'The Burial of Love' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson


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The Burial of Love

His eyes in eclipse,
Pale-cold his lips,
The light of his hopes unfed,
Mute his tongue,
His bow unstrung
With the tears he hath shed,
Backward drooping his graceful head,
Love is dead:
His last arrow is sped;
He hath not another dart;
Go–carry him to his dark deathbed;
Bury him in the cold, cold heart–
Love is dead.
O truest love! art thou forlorn,
And unrevenged? thy pleasant wiles
Forgotten, and thine innocent joy?
Shall hollow-hearted apathy,
The cruellest form of perfect scorn,
With languor of most hateful smiles,
For ever write,
In the withered light
Of the tearless eye,
And epitaph that all may spy?
No! sooner she herself shall die.

For her the showers shall not fall,
Nor the round sun shine that shineth to all;
Her light shall into darkness change;
For her the green grass shall not spring,
Nor the rivers flow, nor the sweet birds sing,
Till Love have his full revenge.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Burial of Love by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: A Masterpiece of Poetic Craftsmanship

Are you ready to embark on a journey through the hauntingly beautiful landscape of Tennyson's "The Burial of Love"? This masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, as you explore the themes of love, loss, and longing that permeate this powerful work of art.

First published in 1833, "The Burial of Love" is one of Tennyson's earliest poems. It tells the story of a love affair that has come to an end, and the heartbroken lover who must bury his beloved's memory in order to move on with his life. The poem is structured as a series of six stanzas, each one composed of three quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This structure gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance, which is appropriate given its theme of closure and resolution.

One of the most striking features of "The Burial of Love" is its use of vivid imagery to convey the speaker's emotional state. Tennyson uses a variety of metaphors and similes to describe the lover's feelings, such as when he compares his heart to a tombstone that must be engraved with his beloved's name:

"I carved her name on the tomb, so white,
And twice I have knelt thereat to pray;
And still I am haunted by her bright
Blue eyes, that look my soul away."

Here, Tennyson uses the tombstone as a symbol of the speaker's grief and loss, while the blue eyes of his beloved represent the intensity of his love and longing. This imagery is both powerful and poignant, as it captures the complex emotions of the speaker in a way that is both relatable and universal.

Another notable feature of "The Burial of Love" is its use of repetition to reinforce its key themes. Throughout the poem, Tennyson repeats certain phrases and images, such as the idea of burying love and the use of the color blue. By doing so, he creates a sense of continuity and coherence that helps to unify the poem and reinforce its central message.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of "The Burial of Love" is its exploration of the human psyche and the complex ways in which we experience love and loss. The poem's speaker is portrayed as a deeply introspective and emotional individual, who is struggling to come to terms with the end of his relationship. His grief is palpable, as he speaks of his beloved in the past tense and mourns the loss of their shared experiences:

"I cannot forget the way she smiled,
And the sound of her voice so low and sweet,
And the light that danced in her eyes, beguiled
My heart with a joy that was all too fleet."

Here, Tennyson captures the bittersweet nature of memory, and the way in which our recollections of the past can bring both joy and pain. The speaker's sense of loss is further reinforced by his description of the burial process, which is depicted as a solemn and melancholy ritual:

"And I buried her love in the earth so deep,
And I said to my heart, 'Now it shall sleep,
And never awake to its bitter pain,
Till the flowers have withered and bloomed again.'"

This passage is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker's grief is so profound that he must bury his love in order to be able to function again. The use of the natural imagery of flowers blooming and withering also serves to reinforce the cyclical nature of love and loss, and the way in which our emotions ebb and flow over time.

In conclusion, "The Burial of Love" is a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship that explores the complex emotions of love and loss with sensitivity and depth. Tennyson's use of vivid imagery, repetition, and introspection creates a sense of coherence and unity that reinforces the poem's central themes. Whether you are a poetry enthusiast or a casual reader, this hauntingly beautiful work is sure to leave a lasting impression on your heart and soul.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Burial of Love: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry

Alfred, Lord Tennyson is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era. His works are known for their romanticism, melancholy, and vivid imagery. Among his many poems, The Burial of Love stands out as a masterpiece of the genre. This poem is a poignant and powerful exploration of love, loss, and the human condition. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, structure, and language of The Burial of Love to understand its significance and impact.

The poem begins with a vivid description of a funeral procession. The speaker describes how "the mourners came, a slow procession, / And filled the house with mourning." The imagery here is striking, as we can almost see the mourners in their black attire, their faces solemn and grief-stricken. The use of the word "procession" adds to the sense of solemnity and ritual, as if this is not just any funeral, but a grand and important one.

As the poem progresses, we learn that the funeral is not for a person, but for love itself. The speaker laments the death of love, saying "Love is dead; let Love be buried." This is a powerful statement, as love is often seen as an eternal and indestructible force. The fact that the speaker declares it dead and in need of burial is a testament to the depth of their despair.

The theme of loss and grief is central to The Burial of Love. The speaker mourns the loss of love and all that it represents. They describe how "the light of life is gone, / And hope and joy and peace are fled." This is a stark contrast to the opening lines of the poem, where the mourners filled the house with mourning. Here, we see that the loss of love has left a void that cannot be filled by any amount of mourning or ritual.

The structure of the poem is also noteworthy. It is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct tone and purpose. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the theme of loss and grief. The second stanza is more introspective, as the speaker reflects on their own feelings and experiences. The third stanza is the most hopeful, as the speaker looks to the future and the possibility of new love.

The language of The Burial of Love is rich and evocative. Tennyson uses a variety of poetic devices to convey the depth of emotion and meaning in the poem. For example, he uses repetition to emphasize the finality of love's death. The phrase "Love is dead" is repeated several times throughout the poem, each time with increasing emphasis and finality.

Tennyson also uses metaphor to great effect in The Burial of Love. The funeral procession is a metaphor for the death of love, while the "cold clay" that covers love's grave is a metaphor for the finality of death. The use of metaphor adds depth and complexity to the poem, as it allows the reader to see beyond the literal meaning of the words and into the deeper emotions and ideas that they represent.

In conclusion, The Burial of Love is a masterpiece of romantic poetry that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the human condition. Tennyson's use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and repetition creates a powerful and evocative poem that resonates with readers to this day. The poem's structure and language add depth and complexity to the themes, making it a rich and rewarding work of art. If you have not yet read The Burial of Love, I highly recommend that you do so. It is a true gem of Victorian literature and a testament to the enduring power of poetry.

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