'Low-Tide' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
These wet rocks where the tide has been,
Barnacled white and weeded brown
And slimed beneath to a beautiful green,
These wet rocks where the tide went down
Will show again when the tide is high
Faint and perilous, far from shore,
No place to dream, but a place to die,—
The bottom of the sea once more.
There was a child that wandered through
A giant's empty house all day,—
House full of wonderful things and new,
But no fit place for a child to play.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Low-Tide: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
by [YOUR NAME HERE]
Are you ready to embark on a journey through the beautiful and haunting poem "Low-Tide" by Edna St. Vincent Millay? This classic piece of literature has captured the hearts and minds of countless readers since its publication in 1921. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism present in this iconic work of poetry.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a moment to read the poem in its entirety:
These wet rocks where the tide has been,
Barnacled white and weeded brown
And slimed beneath to a beautiful green,
These wet rocks where the tide went down
Will show again when the tide is high
Faint and perilous, far from shore,
No place to dream, but a place to die,—
The bottom of the sea once more.
There was a child that wandered through
A giant’s empty house all day—
House full of wonderful things and new,
But no fit place for a child to play.
So the child went trembling, half the time,
Deaf with the sound of a ghostly tread,
And feared to turn, and feared to climb
The narrow stair to the roof o’erhead.
The house was full of sound and gloom
And ghosts that sighed on the stair,
And the air was thick with a strange perfume
That well might drive men to despair.
And the roan that stood in the stable near
Was as big as a team of horses at least,
And the stirrup that lay on the stand was a spear
When the giant came home to his feast.
The child that longed for a wilder game
Was happy when he could escape
And down by the marshes, out of reach,
Wild cows stamped and a blind horse neighed,
And the blind horse grew smaller than the calf
And rolled on his back at the children’s laugh,
And the cows walked slowly away,
Eating the leaves of the salted hay.
As a child I played in a giant’s yard
With a girl both brave and gay.
But I was afraid of the house, and stared
At the closed windows, white and gray,
And at night, in the awful dark,
When the wind was wild in the elms,
She said, “What is it?” and I said, “The Bark
Of the tree with the white, wet, swollen helms.”
I dreamed that the roots of the trees stretched down
Deep through the pallid clay,
And groped through the crannies of the rocks, and wound
Their kelp-like fingers in the way
Of the worms that writhed and the moles that burrowed,
And the stone-men atom by atom grew
Till the pale, wet woods echoed and glowed
And the whole world screamed with the things they knew.
There was only one wet thing on the earth
And that was I, a child on gray wet sand,
Who found the grains of the hour-glass
And dug his hands deep in the wet, gray sand.
And the tide went out and the tide came in,
And the waves clattered on the shore,
And the ships far out at sea came in
And passed and were seen no more.
And the brown, barnacled wet rocks wait
Only for the tide to cover them,
Only for the sea to gather and take
All the precious things they can hide,—
Pearls and pink coral and orange shells,
A vast and voiceless treasure-house
Of wonders lost where the seaweed swells
And the drowned and the shipwrecked come to house.
Analysis
Themes
One of the most prominent themes in "Low-Tide" is the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The poem takes place at the shoreline, where the wet rocks are "barnacled white and weeded brown" and "slimed beneath to a beautiful green." The rocks are a metaphor for the passage of time, as they are constantly being eroded and exposed by the tide. The child in the poem also represents the passing of time, as he grows up and becomes an adult who remembers his childhood in the giant's yard.
Another theme in the poem is the contrast between beauty and danger. The wet rocks are described as both "faint and perilous, far from shore" and "a place to die." The beauty of the rocks is contrasted with the danger they present, emphasizing the idea that even beautiful things can be dangerous.
Imagery
Millay uses vivid imagery throughout the poem to create a sense of place and atmosphere. The description of the wet rocks as "barnacled white and weeded brown" and "slimed beneath to a beautiful green" is particularly effective, as it creates a visual image of the rocks and emphasizes their changing nature.
The house in the poem is also described in detail, with references to "ghosts that sighed on the stair" and a "strange perfume" in the air. The giant's horse is described as being "as big as a team of horses at least," which creates a sense of awe and wonder in the reader.
Symbolism
The wet rocks in the poem can be seen as a symbol for the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The child in the poem represents the passing of time and the memories that we hold onto as we grow older.
The giant's house can be seen as a symbol for the unpredictable and often frightening nature of life. The child is afraid of the house and its ghosts, much like we are afraid of the unknown and unpredictable nature of life.
Finally, the wet sand can be seen as a symbol for the impermanence of life. The tide comes in and the tide goes out, erasing any evidence that we were ever there. This emphasizes the idea that our time on earth is limited and fleeting.
Interpretation
"Low-Tide" is a haunting and beautiful poem that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of human existence. The passage of time, the inevitability of change, and the impermanence of life are all themes that are present in the poem.
The use of vivid imagery and symbolism creates a sense of place and atmosphere that draws the reader into the world of the poem. The wet rocks, the giant's house, and the wet sand all serve as powerful symbols of the transience of life.
Ultimately, "Low-Tide" is a poem that reminds us of our mortality and the fleeting nature of our time on earth. It encourages us to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world around us, even as we recognize its inherent dangers and impermanence.
In conclusion, "Low-Tide" is a timeless work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. Its exploration of themes such as time, change, and mortality make it a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature that is sure to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Low-Tide: An Analysis of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Classic Poem
Edna St. Vincent Millay is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Her works are known for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and feminist themes. Among her many poems, Low-Tide stands out as a masterpiece of poetic expression. In this essay, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.
Low-Tide is a short poem consisting of only six lines. Despite its brevity, the poem is rich in meaning and symbolism. The poem begins with the line "These wet rocks where the tide has been," which immediately sets the scene for the rest of the poem. The speaker is observing a rocky shore that has been recently exposed by the receding tide. The use of the word "wet" suggests that the rocks are still damp from the water, emphasizing the transitory nature of the scene.
The second line of the poem, "Barnacled white and weeded brown," describes the appearance of the rocks. The word "barnacled" suggests that the rocks have been submerged in the water for a long time, allowing barnacles to grow on them. The phrase "weeded brown" suggests that the rocks are covered in seaweed, which has turned brown due to exposure to the sun. The use of these descriptive words creates a vivid image of the rocky shore in the reader's mind.
The third line of the poem, "And slimed beneath to a beautiful green," introduces a new element to the scene. The word "slimed" suggests that the rocks are covered in a slimy substance, which is most likely algae. The phrase "beautiful green" suggests that the algae is a vibrant and attractive shade of green. This line adds a sense of beauty and wonder to the scene, despite the fact that it is a rocky shore covered in slimy algae.
The fourth line of the poem, "These are the things that we have seen," suggests that the speaker is not alone in observing the scene. The use of the word "we" implies that there are others present, perhaps the speaker's companions or the reader themselves. This line also suggests that the scene is not unique or extraordinary, but rather something that has been witnessed before.
The fifth line of the poem, "And loved and lost long ago," adds a sense of nostalgia and melancholy to the poem. The use of the word "loved" suggests that the scene was once cherished and appreciated by the speaker and their companions. The phrase "lost long ago" suggests that the scene is no longer as it once was, either due to natural changes or human intervention. This line creates a sense of longing for the past and a desire to recapture what has been lost.
The final line of the poem, "As empty now as a poet's brain," is a striking and memorable conclusion to the poem. The use of the word "empty" suggests that the scene is now devoid of life or meaning. The comparison to a poet's brain suggests that the scene is now devoid of inspiration or creativity. This line creates a sense of emptiness and despair, as if the beauty and wonder of the scene has been lost forever.
Overall, Low-Tide is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of transience, beauty, and loss. The imagery and language used in the poem create a vivid and memorable scene that captures the reader's imagination. The poem's brevity and simplicity make it accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds, while its depth and complexity make it a timeless classic of modern poetry.
Editor Recommended Sites
Cloud Architect Certification - AWS Cloud Architect & GCP Cloud Architect: Prepare for the AWS, Azure, GCI Architect Cert & Courses for Cloud ArchitectsGitops: Git operations management
Crypto Defi - Best Defi resources & Staking and Lending Defi: Defi tutorial for crypto / blockchain / smart contracts
Cloud Actions - Learn Cloud actions & Cloud action Examples: Learn and get examples for Cloud Actions
Erlang Cloud: Erlang in the cloud through elixir livebooks and erlang release management tools
Recommended Similar Analysis
Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysisThe Treasure by Sarah Teasdale analysis
A Question by Robert Frost analysis
Aunt Jennifer's Tigers by Adrienne Rich analysis
Blueberries by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Mary's Song by Sylvia Plath analysis
We do not play on Graves by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Waste Land by Thomas Stearns Eliot analysis
A Man Said To The Universe by Stephen Crane analysis
General Review Of The Sex Situation by Dorothy Parker analysis