'Tortoise Shell' by D.H. Lawrence
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The Cross, the Cross
Goes deeper in than we know,
Deeper into life;
Right into the marrow
And through the bone.
Along the back of the baby tortoise
The scales are locked in an arch like a bridge,
Scale-lapping, like a lobster's sections
Or a bee's.
Then crossways down his sides
Tiger-stripes and wasp-bands.
Five, and five again, and five again,
And round the edges twenty-five little ones,
The sections of the baby tortoise shell.
Four, and a keystone;
Four, and a keystone;
Four, and a keystone;
Then twenty-four, and a tiny little keystone.
It needed Pythagoras to see life playing with counters on the living back
Of the baby tortoise;
Life establishing the first eternal mathematical tablet,
Not in stone, like the Judean Lord, or bronze, but in life-clouded, life-rosy tortoise shell.
The first little mathematical gentleman
Stepping, wee mite, in his loose trousers
Under all the eternal dome of mathematical law.
Fives, and tens,
Threes and fours and twelves,
All the volte face of decimals,
The whirligig of dozens and the pinnacle of seven.
Turn him on his back,
The kicking little beetle,
And there again, on his shell-tender, earth-touching belly,
The long cleavage of division, upright of the eternal cross
And on either side count five,
On each side, two above, on each side, two below
The dark bar horizontal.
The Cross!
It goes right through him, the sprottling insect,
Through his cross-wise cloven psyche,
Through his five-fold complex-nature.
So turn him over on his toes again;
Four pin-point toes, and a problematical thumb-piece,
Four rowing limbs, and one wedge-balancing head,
Four and one makes five, which is the clue to all mathematics.
The Lord wrote it all down on the little slate
Of the baby tortoise.
Outward and visible indication of the plan within,
The complex, manifold involvednes,s of an individual creature
Plotted out
On this small bird, this rudiment,
This little dome, this pediment
Of all creation,
This slow one.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Tortoise Shell by D.H. Lawrence: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
D.H. Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, and literary critic, who rose to fame in the early 20th century for his controversial and groundbreaking works. One of his most notable poems is Tortoise Shell, which he wrote in 1923 while he was living in Taos, New Mexico. The poem is an example of Lawrence's intense and deeply personal style, which often explored themes of sexuality, nature, and human relationships.
At first glance, Tortoise Shell appears to be a simple poem about a tortoise wandering through the desert. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the poem is much more complex and layered than it initially seems. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various themes and motifs in the poem, as well as the language and imagery that Lawrence uses to convey his message.
Summary of Tortoise Shell
Before we dive into the themes and symbolism of the poem, let's first take a look at its structure and content. Tortoise Shell is a free verse poem of 26 lines, divided into three stanzas of varying lengths. The poem is written in the first person, from the point of view of the speaker, who is observing a tortoise walking through the desert. Here is the poem in full:
Walking across the desert,
The tortoise plods,
Heavy as a stone,
With his mail of a broken old soldier.
And yet he's Timur to himself,
Marking the desert with patient tread,
Mounting curbs like a poet,
Sailing over gaps like a bird.
So over the desert of life
Goes the lost, broken soldier,
Heavy with death, yet treading on,
Plodding steadfast on his tired feet.
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the tortoise, who is described as "heavy as a stone" and wearing "mail of a broken old soldier". The second stanza shifts focus to the tortoise's movements and behavior, as he "mounts curbs like a poet" and "sails over gaps like a bird". The final stanza brings the metaphor back to the human condition, as the speaker describes the tortoise as a "lost, broken soldier" plodding steadfastly through the desert of life.
Themes and Motifs in Tortoise Shell
Mortality and Resilience
One of the most prominent themes in Tortoise Shell is mortality and resilience. The tortoise, with his heavy shell and slow plodding, is a symbol of the inevitable weight of death and the struggle to keep moving forward in the face of it. However, the tortoise is also resilient, "marking the desert with patient tread" and continuing to move forward despite his burdens.
The metaphor of the tortoise as a "broken old soldier" further underscores this theme. Soldiers are often seen as symbols of bravery and resilience, yet they are also vulnerable to injury and death. The fact that the tortoise is "broken" suggests that he has been wounded or damaged in some way, yet he still soldiers on, plodding through the desert with his heavy shell.
Nature and Human Experience
Another theme that runs throughout Tortoise Shell is the connection between nature and human experience. The tortoise is a creature of the desert, perfectly adapted to his environment and able to navigate it with ease. However, the speaker also sees something of himself in the tortoise, describing him as a "lost, broken soldier" who is wandering through the desert of life.
This connection between the natural world and the human experience is further underscored by the language and imagery that Lawrence uses in the poem. For example, the tortoise "sails over gaps like a bird", which suggests a sense of freedom and flight that is traditionally associated with the natural world. Likewise, the speaker describes the tortoise as "Timur to himself", evoking the image of a great conqueror who is at one with the natural world.
Movement and Progress
Finally, Tortoise Shell is a poem that is concerned with movement and progress. The tortoise is constantly moving forward, "marking the desert with patient tread" and "plodding steadfast on his tired feet". However, this movement is not always smooth or easy. The tortoise must navigate obstacles and challenges, such as curbs and gaps, in order to continue on his journey.
This theme of movement and progress is also reflected in the structure of the poem itself. The three stanzas of varying lengths create a sense of forward momentum, while the enjambment between lines suggests a sense of fluidity and motion. The overall effect is one of a journey that is ongoing and never-ending, much like the journey through life that the speaker describes.
Style and Language in Tortoise Shell
One of the things that makes Tortoise Shell such a powerful and impactful poem is the language and imagery that Lawrence uses to convey his message. Lawrence was known for his intense and visceral style, which often eschewed traditional poetic conventions in favor of raw emotion and vivid imagery.
One of the most striking aspects of the language in Tortoise Shell is its use of metaphor and symbolism. The tortoise is not just a simple creature wandering through the desert, but rather a symbol of mortality, resilience, and the struggle to keep moving forward. Likewise, the desert is not just a physical location, but a metaphor for the human condition and the journey through life.
Lawrence also uses vivid imagery to bring his message to life. For example, the tortoise is described as wearing "mail of a broken old soldier", which evokes an image of a warrior who has been wounded in battle. Likewise, the tortoise "sails over gaps like a bird", which creates a sense of flight and freedom that is at odds with the tortoise's heavy shell.
Finally, Lawrence's use of language in Tortoise Shell is characterized by its intensity and emotional power. The repetition of phrases like "plodding steadfast" and "patient tread" creates a sense of rhythm and momentum, while the use of enjambment and free verse allows the language to flow and move in unexpected ways. The overall effect is a poem that is both visceral and deeply moving, one that speaks to the human experience in a profound and unforgettable way.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tortoise Shell is a powerful and complex poem that explores themes of mortality, resilience, and the connection between nature and human experience. Through his use of metaphor, symbolism, and vivid imagery, Lawrence creates a poem that is both intensely personal and universally relatable. The language and style of the poem are characterized by their intensity and emotional power, making Tortoise Shell a true masterpiece of modern poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Tortoise Shell: A Masterpiece by D.H. Lawrence
D.H. Lawrence, the renowned English writer, is known for his exceptional literary works that explore the complexities of human emotions and relationships. One of his most celebrated poems, Tortoise Shell, is a masterpiece that delves into the themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of death. The poem is a poignant reflection on the transience of life and the beauty that can be found in the most unexpected places.
The poem opens with the image of a tortoise shell, which is described as "brown and hard and small." This seemingly insignificant object becomes the focal point of the poem, as Lawrence uses it as a metaphor for the fragility of life. The shell is a symbol of protection, but it is also a reminder that life is fleeting and can be easily shattered. The use of the tortoise shell as a metaphor is particularly effective because it is an object that is often overlooked and dismissed as unimportant. However, Lawrence sees the beauty and significance in this object and uses it to convey a powerful message.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the theme of love. Lawrence describes the tortoise shell as "a love-token," which suggests that it is a symbol of a past relationship. The use of the word "token" implies that the relationship is no longer present, but the memory of it is still cherished. The image of the tortoise shell as a love-token is a poignant reminder that love, like life, is fragile and can be easily lost. The use of the past tense in this stanza also adds to the sense of nostalgia and loss that permeates the poem.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the theme of death. Lawrence describes the tortoise shell as "a little dome of time," which suggests that it is a symbol of the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The use of the word "dome" implies that the tortoise shell is a shelter or a sanctuary, but it is also a reminder that death is an inescapable reality. The image of the tortoise shell as a "little dome of time" is a powerful metaphor that captures the essence of the poem.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. Lawrence describes the tortoise shell as "a little world," which suggests that it is a microcosm of the larger world. The use of the word "world" implies that the tortoise shell is a place of wonder and mystery, but it is also a reminder that life is full of beauty and complexity. The image of the tortoise shell as a "little world" is a powerful metaphor that captures the essence of the poem.
The final stanza of the poem brings together all of the themes that Lawrence has explored throughout the poem. He describes the tortoise shell as "a little world, a love-token, a little dome of time," which suggests that it is a symbol of life, love, and death. The use of the word "little" throughout the poem adds to the sense of fragility and transience that permeates the poem. The final line of the poem, "brown and hard and small," is a reminder that life is fleeting and can be easily shattered.
In conclusion, Tortoise Shell is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and the inevitability of death. Lawrence's use of the tortoise shell as a metaphor is particularly effective because it is an object that is often overlooked and dismissed as unimportant. However, Lawrence sees the beauty and significance in this object and uses it to convey a powerful message about the fragility of life. The poem is a poignant reflection on the transience of life and the beauty that can be found in the most unexpected places.
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