educational inequality continue to be major concerns in our society.
Belloc's poem reminds us of the importance of satire in literature, and its ability to challenge the status quo and inspire change. It is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and provoke, and a reminder of the enduring relevance of great literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Lines to a Don: An Analysis of Hilaire Belloc's Classic
Hilaire Belloc's "Poetry Lines to a Don" is a classic poem that has been studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for decades. The poem is a satirical take on the academic world, specifically the world of dons, or university professors. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing a don, "Sir, though (I thank God) I do not yearn / To learn, as now alas! I learn, / What you, when young and free and bold, / And scarcely yet twenty years old, / Have learnt from lectures, or in books, / It seems to me, upon my word, / A most unpleasant thing to herd / With students, and to teach them looks." The speaker is expressing his disdain for the academic world, and specifically for the idea of being a don. He is saying that he does not envy the don's position, as he finds it unpleasant to be surrounded by students and to have to teach them.
The poem then goes on to describe the don's life, "You must be versed in Greek and Latin, / And Hebrew too, and Sanskrit pat in; / You must know all about the stars, / And all the history of the wars / In which our fathers beat the Dutch, / And when to take a man in touch, / And what occasions to salute, / And how to wear your cap and gown, / And how to turn a sentence round." The speaker is highlighting the vast amount of knowledge and skills that a don must possess. They must be well-versed in multiple languages, have a deep understanding of history and science, and know the customs and etiquette of the academic world.
The poem then takes a satirical turn, as the speaker begins to mock the don's knowledge and expertise, "You must be able to explain / The way in which a soul is slain, / And why a sentence has a stop, / And what exactly is a crop, / And how the sun is like a god, / And why we call a pea a pod, / And what an oyster is, and why / They boil alive, and how they die." The speaker is pointing out the absurdity of the don's knowledge, as they are expected to know everything from the deep philosophical questions of the soul to the mundane details of agriculture and cooking.
The poem then goes on to describe the don's life in more detail, "You must be able to construe / A sentence in the Greek, and too / In Latin, and to know by heart / The Odes of Horace, every part; / You must be able to repeat / Long passages from Tacitus neat, / And tell the story of Lucretia, / And all about the Persian War." The speaker is emphasizing the don's need to have a vast amount of knowledge and to be able to recall it at a moment's notice. They must be able to read and understand ancient languages, recite poetry, and have a deep understanding of history.
The poem then takes another satirical turn, as the speaker begins to mock the don's teaching style, "You must be learned, and very wise, / And able to philosophize / On any subject, even one / You know nothing of, and have done / With all the wisdom of the schools, / And all the learning of the fools." The speaker is pointing out the absurdity of the don's teaching style, as they are expected to be able to teach on any subject, even if they have no knowledge or expertise in that area.
The poem then ends with the speaker expressing his relief that he is not a don, "Sir, I am glad that I am not / A don, and that I have forgot / The way to construe and to parse, / And all the things that once were farce. / For though I know I have a soul, / I do not yearn to reach the goal / By following in your footsteps, Sir, / And being what you plainly were." The speaker is expressing his relief that he is not a don and does not have to live the life of an academic. He is saying that he does not want to follow in the don's footsteps and become like him.
The poem is written in rhyming couplets, which gives it a light and playful tone. The use of satire and humor adds to this tone, as the speaker is poking fun at the academic world. The poem is also written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic and musical quality.
Overall, "Poetry Lines to a Don" is a satirical take on the academic world and the life of a don. The poem highlights the vast amount of knowledge and skills that a don must possess, as well as the absurdity of their teaching style. The use of satire and humor adds to the poem's playful tone, while the rhyming couplets and iambic pentameter give it a rhythmic and musical quality.
Editor Recommended Sites
Blockchain Job Board - Block Chain Custody and Security Jobs & Crypto Smart Contract Jobs: The latest Blockchain job postingsTraining Course: The best courses on programming languages, tutorials and best practice
Crypto Ratings - Top rated alt coins by type, industry and quality of team: Discovery which alt coins are scams and how to tell the difference
Coin Payments App - Best Crypto Payment Merchants & Best Storefront Crypto APIs: Interface with crypto merchants to accept crypto on your sites
Learn GPT: Learn large language models and local fine tuning for enterprise applications
Recommended Similar Analysis
Song by Edgar Allan Poe analysisDesire by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Philomela by Sir Philip Sidney analysis
He is more than a hero by Sappho analysis
Butterfly by D.H. Lawrence analysis
A Clear Midnight by Walt Whitman analysis
Epitaph by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
All Day Long by Carl Sandburg analysis
Saul by Robert Browning analysis
Tide Rises, the Tide Falls, The by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis