'The Woman and the Angel' by Robert W. Service


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An angel was tired of heaven, as he lounged in the golden street;
His halo was tilted sideways, and his harp lay mute at his feet;
So the Master stooped in His pity, and gave him a pass to go,
For the space of a moon, to the earth-world, to mix with the men below.

He doffed his celestial garments, scarce waiting to lay them straight;
He bade good by to Peter, who stood by the golden gate;
The sexless singers of heaven chanted a fond farewell,
And the imps looked up as they pattered on the red-hot flags of hell.

Never was seen such an angel -- eyes of heavenly blue,
Features that shamed Apollo, hair of a golden hue;
The women simply adored him; his lips were like Cupid's bow;
But he never ventured to use them -- and so they voted him slow.

Till at last there came One Woman, a marvel of loveliness,
And she whispered to him: "Do you love me?" And he answered that woman, "Yes."
And she said: "Put your arms around me, and kiss me, and hold me -- so --"
But fiercely he drew back, saying: "This thing is wrong, and I know."

Then sweetly she mocked his scruples, and softly she him beguiled:
"You, who are verily man among men, speak with the tongue of a child.
We have outlived the old standards; we have burst, like an over-tight thong,
The ancient, outworn, Puritanic traditions of Right and Wrong."

Then the Master feared for His angel, and called him again to His side,
For oh, the woman was wondrous, and oh, the angel was tried!
And deep in his hell sang the Devil, and this was the strain of his song:
"The ancient, outworn, Puritanic traditions of Right and Wrong."

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Woman and the Angel: An In-Depth Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Oh boy, do I have a treat for you today! We'll be diving deep into the world of Robert W. Service's classic poem, "The Woman and the Angel." I can already feel the excitement bubbling up inside of me. This poem is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and I can't wait to explore every nook and cranny of it.

Overview of the Poem

"The Woman and the Angel" tells the story of a woman who is desperately seeking salvation from an angel. She begs him to take her to heaven, but the angel tells her that she has not yet done enough good deeds to earn her way into heaven. The woman protests, saying that she has always tried to live a virtuous life, but the angel remains firm in his decision. The poem ends with the woman accepting her fate and promising to continue to do good deeds until she is finally worthy of entering heaven.

Interpretation

At first glance, "The Woman and the Angel" may seem like a simple morality tale. The woman is a representation of humanity, and the angel represents God or some other divine being. The message of the poem seems to be that in order to earn a place in heaven, one must lead a virtuous life and do good deeds.

However, upon closer examination, the poem reveals itself to be much more complex than that. For one thing, the woman's protests and pleas for salvation reveal a deep-seated fear and desperation. She seems to be afraid of death and the unknown, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to secure her place in heaven.

Furthermore, the poem raises some interesting questions about the nature of goodness and virtue. Who gets to decide what is and isn't a good deed? Is it possible to truly live a virtuous life, or are we all flawed in some way? And if we are flawed, does that mean we are all doomed to be denied entry into heaven?

These are big, weighty questions, and "The Woman and the Angel" doesn't offer any easy answers. Instead, it challenges us to think deeply about our own beliefs and values, and to consider what it means to be a good person.

Literary Criticism

From a literary standpoint, "The Woman and the Angel" is a masterwork of poetic language and imagery. Service's use of rhyme and meter gives the poem a musical quality, while his vivid descriptions of the woman and the angel make them come alive on the page.

One of the most striking elements of the poem is its use of contrast. The woman is depicted as being weak and desperate, while the angel is strong and uncompromising. The contrast between their characters underscores the power dynamic at play, and highlights the woman's vulnerability.

Similarly, the contrast between the earthly world and the divine realm is also striking. The woman longs to be taken to heaven, but the angel tells her that she must stay on earth until she has done enough good deeds. This juxtaposition of the mundane and the divine creates an interesting tension within the poem, and adds depth to its meaning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Woman and the Angel" is a rich, complex poem that rewards close reading and interpretation. Its message about the nature of goodness and virtue is timeless, and its use of contrast and imagery is masterful. If you haven't read this poem yet, I highly recommend it. It's a true gem of poetic literature, and one that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Woman and the Angel: A Poetic Masterpiece by Robert W. Service

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and stir the soul. Robert W. Service's "The Woman and the Angel" is a classic example of a poem that does just that. This masterpiece is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of literature that explores the themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem and analyze its structure and literary devices.

The poem begins with an angel descending from heaven to earth. The angel is on a mission to find a soul that is worthy of redemption. As he wanders through the streets, he comes across a woman who is weeping. The woman is heartbroken and is crying over the loss of her lover. The angel is moved by her sorrow and decides to speak to her. He asks her why she is crying, and she tells him about her lost love.

The angel then offers to take her to heaven to see her lover again. The woman is overjoyed at the prospect of being reunited with her love and agrees to go with the angel. However, as they ascend to heaven, the angel tells the woman that she must leave behind all her earthly possessions, including her memories of her lover. The woman is torn between her desire to see her lover again and her reluctance to let go of her memories.

The angel then tells the woman that she must make a choice. She can either choose to stay on earth and keep her memories of her lover or go to heaven and be reunited with him but forget all about him. The woman is faced with a difficult decision, but in the end, she chooses to go to heaven and forget about her lover.

The poem ends with the angel taking the woman to heaven, where she is reunited with her lover. However, she has no memory of him, and he is a stranger to her. The poem concludes with the angel's words, "Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds."

The poem is a beautiful exploration of the themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption. The woman's decision to give up her memories of her lover in order to be reunited with him in heaven is a powerful symbol of sacrifice. It shows that true love is willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the beloved.

The poem also explores the theme of redemption. The angel is on a mission to find a soul that is worthy of redemption. The woman's decision to go to heaven and forget about her lover is a symbol of her redemption. She is willing to let go of her earthly desires and attachments in order to be redeemed.

The structure of the poem is also noteworthy. The poem is written in quatrains, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. This gives the poem a musical quality and makes it easy to read and remember.

The poem also makes use of several literary devices. The use of imagery is particularly effective in this poem. The image of the angel descending from heaven is a powerful symbol of hope and redemption. The image of the woman weeping over her lost love is a poignant symbol of sorrow and loss.

The poem also makes use of symbolism. The woman's decision to go to heaven and forget about her lover is a symbol of sacrifice and redemption. The angel's words, "Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds," are a symbol of the enduring nature of true love.

In conclusion, Robert W. Service's "The Woman and the Angel" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption. The poem's structure and literary devices make it a joy to read and easy to remember. The poem's message is timeless and universal, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

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