'Music on Christmas Morning' by Anne Brontë


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Music I love -­ but never strain
Could kindle raptures so divine,
So grief assuage, so conquer pain,
And rouse this pensive heart of mine -­
As that we hear on Christmas morn,
Upon the wintry breezes borne.
Though Darkness still her empire keep,
And hours must pass, ere morning break;
From troubled dreams, or slumbers deep,
That music kindly bids us wake:
It calls us, with an angel's voice,
To wake, and worship, and rejoice;

To greet with joy the glorious morn,
Which angels welcomed long ago,
When our redeeming Lord was born,
To bring the light of Heaven below;
The Powers of Darkness to dispel,
And rescue Earth from Death and Hell.

While listening to that sacred strain,
My raptured spirit soars on high;
I seem to hear those songs again
Resounding through the open sky,
That kindled such divine delight,
In those who watched their flocks by night.

With them, I celebrate His birth -­
Glory to God, in highest Heaven,
Good-will to men, and peace on Earth,
To us a Saviour-king is given;
Our God is come to claim His own,
And Satan's power is overthrown!

A sinless God, for sinful men,
Descends to suffer and to bleed;
Hell must renounce its empire then;
The price is paid, the world is freed,
And Satan's self must now confess,
That Christ has earned a Right to bless:

Now holy Peace may smile from heaven,
And heavenly Truth from earth shall spring:
The captive's galling bonds are riven,
For our Redeemer is our king;
And He that gave his blood for men
Will lead us home to God again.

Acton

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, Music on Christmas Morning: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Ah, Christmas morning! A time of joy and celebration, with family and friends gathered around a tree, exchanging gifts and sharing stories. And what better way to add to the festive atmosphere than with some beautiful poetry and music? That's exactly what Anne Brontë did in her poem "Music on Christmas Morning" - she captured the essence of the holiday season, with all its warmth, love, and spirituality.

Context and Background

Before diving into the poem itself, let's take a moment to explore the life of its author, Anne Brontë. Anne was the youngest of the famous Brontë siblings, who lived in Haworth, a small town in Yorkshire, England, in the 19th century. Anne, along with her sisters Charlotte and Emily, is considered one of the greatest female writers in English literature. While Anne's work is often overshadowed by that of her more famous sisters, her writing is no less beautiful and insightful.

"Music on Christmas Morning" was published in 1848, just a year before Anne's untimely death at the age of 29. The poem was part of a collection of Anne's work called "Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell," which she wrote under the pseudonym Acton Bell. Despite the collection's poor reception at the time of its release, Anne's poetry has since gained widespread recognition and appreciation.

Analysis of Poetry, Music on Christmas Morning

Now, let's turn our attention to the poem itself. "Music on Christmas Morning" is a short, six-stanza poem, written in a simple rhyme scheme (ABAB). The poem is structured around the image of music - specifically, the sound of a choir singing on Christmas morning. Each stanza describes a different aspect of the music and its effect on the speaker.

Stanza 1

The first stanza sets the scene - it's early on Christmas morning, and the speaker hears the sound of a choir singing in the distance. The speaker is immediately struck by the beauty of the music, describing it as "sweet" and "solemn." The use of alliteration ("sweet sound") and repetition ("solemn stillness") creates a musical quality to the language, which mirrors the subject matter of the poem.

Stanza 2

In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the effect the music has on her. She feels a sense of peace and calmness wash over her, as if she's "listening to a choir of angels." The image of angels reinforces the religious aspect of Christmas, and suggests that the music has spiritual significance for the speaker.

Stanza 3

The third stanza shifts the focus to the speaker's surroundings. She looks out of her window and sees the "chilly, gray, and silent" landscape outside. The contrast between the warmth and vibrancy of the music and the coldness and stillness of the world outside heightens the impact of the choir's song.

Stanza 4

In the fourth stanza, the speaker continues to reflect on the power of the music. She describes the "magic spell" that the choir's song casts over her and the world around her. The use of the word "spell" suggests that the music has a transformative effect, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Stanza 5

The fifth stanza returns to the idea of the spiritual significance of the music. The speaker imagines the choir singing in a church, and feels a sense of reverence and awe. She describes the music as "hymns of praise" and "holy strains," further emphasizing the religious aspect of the Christmas holiday.

Stanza 6

The final stanza brings the poem to a close. The speaker reflects on the beauty and joy of the music, and how it fills her heart with love and gratitude. She acknowledges that the music will eventually fade away, but the memory of it will stay with her always. The final line, "And evermore our hearts shall own/Its power to bless, its charm to bind," encapsulates the central message of the poem - that music has the power to bring people together and create a sense of unity and joy.

Interpretation of Poetry, Music on Christmas Morning

So, what is Anne Brontë trying to say with this poem? What message is she trying to convey to her readers? At its core, "Music on Christmas Morning" is a celebration of the power of music to bring people together and create a sense of warmth and love. The poem emphasizes the spiritual aspect of Christmas, and suggests that music can be a way to connect with the divine.

But the poem is also about the transformative power of art in general. Anne Brontë was a writer herself, and she knew firsthand the impact that art can have on people's lives. "Music on Christmas Morning" is a testament to the ability of art to inspire and uplift, even in the darkest of times.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Music on Christmas Morning" is a beautiful and moving poem that captures the essence of the Christmas holiday. Anne Brontë's use of language and imagery is masterful, creating a vivid and evocative portrait of the power of music. The poem's message is one of hope and joy, reminding us of the transformative power of art and the importance of coming together in celebration. This is a poem that deserves to be read and appreciated, not just at Christmastime, but all year round.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Music on Christmas Morning: An Analysis of Anne Brontë's Classic

As the holiday season approaches, we are reminded of the joy and warmth that comes with it. One of the most beloved traditions of Christmas is the singing of carols and hymns. Among the many beautiful pieces of music that have been written for this occasion, Poetry Music on Christmas Morning by Anne Brontë stands out as a timeless classic. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem to understand why it has endured for over a century.

The poem begins with a description of the setting: "Music I love - but never strain / Could kindle raptures so divine, / So grief assuage, so conquer pain, / And rouse this pensive heart of mine - / As that we hear on Christmas morn, / Upon the wintry breezes borne." The speaker expresses her love for music but acknowledges that there is something special about the music heard on Christmas morning. The use of the word "divine" suggests that the music is not just pleasant to the ear but has a spiritual quality that touches the soul. The phrase "grief assuage" indicates that the music has a healing power that can ease the pain of those who are suffering. The speaker's heart is "pensive," which means that she is thoughtful and reflective. The music on Christmas morning has the ability to stir her emotions and awaken her spirit.

The second stanza continues the description of the music: "Though Darkness still her empire keep, / And hours must pass, ere morning break; / From troubled dreams, or slumbers deep, / That music kindly bids us wake: / It calls us, with an angel's voice, / To wake, and worship, and rejoice." The speaker acknowledges that it is still dark outside and that morning has not yet arrived. However, the music has the power to awaken us from our slumber and call us to worship. The use of the phrase "an angel's voice" suggests that the music is not just human but has a divine quality. The speaker emphasizes the importance of worship and rejoicing, which are central themes of Christmas.

The third stanza shifts the focus to the message of Christmas: "To greet the day-spring from on high, / To hail the birth of hope and peace, / To sing Messiah's praises nigh, / To see the day-star's light increase: / To hear the tidings 'Joy to earth! / Salvation unto men!' - and say, / 'To us a child is born this morn, / To us a son is given to-day!'" The speaker reminds us that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who brings hope and peace to the world. The use of the phrase "day-spring from on high" suggests that Jesus is a divine being who has come to bring light to a dark world. The speaker emphasizes the importance of singing praises to Jesus and spreading the message of salvation to all. The use of the phrase "To us a child is born this morn, / To us a son is given to-day!" emphasizes the personal nature of the message of Christmas. It is not just a historical event but a present reality that affects each of us individually.

The fourth and final stanza concludes the poem with a call to action: "No cannon's roar, no battle's sound, / No trump of triumph do I hear; / Yet hosts contend, and hosts are crown'd, / And victory is gained, and cheer - / It is the hour of soul's delight, / The day of spirits' victory, / When God is worshipped with delight, / And man is loved for charity." The speaker contrasts the peaceful music of Christmas with the sounds of war and triumph. She suggests that the true battle is not fought with weapons but with love and charity. The use of the phrase "hour of soul's delight" emphasizes the spiritual nature of Christmas. It is a time when we can experience joy and victory in our souls. The speaker emphasizes the importance of worshiping God with delight and loving our fellow man with charity.

In terms of structure, the poem consists of four quatrains, each with a rhyme scheme of ABAB. The use of quatrains gives the poem a sense of balance and symmetry. The rhyme scheme creates a musical quality that reinforces the theme of the poem. The use of repetition, such as the phrase "To us a child is born this morn," emphasizes the importance of the message of Christmas and creates a sense of unity throughout the poem.

In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of imagery, metaphor, and personification. The use of the phrase "day-spring from on high" is an example of metaphor, as it compares Jesus to the rising sun. The use of the phrase "an angel's voice" is an example of personification, as it gives the music a human quality. The use of the phrase "wintry breezes" is an example of imagery, as it creates a vivid picture of the setting.

In conclusion, Poetry Music on Christmas Morning by Anne Brontë is a timeless classic that captures the essence of the holiday season. The poem emphasizes the spiritual nature of Christmas and the importance of worship, rejoicing, and spreading the message of salvation. The use of structure, rhyme, and literary devices creates a musical quality that reinforces the theme of the poem. As we listen to the music of Christmas this year, let us remember the message of this beautiful poem and allow it to touch our hearts and awaken our spirits.

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