'Sunset' by Rainer Maria Rilke


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Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors
which it passes to a row of ancient trees.
You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you
one part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth.

leaving you, not really belonging to either,
not so hopelessly dark as that house that is silent,
not so unswervingly given to the eternal as that thing
that turns to a star each night and climbs--

leaving you (it is impossible to untangle the threads)
your own life, timid and standing high and growing,
so that, sometimes blocked in, sometimes reaching out,
one moment your life is a stone in you, and the next, a star.


Translated by Robert Bly

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sunset by Rainer Maria Rilke

An in-depth literary criticism and interpretation

Sunsets are a common poetic subject, but few have captured their essence as beautifully and profoundly as Rainer Maria Rilke did in his poem "Sunset." This classic piece of literature is a brief but intense meditation on the fleeting beauty of the natural world and the human experience of time and mortality. In this literary analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, language, and structure of "Sunset," and how they contribute to its meaning and impact.

Themes

"Sunset" is primarily concerned with the themes of transience, beauty, and mortality. The poem opens with a description of the sun setting behind the horizon, and the speaker marveling at its beauty:

Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors
Which it passes to a row of ancient trees.
You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you
One part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth.

The sunset is a moment of transition, of change and transformation, as the "west" sheds its old colors and dons new ones, and the trees witness this ritual from their fixed position. The speaker is both a participant and observer of this ritual, and feels a sense of wonder and awe at the spectacle. However, this beauty is fleeting, as the sun sinks below the horizon and disappears from view:

The sun has long been set,
The stars are out by twos and threes,
The little birds are piping yet
Among the bushes and trees;
There’s a cuckoo, and one or two thrushes,
And a far-off wind that rushes,
And a sound of water that gushes,
And the cuckoo’s sovereign cry
Fills all the hollow of the sky.

The sunset is a reminder that all things must pass, that beauty is ephemeral, and that time marches inexorably onward. The speaker is acutely aware of this, and feels a sense of melancholy and nostalgia for what has been lost. The birds and other sounds of nature continue on, but the sun and its light are gone, leaving behind only the memory of their radiance.

Imagery

Rilke is a master of imagery, and "Sunset" is no exception. The poem is filled with vivid and evocative descriptions of the natural world, which serve to heighten the reader's senses and emotions. For example, the opening lines of the poem paint a picture of the west "reaching for clothes of new colors," as if it were a person getting dressed for a special occasion. The image is both playful and serious, suggesting that the sunset is a momentous event that demands attention and respect.

Similarly, the description of the sun sinking below the horizon is rich in visual and sensory detail:

How like a queen comes forth the lonely Moon
From the slow opening curtains of the clouds
Walking in beauty to her midnight throne!

The moon is personified as a queen, and her emergence from behind the clouds is likened to the opening of curtains. This image is both dramatic and delicate, suggesting the moon's regal presence while also acknowledging her fragility and transience. The phrase "walking in beauty" is a nod to the famous line from Lord Byron's poem "She Walks in Beauty," and reinforces the idea that natural beauty is a powerful and enduring force.

Language

Rilke's use of language in "Sunset" is poetic and lyrical, full of rich and resonant words and phrases that capture the essence of the natural world. The poem is written in rhyming couplets, which gives it a musical quality and reinforces its theme of transience and change. The use of repetition is also a prominent feature, as in the lines:

One part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth.
A minute passes: and then, what was that?
A bird-cry, sheer, prolonged,
The commonplace of summer; but in its pure
Sharp syllables, a note
Felt deeply, slowly, upward, to the sky.

The repetition of "one" and "part" in the first line emphasizes the duality of the sunset, while the repetition of "pure" and "sharp" in the final lines of the poem creates a sense of resolution and closure. Overall, the language is precise and evocative, capturing the fleeting beauty and profound meaning of the sunset.

Structure

"Sunset" is a short poem, consisting of only three stanzas of six lines each. However, its brevity is part of its power, as it condenses a vast array of emotions and ideas into a few carefully chosen words. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the theme of transience, while the second stanza delves deeper into the speaker's emotions and memories. The final stanza provides a sense of closure and resolution, as the speaker reflects on the significance of the sunset:

Beauty is momentary in the mind —
The fitful tracing of a portal;
But in the flesh it is immortal.
The body has its deathless grace;
And the thought
That is embodied here is not the thought

The final lines of the poem are enigmatic and thought-provoking, suggesting that beauty and thought are not merely abstract concepts, but are embodied in the physical world. The sunset, then, is not just a moment of external beauty, but a reflection of the innermost thoughts and emotions of the speaker. The poem's structure reinforces this idea, as the three stanzas build upon each other to create a cohesive and meaningful whole.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Sunset" is a masterpiece of poetic economy and depth, a brief but powerful meditation on the transience of beauty and the human experience of time and mortality. Rilke's use of imagery, language, and structure is masterful, evoking a range of emotions and ideas in just a few lines. The poem is both timeless and timely, speaking to the enduring human desire for beauty and meaning in a world that is constantly changing. "Sunset" is a classic poem that deserves to be read and studied by anyone who loves literature and the natural world.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sunset by Rainer Maria Rilke is a classic poem that captures the beauty and melancholy of the setting sun. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. Rilke's use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors creates a sense of awe and wonder, while also conveying a sense of sadness and loss.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the sun as it sets over the horizon. The first line, "Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "slowly" suggests a sense of calm and tranquility, while the phrase "reaches for clothes of new colors" creates a sense of anticipation and excitement.

As the sun sets, the speaker describes the sky as "a drama played with the slow clouds." This metaphorical language creates a sense of movement and action, as if the sky is alive and performing for the audience. The use of the word "drama" also suggests a sense of tension and conflict, as if the sky is struggling to hold onto the last rays of sunlight.

The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus from the sky to the earth. The speaker describes the landscape as "a vast calmness," suggesting a sense of stillness and serenity. The use of the word "vast" creates a sense of expansiveness, as if the landscape is endless and infinite.

The speaker then describes the trees as "great, soft, summer breaths," creating a sense of movement and life. The use of the word "breaths" suggests that the trees are alive and breathing, adding to the sense of vitality and energy in the poem.

The third stanza of the poem returns to the sky, as the speaker describes the sun as "a fiery ball." This metaphorical language creates a sense of intensity and power, as if the sun is a force to be reckoned with. The use of the word "fiery" also suggests a sense of danger and unpredictability, as if the sun could explode at any moment.

The speaker then describes the sun as "sinking down, and now without misgiving." This line suggests a sense of acceptance and resignation, as if the sun knows that its time is up and is ready to go. The use of the word "misgiving" suggests that the sun may have had doubts or fears about its fate, but has now come to terms with it.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life. The line "Farewell, my dearest, farewell" suggests a sense of finality and loss, as if the speaker is saying goodbye to someone or something that they love.

The speaker then describes the sun as "sinking, sinking, and the earth strikes cold." This line creates a sense of contrast and opposition, as if the warmth and energy of the sun is being replaced by the coldness and darkness of the night. The use of the word "strikes" also suggests a sense of violence and force, as if the earth is attacking the sun.

The final line of the poem, "I stand here, shivering," creates a sense of vulnerability and fragility. The use of the word "shivering" suggests that the speaker is cold and afraid, as if they are facing the unknown and uncertain future.

Overall, Sunset by Rainer Maria Rilke is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the beauty and sadness of the setting sun. Through his use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Rilke creates a sense of awe and wonder, while also conveying a sense of loss and melancholy. The poem is a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death, and encourages us to cherish the moments we have while we can.

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