'‘And ask ye why these sad tears stream?’' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson


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'And ask ye why these sad tears stream?'

‘Te somnia nostra reducunt.’
OVID.

And ask ye why these sad tears stream?
Why these wan eyes are dim with weeping?
I had a dream–a lovely dream,
Of her that in the grave is sleeping.

I saw her as ’twas yesterday,
The bloom upon her cheek still glowing;
And round her play’d a golden ray,
And on her brows were gay flowers blowing.

With angel-hand she swept a lyre,
A garland red with roses bound it;
Its strings were wreath’d with lambent fire
And amaranth was woven round it.

I saw her mid the realms of light,
In everlasting radiance gleaming;
Co-equal with the seraphs bright,
Mid thousand thousand angels beaming.

I strove to reach her, when, behold,
Those fairy forms of bliss Elysian,
And all that rich scene wrapt in gold,
Faded in air–a lovely vision!

And I awoke, but oh! to me
That waking hour was doubly weary;
And yet I could not envy thee,
Although so blest, and I so dreary.

Editor 1 Interpretation

'And ask ye why these sad tears stream?' by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Have you ever been so overwhelmed with sorrow that tears just flow down your face without restraint? Have you ever wondered why you cry when you feel sad? Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem, 'And ask ye why these sad tears stream?' explores the nature of human tears and the emotions that accompany them. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the poem to understand its themes and symbolism.

Analysis of the Poem

The poem begins with the question, "And ask ye why these sad tears stream?" The speaker is asking the reader why they cry when they are sad. The poem then goes on to explore the reasons behind these tears. The speaker says that tears are a natural response to grief and sadness, and that they are a release for the emotions that one cannot express in words.

Tennyson uses vivid imagery to describe tears. He refers to them as "dewdrops" and "pearls," emphasizing their preciousness and fragility. Tears are seen as a beautiful and delicate expression of human emotion. The speaker also describes tears as "fountains of our feeling," which suggests that they are a source of emotional release.

In the second stanza, the speaker asks the reader to imagine a world without tears. He describes a world where people would be unable to express their grief and sadness, and where emotions would be bottled up inside. This world would be one of emotional stagnation, where people would be unable to connect with each other.

The third stanza of the poem contains religious imagery. The speaker describes tears as a symbol of repentance, and as a way to purify oneself. This suggests that tears are not only a natural expression of grief, but also a way to cleanse oneself of sin and guilt.

In the final stanza, the speaker addresses the reader directly, asking them to embrace their tears and the emotions that come with them. The speaker suggests that tears are a way to connect with others and to express empathy. By crying, one shows that they are capable of feeling compassion for others.

Interpretation of the Poem

Tennyson's poem is a meditation on the nature of human emotion and the role that tears play in expressing that emotion. The poem suggests that tears are a natural and necessary part of the human experience. Without tears, we would be unable to express our grief and sadness, and we would be unable to connect with others on an emotional level.

The religious imagery in the poem suggests that tears can also have a purifying effect. Tears are not only a release for our emotions, but also a way to cleanse ourselves of sin and guilt. This suggests that tears are not only a response to external events, but also a way to process internal emotions.

The poem also suggests that tears are a way to show empathy and compassion for others. By crying, one shows that they are capable of feeling the same emotions as others, and that they are capable of understanding and connecting with others on a deeper level.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 'And ask ye why these sad tears stream?' is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the nature of human tears and the emotions that accompany them. Tennyson's use of vivid imagery and religious symbolism emphasizes the importance of tears as a natural and necessary part of the human experience. The poem suggests that tears are not only a release for our emotions, but also a way to purify ourselves and to connect with others on a deeper emotional level. Ultimately, the poem encourages us to embrace our tears and the emotions that come with them, as they are an essential part of what makes us human.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

And ask ye why these sad tears stream? Oh, it is that I may not speak; My heart within me is a dream, Silent as death, and dark as night: Yet do I mourn that shadows flee, That rainbow hues depart from me, And that my heart can never be As pure and bright as once it was.

These opening lines of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's classic poem "And ask ye why these sad tears stream?" set the tone for a deeply emotional and introspective piece of poetry. The speaker is clearly in a state of sadness and despair, and the language used is rich with metaphor and symbolism.

The first line, "And ask ye why these sad tears stream?" is a rhetorical question, implying that the speaker's tears are so obvious that they need no explanation. The use of the word "sad" immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, and the repetition of the word "stream" creates a sense of continuous flow, as if the tears are never-ending.

The second line, "Oh, it is that I may not speak," suggests that the speaker is unable to express their emotions in words. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as fear, shame, or simply a lack of the right words to convey their feelings. The use of the word "dream" in the third line further emphasizes this sense of inner turmoil and confusion.

The fourth line, "Silent as death, and dark as night," is a powerful metaphor that suggests the speaker's emotions are so overwhelming that they have become a kind of darkness that envelops them. The use of the word "death" is particularly striking, as it implies a sense of finality and hopelessness.

The fifth and sixth lines, "Yet do I mourn that shadows flee, That rainbow hues depart from me," suggest that the speaker is mourning the loss of something beautiful and bright in their life. The use of the words "shadows" and "rainbow hues" create a sense of contrast between light and dark, and imply that the speaker's emotions are preventing them from experiencing the full range of human emotions.

The final line, "And that my heart can never be As pure and bright as once it was," is a poignant reflection on the speaker's own sense of loss and regret. The use of the word "never" suggests a sense of finality and resignation, and the repetition of the word "was" creates a sense of nostalgia for a time when the speaker's heart was pure and bright.

Overall, "And ask ye why these sad tears stream?" is a deeply emotional and introspective poem that explores themes of loss, regret, and the inability to express one's emotions. The use of metaphor and symbolism creates a rich and complex portrait of the speaker's inner turmoil, and the language used is both beautiful and haunting.

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