'The Merman' by Alfred Lord Tennyson


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I

Who would be
A merman bold,
Sitting alone
Singing alone
Under the sea,
With a crown of gold,
On a throne?

II

I would be a merman bold,
I would sit and sing the whole of the day;
I would fill the sea-halls with a voice of power;
But at night I would roam abroad and play
With the mermaids in and out of the rocks,
Dressing their hair with the white sea-flower;
And holding them back by their flowing locks
I would kiss them often under the sea,
And kiss them again till they kiss'd me
Laughingly, laughingly;
And then we would wander away, away,
To the pale-green sea-groves straight and high,
Chasing each other merrily.

III

There would be neither moon nor star;
But the wave would make music above us afar --
Low thunder and light in the magic night --
Neither moon nor star.
We would call aloud in the dreamy dells,
Call to each other and whoop and cry
All night, merrily, merrily.
They would pelt me with starry spangles and shells,
Laughing and clapping their hands between,
All night, merrily, merrily,
But I would throw to them back in mine
Turkis and agate and almondine;
Then leaping out upon them unseen
I would kiss them often under the sea,
And kiss them again till they kiss'd me
Laughingly, laughingly.
O, what a happy life where mine
Under the hollow-hung ocean green!
Soft are the moss-beds under the sea;
We would live merrily, merrily.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Merman: A Beautiful and Haunting Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson

When one thinks of mermaids or mermen, the first thing that comes to mind is a magical, enchanting creature with a beautiful tail and a mesmerizing voice that can lure sailors to their doom. However, Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Merman" is not your typical mermaid tale. It is a haunting and melancholic poem that explores the theme of love, loss, and the human condition. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the poem's meaning, literary techniques, and Tennyson's use of language to create a powerful and evocative work of art.

Summary of the Poem

The poem tells the story of a human woman, Margaret, who falls in love with a merman. The merman, on the other hand, is not able to leave the sea and join her on land. The two lovers are torn apart by their different worlds, and Margaret eventually comes to accept that they can never be together. The poem ends with the merman singing a mournful song about his lost love, and the sound of his voice fades away into the waves.

Analysis of the Poem

Theme

One of the most prominent themes in "The Merman" is the idea of love and the pain that comes with it. Margaret and the merman are two beings from different worlds who fall in love with each other. However, their love is doomed from the start because of their different natures. Margaret is a human woman who belongs on land, while the merman is a creature of the sea who cannot leave his home. Their love is therefore impossible, and they must ultimately part ways.

Another theme that is explored in the poem is the human condition. Margaret's journey from hope to despair is a reflection of the human experience. She starts off hopeful, believing that she and the merman can be together despite their differences. However, as reality sets in and she realizes that they can never be together, she falls into despair. Her journey is a metaphor for the human struggle to find meaning and happiness in a world that often seems indifferent to our desires.

Literary Techniques

Tennyson's use of language in "The Merman" is masterful. He employs various literary techniques to create a haunting and melancholic mood that perfectly captures the themes of the poem.

One of the most striking techniques that Tennyson uses is imagery. He paints vivid pictures with his words, bringing the sea and its creatures to life in the reader's mind. For example, when Margaret first meets the merman, Tennyson writes:

He looked at her with his sea-blue eyes,
And his voice was a melody—
That soft little voice of the mermen
That rarely is heard by men.

The image of the merman's "sea-blue eyes" and "soft little voice" is both captivating and eerie, creating a sense of otherworldliness that pervades the poem.

Another technique that Tennyson employs is repetition. He repeats certain phrases and words throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and continuity. For example, the merman's mournful song at the end of the poem begins with the repetition of the phrase "I would forget her":

I would forget her, but a fever she
Reigns in my blood and will remember’d be.

The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the merman's pain and longing for his lost love, and creates a haunting melody that lingers in the reader's mind.

Language

Tennyson's use of language in "The Merman" is both beautiful and haunting. He employs a rich and evocative vocabulary to create a sense of mystery and melancholy that pervades the poem.

One of the most striking aspects of Tennyson's language is his use of metaphor. He compares Margaret to various earthly things, such as a rose and a lily, and the merman to various sea creatures, such as a seal and a porpoise. These metaphors create a sense of contrast between the two lovers, emphasizing their differences and the impossibility of their love.

Tennyson's language is also characterized by its musicality. The poem is full of alliteration, assonance, and rhyme, creating a sense of rhythm and melody that adds to the poem's haunting and melancholic mood. For example, in the following lines, Tennyson uses alliteration and assonance to create a sense of harmony and beauty:

And her hair, like a wet seaweed,
Look’d blue-black against the pallor of her face,
And her eyes, in the daylight,
Dimm’d away to the gray of the sea.

The repetition of the "w" sound in "wet seaweed" and the "l" sound in "pallor of her face" creates a sense of harmony and musicality that perfectly captures the beauty and mystery of the sea.

Structure

The structure of "The Merman" is simple but effective. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each with four lines. The first five stanzas are spoken from Margaret's perspective, while the final stanza is spoken from the merman's perspective.

The simple structure of the poem emphasizes the emotions and themes that Tennyson is exploring. The short stanzas create a sense of brevity and urgency, emphasizing Margaret's journey from hope to despair. The final stanza, spoken from the merman's perspective, creates a sense of closure and finality, emphasizing the tragedy of their love and the pain that both lovers must endure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Merman" is a haunting and melancholic poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Tennyson's use of language and literary techniques creates a powerful and evocative work of art that is both captivating and eerie. The poem's imagery, repetition, and musicality all contribute to its haunting and melancholic mood, emphasizing the pain and tragedy of Margaret and the merman's impossible love. "The Merman" is a beautiful and haunting work of art that showcases Tennyson's mastery of language and his ability to capture the human experience in all its beauty and pain.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Merman: A Poem of Love and Loss

Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Merman" is a classic poem that tells the story of a merman who falls in love with a human woman. The poem is a beautiful and haunting tale of love and loss, and it explores themes of longing, sacrifice, and the power of nature. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and symbolism of the poem, and explore the ways in which Tennyson uses language and imagery to create a powerful and evocative work of art.

The poem begins with the merman, who is described as a "wild sea-spirit" who lives in the depths of the ocean. He is lonely and longs for the companionship of a human woman, and he spends his days watching the humans who live on the shore. One day, he sees a beautiful woman named Margaret, and he falls in love with her. He watches her from afar, and he longs to be with her.

The merman's love for Margaret is a powerful and all-consuming force, and Tennyson uses language and imagery to convey the intensity of his emotions. The merman describes Margaret as "fair and pure" and "bright as the sun," and he is drawn to her beauty and grace. He longs to be with her, and he dreams of leaving the ocean and living on the shore with her.

However, the merman knows that he cannot leave the ocean and live on the shore with Margaret. He is bound to the sea, and he knows that he must sacrifice his love for her. Tennyson uses the image of the sea as a symbol of the merman's nature and his identity. The sea is a powerful and unpredictable force, and it represents the merman's wild and untamed spirit. The merman cannot leave the sea, just as he cannot leave his true nature.

Despite his love for Margaret, the merman knows that he must let her go. He tells her that he cannot leave the sea, and he asks her to come with him into the depths of the ocean. Margaret is afraid of the sea, and she cannot bring herself to leave the safety of the shore. The merman is heartbroken, and he realizes that he must let her go. He watches as she walks away, and he knows that he will never see her again.

The poem ends with the merman's lament for his lost love. He sings a mournful song, and he mourns the loss of Margaret and the life that he could have had with her. Tennyson uses the image of the sea once again, this time as a symbol of the merman's grief and his longing for what could have been. The sea is a vast and endless expanse, and it represents the merman's sense of loss and emptiness.

In conclusion, "The Merman" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores themes of love, loss, and the power of nature. Tennyson uses language and imagery to create a powerful and evocative work of art, and he captures the intensity of the merman's emotions with great skill and sensitivity. The poem is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today, and it reminds us of the power of love and the importance of accepting our true nature.

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