'The Problem' by Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I like a church, I like a cowl,
I love a prophet of the soul,
And on my heart monastic aisles
Fall like sweet strains or pensive smiles;
Yet not for all his faith can see,
Would I that cowled churchman be.
Why should the vest on him allure,
Which I could not on me endure?
Not from a vain or shallow thought
His awful Jove young Phidias brought;
Never from lips of cunning fell
The thrilling Delphic oracle;
Out from the heart of nature rolled
The burdens of the Bible old;
The litanies of nations came,
Like the volcano's tongue of flame,
Up from the burning core below,
The canticles of love and woe.
The hand that rounded Peter's dome,
And groined the aisles of Christian Rome,
Wrought in a sad sincerity,
Himself from God he could not free;
He builded better than he knew,
The conscious stone to beauty grew.
Know'st thou what wove yon woodbird's nest
Of leaves and feathers from her breast;
Or how the fish outbuilt its shell,
Painting with morn each annual cell;
Or how the sacred pine tree adds
To her old leaves new myriads?
Such and so grew these holy piles,
Whilst love and terror laid the tiles.
Earth proudly wears the Parthenon
As the best gem upon her zone;
And Morning opes with haste her lids
To gaze upon the Pyramids;
O'er England's abbeys bends the sky
As on its friends with kindred eye;
For out of Thought's interior sphere
These wonders rose to upper air,
And nature gladly gave them place,
Adopted them into her race,
And granted them an equal date
With Andes and with Ararat.
These temples grew as grows the grass,
Art might obey but not surpass.
The passive Master lent his hand
To the vast soul that o'er him planned,
And the same power that reared the shrine,
Bestrode the tribes that knelt within.
Even the fiery Pentecost
Girds with one flame the Countless host,
Trances the heart through chanting quires,
And through the priest the mind inspires.
The word unto the prophet spoken
Was writ on tables yet unbroken;
The word by seers or sibyls told
In groves of oak, or fanes of gold,
Still floats upon the morning wind,
Still whispers to the willing mind.
One accent of the Holy Ghost
The heedless world hath never lost.
I know what say the Fathers wise,
The Book itself before me lies,
Old Chrysostom, best Augustine,
And he who blent both in his line,
The younger Golden-lips or mines,
Taylor, the Shakspeare of divines,
His words are music in my ear,
I see his cowled portrait dear,
And yet for all his faith could see,
I would not the good bishop be.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Problem by Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Criticism
The Problem, written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is undoubtedly one of the greatest poems in American literature. The poem, which was first published in 1844, is a reflection of the author's philosophical views on the nature of humanity and human existence. In this literary criticism, we will take a closer look at The Problem, analyze its themes, structures and poetic devices, and offer an interpretation of the poem.
Themes
The Problem is a poem that explores several themes, including the meaning of life, death, and the nature of existence. One of the central themes of the poem is the idea that life is fleeting and that death is inevitable. This theme is reflected in the opening lines of the poem:
I like a church; I like a cowl; I love a prophet of the soul; And on my heart monastic aisles Fall like sweet strains, or pensive smiles; Yet not for all his faith can see, Would I that cowled churchman be.
These lines suggest that the speaker is drawn to the idea of religious devotion and the contemplation of spiritual matters. However, the speaker also expresses a reluctance to fully embrace this way of life, suggesting that there is something holding him back. The poem then goes on to explore this idea further.
Another theme that runs through The Problem is the idea that human existence is characterized by a sense of alienation and separation. The following lines capture this theme:
I like a church; I like a cowl; I love a prophet of the soul; And on my heart monastic aisles Fall like sweet strains, or pensive smiles; Yet not for all his faith can see, Would I that cowled churchman be.
These lines suggest that the speaker is drawn to the idea of community and belonging, but at the same time, he feels separate from this world. This theme is further developed in the later parts of the poem.
Structure
The Problem is a poem that is structured in a unique way. It consists of nine stanzas, each of which is comprised of four lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line contains four stressed syllables. This gives the poem a rhythmic quality that is both pleasing to the ear and adds to the overall impact of the poem.
Another notable aspect of The Problem is the way in which it is divided into two distinct sections. The first section of the poem consists of the first six stanzas and is characterized by a sense of uncertainty and introspection. The second section of the poem consists of the final three stanzas and is characterized by a sense of resolution and acceptance.
Poetic Devices
The Problem is a poem that makes use of several poetic devices to create a rich and complex literary work. One of the most notable poetic devices used in the poem is imagery. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses vivid and evocative images to convey his ideas and emotions. For example, the following lines make use of powerful imagery:
And truth, and goodness, and beauty, are but different faces of the same All.
These lines use the images of truth, goodness, and beauty to suggest that these concepts are interconnected and part of a larger whole.
Another poetic device used in The Problem is metaphor. The speaker uses metaphor to compare different concepts, such as the church and the cowl, to create a deeper meaning. The following lines make use of metaphor:
I like a church; I like a cowl; I love a prophet of the soul; And on my heart monastic aisles Fall like sweet strains, or pensive smiles;
Here, the speaker uses the metaphor of the church and the cowl to suggest his attraction to the spiritual life.
Interpretation
The Problem is a poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the reader's perspective. At its core, the poem is a reflection on the nature of human existence and the struggle to find meaning in a world that is often uncertain and confusing.
One interpretation of the poem is that it reflects the speaker's struggle to reconcile his desire for spiritual fulfillment with his human nature. The poem suggests that the speaker is drawn to the idea of religious devotion and the contemplation of spiritual matters, but at the same time, he is aware of his limitations as a human being. The final lines of the poem suggest that the speaker has come to accept his limitations and has found a sense of peace in this acceptance:
So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man, When Duty whispers low, Thou must, The youth replies, I can.
These lines suggest that the speaker has found a way to connect with the divine, despite his human limitations.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it reflects the speaker's sense of alienation and separation from the world around him. The speaker expresses a desire for community and belonging, but at the same time, he feels separate from this world. The final lines of the poem suggest that the speaker has found a way to connect with the world around him, despite his sense of separation:
And so beside the Silent Sea I wait the muffled oar; No harm from Him can come to me On ocean or on shore.
These lines suggest that the speaker has found a sense of peace and acceptance in his relationship with the world around him.
Conclusion
The Problem is a complex and multifaceted poem that explores several themes related to the nature of human existence. The poem makes use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and other poetic devices to create a rich and engaging literary work. While there are several possible interpretations of the poem, it is clear that The Problem is a reflection on the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in a world that often seems uncertain and confusing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Problem by Ralph Waldo Emerson is a classic poem that delves into the complexities of life and the human condition. In this 14-line poem, Emerson explores the idea that life is a problem that we must solve, and that the solution lies within ourselves.
The poem begins with the line, "I like a church; I like a cowl," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Emerson is expressing his love for the traditional symbols of religion, but he quickly moves on to say that he does not like "a man who preaches to me." This line is significant because it shows Emerson's rejection of traditional religious authority and his belief in the importance of personal experience and self-discovery.
Emerson then goes on to say that he does not want to be told what to believe or how to live his life. He wants to find his own way and solve the problem of life on his own terms. This idea is reflected in the line, "I like the profit of his books, but not himself who wrote them." Emerson is saying that he values the wisdom and knowledge that can be gained from books, but he does not necessarily agree with the author's perspective or beliefs.
The next few lines of the poem are perhaps the most famous, as Emerson writes, "Truth is handsomer than the affectation of love. Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none." These lines are often interpreted as a call to authenticity and honesty. Emerson is saying that truth is more beautiful than the false pretenses of love, and that true goodness must have a certain sharpness or edge to it in order to be genuine.
Emerson then goes on to say that life is a problem that we must solve, and that the solution lies within ourselves. He writes, "The intellect is vagabond, and our system of education fosters restlessness. Our minds travel when our bodies are forced to stay at home. The solution is to find a way to bring the mind and body into harmony, and to use our intellect to solve the problem of life."
This idea of using the intellect to solve the problem of life is a central theme in Emerson's philosophy. He believed that each individual has the power to create their own destiny and to find their own path in life. This idea is reflected in the line, "We must go alone. I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching."
Emerson is saying that we must find our own way in life, and that the quiet contemplation of our own thoughts and feelings is more valuable than any external guidance or preaching. This idea is further reinforced in the final lines of the poem, where Emerson writes, "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events."
Emerson is saying that we must trust ourselves and our own instincts, and that we must accept the circumstances of our lives as they are. He believed that each individual has a unique role to play in the world, and that we must embrace our own destiny and make the most of our lives.
In conclusion, The Problem by Ralph Waldo Emerson is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the complexities of life and the human condition. Emerson's philosophy of self-reliance and individualism is reflected throughout the poem, as he encourages us to trust ourselves and find our own way in life. The poem is a timeless reminder that the solution to the problem of life lies within ourselves, and that we must use our intellect and our own inner wisdom to create our own destiny.
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