'Whereas At Morning In A Jeweled Crown' by Edna St. Vincent Millay


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Whereas at morning in a Jeweled Crown
I bit my fingers and was hard to please,
Having shook disaster till the fruit fell down
I feel tonight more happy and at ease:
Feet running in the corridors, men quick—
Buckling their sword-belts, bumping down the stair,
Challenge, and rattling bridge-chain, and the click
Of hooves on pavement—this will clear the air.
Private this chamber as it has not been
In many a month of muffled hours; almost,
Lulled by the uproar, I could lie serene
And sleep, until all's won, until all's lost,
And the door's opened and the issue shown,
And I walk forth Hell's Mistress—or my own.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Whereas At Morning In A Jeweled Crown: A Masterful Poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Introduction

"Whereas At Morning In A Jeweled Crown" is a powerful and evocative poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay that explores themes of love, loss, and the transience of life. Written in 1921, the poem has been widely praised for its vivid imagery, masterful use of language, and poignant message. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will examine the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and language, and uncovering the many layers of meaning that lie beneath its surface.

Overview of the Poem

The poem consists of five stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB. It begins with a description of a beautiful morning, with the sun rising over a landscape of mountains and valleys. However, this idyllic scene is undercut by the realization that the beauty of the morning is fleeting, and that it will soon pass away. The poem then shifts to a more personal note, as the speaker reflects on the transience of human life and the inevitability of death. Despite this, the poem ends on a note of hope, as the speaker suggests that love can transcend death and that there is a kind of immortality in the memories we leave behind.

Themes

One of the central themes of the poem is the transience of life. The opening lines of the poem describe a beautiful morning, with the sun rising over a landscape of mountains and valleys:

Whereas at morning in a jeweled crown,
The horde of light in rout with banners flown,
Came shining through the mountain and the town,
And the long dune glowed with a thousand hues unknown,

However, this idyllic scene is undercut by the realization that the beauty of the morning is fleeting, and that it will soon pass away. The poem suggests that just as the morning gives way to afternoon and evening, so too does human life give way to death. This theme is reinforced in the final stanza, as the speaker reflects on the inevitability of death:

And I am glad that I have known
The leaves of every wood,
And every valiant, piping bird
That dwelt within their shades.
Believe me, that was good!

And now, unto the boundary
Of all that man has known,
I step beyond; and all that men
Have ever loved, or blown
Across the soundless deserts wide
Or down the rivers of the sky,
The gardens and the graves abide
In my immortal eye.

Despite this, the poem ends on a note of hope, as the speaker suggests that love can transcend death and that there is a kind of immortality in the memories we leave behind.

Structure

The poem consists of five stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a consistent rhyme scheme of ABAB. This structure gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry, and allows Millay to explore her themes in a measured and controlled manner. The consistent use of rhyme also gives the poem a musical quality, with the repetition of sounds creating a kind of harmony that reinforces the poem's themes.

Language

One of the most striking elements of the poem is its vivid and evocative language. Millay's use of imagery is particularly powerful, as she describes the morning in rich and colorful detail:

Whereas at morning in a jeweled crown,
The horde of light in rout with banners flown,
Came shining through the mountain and the town,
And the long dune glowed with a thousand hues unknown,

The use of words like "jeweled crown" and "horde of light" creates a sense of grandeur and majesty, while the description of the "long dune" glowing with "a thousand hues unknown" has a sense of mystery and wonder. This use of imagery creates a strong emotional impact, drawing the reader into the world of the poem and making them feel the beauty and transience of the morning.

Interpretation

"Whereas At Morning In A Jeweled Crown" is a powerful and masterful poem that explores themes of love, loss, and the transience of life. The poem's structure, language, and imagery all contribute to its impact, creating a work that is both beautiful and poignant. At its heart, the poem is a meditation on the nature of human existence, and the inevitability of death. However, it is also a celebration of life, and a reminder that despite our mortality, we can leave a lasting legacy through the memories we create and the love we share. Overall, this is a poem that speaks to the human spirit, and continues to inspire readers more than a century after it was first written.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Whereas At Morning In A Jeweled Crown" is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. The poem is a beautiful and complex work that explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's structure, language, and meaning to gain a deeper understanding of this masterpiece.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The structure of the poem is simple, yet effective. The repetition of the six-line stanzas creates a sense of rhythm and balance that is pleasing to the ear. The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase continues onto the next line, adds to the flow of the poem. The poem's structure is reminiscent of a sonnet, with its fourteen lines and three quatrains. However, the poem does not follow a strict rhyme scheme, which gives it a more modern feel.

The language used in the poem is rich and evocative. Millay uses vivid imagery to create a sense of place and time. The opening line, "Whereas at morning in a jeweled crown," immediately transports the reader to a regal setting. The use of the word "jeweled" suggests opulence and luxury. The image of a crown also suggests royalty and power. The juxtaposition of these two images creates a sense of grandeur and majesty.

The second stanza begins with the line, "Whereas at midnight in a robe of snow." Here, Millay uses contrasting imagery to create a sense of duality. The image of snow suggests coldness and purity, while the image of a robe suggests warmth and comfort. The use of the word "midnight" adds to the sense of darkness and mystery. The contrast between the two stanzas creates a sense of tension and conflict.

The final stanza begins with the line, "Whereas at dawn in a web of gold and brown." Here, Millay uses imagery to suggest the passage of time. The use of the word "dawn" suggests a new beginning, while the image of a web suggests the interconnectedness of all things. The use of the colors gold and brown suggests a sense of warmth and comfort, as well as the changing of the seasons. The final line, "Rises a thousand petals from the ground," suggests the beauty and fragility of life.

The poem's meaning is open to interpretation. However, there are several themes that can be gleaned from the poem. One theme is the passage of time. The poem suggests that life is fleeting and that we must cherish every moment. The use of contrasting imagery in the second stanza suggests that life is full of both joy and sorrow. The final stanza suggests that life is cyclical and that there is beauty in both the beginning and the end.

Another theme is the interconnectedness of all things. The use of the image of a web in the final stanza suggests that everything is connected. The image of a thousand petals rising from the ground suggests that life is a beautiful and complex tapestry.

The poem can also be interpreted as a meditation on love and loss. The use of contrasting imagery in the second stanza suggests that love is both beautiful and painful. The final stanza suggests that even in the face of loss, there is still beauty to be found.

In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "Whereas At Morning In A Jeweled Crown" is a beautiful and complex work that explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The poem's structure, language, and meaning all work together to create a powerful and evocative piece of literature. The poem's message is timeless and universal, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

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