'The Great Lover' by Rupert Brooke
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I have been so great a lover: filled my days
So proudly with the splendour of Love's praise,
The pain, the calm, and the astonishment,
Desire illimitable, and silent content,
And all dear names men use, to cheat despair,
For the perplexed and viewless streams that bear
Our hearts at random down the dark of life.
Now, ere the unthinking silence on that strife
Steals down, I would cheat drowsy Death so far,
My night shall be remembered for a star
That outshone all the suns of all men's days.
Shall I not crown them with immortal praise
Whom I have loved, who have given me, dared with me
High secrets, and in darkness knelt to see
The inenarrable godhead of delight?
Love is a flame;—we have beaconed the world's night.
A city:—and we have built it, these and I.
An emperor:—we have taught the world to die.
So, for their sakes I loved, ere I go hence,
And the high cause of Love's magnificence,
And to keep loyalties young, I'll write those names
Golden for ever, eagles, crying flames,
And set them as a banner, that men may know,
To dare the generations, burn, and blow
Out on the wind of Time, shining and streaming...
These I have loved:
White plates and cups, clean-gleaming,
Ringed with blue lines; and feathery, faery dust;
Wet roofs, beneath the lamp-light; the strong crust
Of friendly bread; and many-tasting food;
Rainbows; and the blue bitter smoke of wood;
And radiant raindrops couching in cool flowers;
And flowers themselves, that sway through sunny hours,
Dreaming of moths that drink them under the moon;
Then, the cool kindliness of sheets, that soon
Smooth away trouble; and the rough male kiss
Of blankets; grainy wood; live hair that is
Shining and free; blue-massing clouds; the keen
Unpassioned beauty of a great machine;
The benison of hot water; furs to touch;
The good smell of old clothes; and other such—
The comfortable smell of friendly fingers,
Hair's fragrance, and the musty reek that lingers
About dead leaves and last year's ferns...
Dear names,
And thousand other throng to me! Royal flames;
Sweet water's dimpling laugh from tap or spring;
Holes in the groud; and voices that do sing;
Voices in laughter, too; and body's pain,
Soon turned to peace; and the deep-panting train;
Firm sands; the little dulling edge of foam
That browns and dwindles as the wave goes home;
And washen stones, gay for an hour; the cold
Graveness of iron; moist black earthen mould;
Sleep; and high places; footprints in the dew;
And oaks; and brown horse-chestnuts, glossy-new;—
And new-peeled sticks; and shining pools on grass;—
All these have been my loves. And these shall pass,
Whatever passes not, in the great hour,
Nor all my passion, all my prayers, have power
To hold them with me through the gate of Death.
They'll play deserter, turn with the traitor breath,
Break the high bond we made, and sell Love's trust
And sacramented covenant to the dust.
- Oh, never a doubt but, somewhere, I shall wake,
And give what's left of love again, and make
New friends, now strangers...
But the best I've known
Stays here, and changes, breaks, grows old, is blown
About the winds of the world, and fades from brains
Of living men, and dies.
Nothing remains.
O dear my loves, O faithless, once again
This one last gift I give: that after men
Shall know, and later lovers, far-removed,
Praise you, "All these were lovely"; say "He loved".
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Great Lover by Rupert Brooke: A Masterpiece of Love and Longing
If you're looking for a poem that captures the essence of ideal love, look no further than Rupert Brooke's "The Great Lover." Written in 1911, this classic piece of literature has stood the test of time and remains relevant to this day. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices that make "The Great Lover" a masterpiece of love and longing.
Background
Before diving into the poem itself, it's important to understand the context in which it was written. Rupert Brooke was a British poet who lived during a time of great social and political change. He was born in 1887 and died at the young age of 27, just a few years after writing "The Great Lover." He was known for his romantic and patriotic poetry, which was heavily influenced by the events of his time, including World War I.
"The Great Lover" was written during a time when love was considered a romantic ideal, rather than a practical reality. Brooke himself was known to be a hopeless romantic, and this poem reflects his views on love and the longing for a perfect relationship. The poem is structured in three stanzas, with each stanza representing a different aspect of love.
Themes
Love is the central theme of "The Great Lover," but the poem explores different aspects of love. The first stanza focuses on the idea of a perfect love, one that is all-consuming and overwhelming. The second stanza explores the idea of a love that is unattainable, either because of circumstances or because the object of one's affection is out of reach. The third and final stanza reflects on the pain of lost love and the longing for what once was.
Throughout the poem, there is a sense of yearning and longing for something that is just out of reach. It's a theme that is universal and relatable, as everyone has experienced the pain of unrequited love or the longing for a past relationship. By exploring these different aspects of love, Brooke is able to capture the complexity and depth of human emotion.
Symbolism
Symbolism is an important aspect of "The Great Lover," as Brooke uses it to convey deeper meaning and emotion. In the first stanza, the narrator describes their love as a "rose," which is a symbol of beauty and perfection. The rose is also a symbol of passion and desire, which is reflected in the line, "I have forgot, and yet, by thee, I fall." This line suggests that the narrator's love is so overwhelming that it makes them forget everything else.
In the second stanza, the narrator describes their love as a "dream." Dreams are often associated with the subconscious and with desires that are out of reach. The line, "I cannot reach it; and my striving eye / Dazzles at it, as at eternity," suggests that the narrator's love is unattainable and that they are unable to reach it, no matter how hard they try.
The third stanza is the most symbolic, as it reflects on the pain of lost love. The narrator describes their love as a "ghost," which is a symbol of something that is no longer there but still haunts us. The line, "And the sad ghost of life is slain," suggests that the narrator has given up on love and that they are haunted by the memory of what once was.
Literary Devices
Brooke uses a variety of literary devices in "The Great Lover" to convey his message and to create a sense of emotion and longing. One of the most prominent devices is repetition. The phrase, "Oh, I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion," is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of longing and regret. The repetition of "Cynara" also serves to personalize the narrator's love, giving it a name and making it more tangible.
Another literary device used in the poem is imagery. Brooke uses vivid and descriptive language to create a sense of beauty and longing. The lines, "And the night shall be filled with music, / And the cares, that infest the day, / Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, / And as silently steal away," create a sense of peace and tranquility, as if everything in the world is coming together.
Finally, Brooke uses symbolism to convey deeper meaning and emotion. The rose, the dream, and the ghost are all symbols that help to create a sense of longing and regret. They also serve to personalize the narrator's love, making it more relatable and universal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Great Lover" is a masterpiece of love and longing. Through its exploration of different aspects of love, its use of symbolism and literary devices, and its beautiful and descriptive language, the poem captures the essence of ideal love and the pain of unrequited love. Even today, more than a century after it was written, "The Great Lover" remains relevant and relatable, a testament to Rupert Brooke's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexity of human emotion.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Great Lover: A Poem of Passion and Longing
Rupert Brooke's "The Great Lover" is a classic poem that captures the essence of passion and longing. The poem is a beautiful expression of the human desire for love and connection, and it speaks to the universal experience of yearning for something greater than oneself. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning and significance.
The poem begins with a powerful opening line: "I have been so great a lover: filled my days." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a reflection on the speaker's life as a lover. The speaker is proud of his ability to love deeply and passionately, and he has dedicated his life to this pursuit. He has "filled [his] days" with love, and he has experienced the full range of emotions that come with it.
The first stanza of the poem is filled with vivid imagery that captures the speaker's passion and intensity. He describes himself as a "tumultuous lover" who has "laughed and sung" and "danced and drunk" in the pursuit of love. The imagery of laughter, singing, dancing, and drinking all suggest a sense of joy and abandon, as if the speaker has thrown himself fully into the experience of love.
The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus from the speaker's personal experience of love to a more universal perspective. The speaker acknowledges that his experience of love is not unique, and that others have felt the same way throughout history. He describes the great lovers of the past, such as Cleopatra and Helen of Troy, who have inspired poets and artists for centuries. The speaker suggests that his own experience of love is part of a larger tradition, and that he is connected to these great lovers through his own passion and longing.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as it captures the speaker's sense of longing and desire. He describes himself as a "lonely heart" who is "sick for one moment's rest." The language here is deeply emotional, as the speaker expresses his yearning for a moment of peace and connection. He longs for someone to share his life with, someone who can understand and appreciate his passion for love.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's mortality. He acknowledges that his life as a lover is finite, and that he will eventually die. However, he suggests that his love will live on beyond his death, as it has for the great lovers of the past. The language here is both melancholy and hopeful, as the speaker comes to terms with his own mortality while also finding comfort in the idea that his love will endure.
The final stanza of the poem is a beautiful expression of the speaker's love for the world around him. He describes the beauty of nature, and suggests that his love for the world is a reflection of his own capacity for love. The language here is lyrical and poetic, as the speaker celebrates the beauty of the world and the power of love to connect us to it.
Overall, "The Great Lover" is a powerful and deeply emotional poem that captures the essence of human passion and longing. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and language that evoke a sense of joy, sadness, and hope. It speaks to the universal experience of love and connection, and suggests that our capacity for love is what connects us to the world around us. Rupert Brooke's poem is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today, and it remains a beautiful expression of the human experience of love.
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