'"?"' by Robert Service


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If you had the choice of two women to wed,
(Though of course the idea is quite absurd)
And the first from her heels to her dainty head
Was charming in every sense of the word:
And yet in the past (I grieve to state),
She never had been exactly "straight".

And the second -- she was beyond all cavil,
A model of virtue, I must confess;
And yet, alas! she was dull as the devil,
And rather a dowd in the way of dress;
Though what she was lacking in wit and beauty,
She more than made up for in "sense of duty".

Now, suppose you must wed, and make no blunder,
And either would love you, and let you win her --
Which of the two would you choose, I wonder,
The stolid saint or the sparkling sinner?

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Deep Dive into Robert Service's "?"

Have you ever stumbled upon a poem that left you pondering its meaning for days? Something that made you question everything you thought you knew about life and death? Robert Service's "?" is one such poem that has stood the test of time, captivating readers for over a century. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll take a deep dive into the themes, symbolism, and structure of this classic poem.

Who Was Robert Service?

Before we delve into the poem, let's take a moment to learn a little about the poet. Robert Service was a British-Canadian poet and writer born in 1874. He is best known for his narrative poems about the Canadian wilderness, such as "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee." Service's work often reflected his experiences living in remote locations, such as the Yukon Territory, where he worked as a bank clerk during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Now, let's get into the poem itself.

The Poem: "?"

First, a brief summary: "?" is a poem that explores the meaning of life and death through the metaphor of a ship sailing into the unknown. The poem begins with the ship setting sail, and the speaker wonders about its destination. As the ship sails further into the unknown, the speaker contemplates the purpose of life and the inevitability of death. Ultimately, the poem ends with the ship sailing off into the distance, leaving the speaker with more questions than answers.

Themes

One of the central themes of "?" is the meaning of life. Throughout the poem, the speaker questions the purpose of existence and wonders whether life has any inherent value. This is evident in lines such as, "What does it matter - loss or gain? / What does it matter - joy or pain?" The speaker seems to suggest that, in the grand scheme of things, life is ultimately meaningless, and that we are all just sailing towards an unknown destination without any real purpose.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the inevitability of death. The ship in the poem can be seen as a metaphor for life, with the sea representing the passage of time. As the ship sails further into the distance, the speaker contemplates the fact that death is always looming, waiting for us at the end of our journey. This is evident in lines such as, "And oh! I know the look of you, / And I know the talk of you, / And the ships that sail the sea." The speaker seems to suggest that death is an integral part of life, and that we must all eventually face it.

Symbolism

Service uses several symbols throughout the poem to convey its themes. One of the most prominent symbols is the ship itself. The ship can be seen as a metaphor for life, with the sea representing the passage of time. The fact that the ship sails towards an unknown destination suggests that life is ultimately unpredictable and that we can never know what lies ahead. This is reinforced by the line, "And the unknown shores where you'll disembark." The fact that we don't know where we're going can be seen as a metaphor for the unpredictability of life.

Another symbol that Service uses is the sea. The sea can be seen as a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of death. As the ship sails further into the distance, the speaker contemplates the fact that death is always waiting for us at the end of our journey. This is evident in lines such as, "The winds that blow, the tides that flow, / Were wedded in the sea." The fact that the winds and tides are "wedded" in the sea suggests that death and life are inextricably linked.

Structure

The structure of "?" is relatively simple, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with the first and third lines rhyming and the second and fourth lines also rhyming. This gives the poem a sense of rhythm and flow, which helps to reinforce its themes.

One interesting aspect of the poem's structure is the fact that it ends abruptly, with the ship sailing off into the distance. This can be seen as a metaphor for the fact that life is ultimately unpredictable and that we can never know what lies ahead. The fact that the poem doesn't offer any concrete answers or resolutions seems to suggest that the speaker is still grappling with the meaning of life and death.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "?" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the meaning of life and death through the metaphor of a ship sailing into the unknown. Through its use of symbolism and structure, the poem conveys a sense of the unpredictability of life and the inevitability of death. Ultimately, the poem leaves the reader with more questions than answers, suggesting that the meaning of life is something that we must all grapple with on our own.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Spellbinding Tale of Robert Service's "?"

Have you ever read a poem that left you spellbound, with its vivid imagery and captivating storytelling? If not, then you need to read Robert Service's "?" - a classic poem that has stood the test of time and continues to enthrall readers even today.

Robert Service was a Canadian poet and writer who lived from 1874 to 1958. He was known for his narrative poems that often depicted the rugged life of the Yukon and Alaska during the gold rush era. "?" is one of his most famous poems, and it tells the story of a man who is lost in the wilderness and is struggling to survive.

The poem begins with the narrator describing the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the Yukon. He talks about the "great, lone land" that stretches out before him, with its "endless forests" and "mighty rivers". The narrator is clearly in awe of the wilderness, but he also knows that it can be deadly if one is not careful.

As the poem progresses, we learn that the narrator is not alone in the wilderness. He is accompanied by his dog, who is his only companion in this vast and lonely land. The dog is described as a "wolf-dog" - a cross between a wolf and a dog - and he is fiercely loyal to his master.

The narrator and his dog are on a journey, but we are not told where they are going or why. All we know is that they are traveling through the wilderness, and that they are both tired and hungry. The narrator is also starting to feel a sense of desperation, as he realizes that they are lost and may never find their way back to civilization.

It is at this point in the poem that the narrator begins to hear strange noises in the wilderness. He hears the howling of wolves, the creaking of trees, and the rustling of leaves. He also hears something else - a sound that he cannot identify. It is a sound that fills him with fear and dread, and he knows that it is something that he must avoid at all costs.

Despite his fear, the narrator decides to investigate the source of the sound. He leaves his dog behind and ventures into the forest, where he discovers a clearing. In the center of the clearing is a fire, and sitting by the fire is an old man.

The old man is described as being "weird and queer", with a face that is "wrinkled and brown". He is also wearing strange clothes, and he speaks in a language that the narrator cannot understand. Despite his initial fear, the narrator is drawn to the old man, and he sits down by the fire to warm himself.

As the two men sit by the fire, the old man begins to tell the narrator a story. It is a story about a man who was lost in the wilderness, just like the narrator. The man in the story was also accompanied by a dog, and he too heard strange noises in the forest. But unlike the narrator, the man in the story did not investigate the source of the sound. He was too afraid, and he continued on his journey without ever knowing what it was.

The old man then reveals the source of the sound - it is the call of the wild. It is the sound that all animals make when they are in the wilderness, and it is a sound that only those who are truly in tune with nature can hear. The old man tells the narrator that he has been chosen to hear the call of the wild, and that he must embrace it if he is to survive in the wilderness.

The narrator is initially skeptical of the old man's story, but as he listens, he begins to feel a sense of understanding. He realizes that he too has been chosen to hear the call of the wild, and that he must embrace it if he is to survive. He also realizes that his dog is not just a companion, but a guide - a creature that is in tune with the wilderness and can help him navigate through it.

The poem ends with the narrator and his dog leaving the clearing and continuing on their journey. They are no longer lost or afraid, but instead, they are filled with a sense of purpose and understanding. They have heard the call of the wild, and they know that they are part of something greater than themselves.

In conclusion, "?" is a poem that is both haunting and inspiring. It tells the story of a man who is lost in the wilderness, but who ultimately finds his way through the guidance of an old man and his dog. The poem is a testament to the power of nature and the human spirit, and it continues to captivate readers with its vivid imagery and spellbinding storytelling.

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