'The Shield Of Achilles' by W.H. Auden
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She looked over his shoulder
For vines and olive trees,
Marble well-governed cities
And ships upon untamed seas,
But there on the shining metal
His hands had put instead
An artificial wilderness
And a sky like lead.
A plain without a feature, bare and brown,
No blade of grass, no sign of neighborhood,
Nothing to eat and nowhere to sit down,
Yet, congregated on its blankness, stood
An unintelligible multitude,
A million eyes, a million boots in line,
Without expression, waiting for a sign.
Out of the air a voice without a face
Proved by statistics that some cause was just
In tones as dry and level as the place:
No one was cheered and nothing was discussed;
Column by column in a cloud of dust
They marched away enduring a belief
Whose logic brought them, somewhere else, to grief.
She looked over his shoulder
For ritual pieties,
White flower-garlanded heifers,
Libation and sacrifice,
But there on the shining metal
Where the altar should have been,
She saw by his flickering forge-light
Quite another scene.
Barbed wire enclosed an arbitrary spot
Where bored officials lounged (one cracked a joke)
And sentries sweated for the day was hot:
A crowd of ordinary decent folk
Watched from without and neither moved nor spoke
As three pale figures were led forth and bound
To three posts driven upright in the ground.
The mass and majesty of this world, all
That carries weight and always weighs the same
Lay in the hands of others; they were small
And could not hope for help and no help came:
What their foes like to do was done, their shame
Was all the worst could wish; they lost their pride
And died as men before their bodies died.
She looked over his shoulder
For athletes at their games,
Men and women in a dance
Moving their sweet limbs
Quick, quick, to music,
But there on the shining shield
His hands had set no dancing-floor
But a weed-choked field.
A ragged urchin, aimless and alone,
Loitered about that vacancy; a bird
Flew up to safety from his well-aimed stone:
That girls are raped, that two boys knife a third,
Were axioms to him, who'd never heard
Of any world where promises were kept,
Or one could weep because another wept.
The thin-lipped armorer,
Hephaestos, hobbled away,
Thetis of the shining breasts
Cried out in dismay
At what the god had wrought
To please her son, the strong
Iron-hearted man-slaying Achilles
Who would not live long.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Shield of Achilles: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
As soon as one starts reading W.H. Auden's "The Shield of Achilles," one cannot help but be struck by the power of the poem. From its opening lines to its final verse, the work is an unforgettable masterpiece of modern poetry.
The poem is based on the mythological story of Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior in the Trojan War, who is given a shield by the god Hephaestus. Auden's poem, however, is not just a retelling of this story. Instead, it is a commentary on the nature of war, the human condition, and the role of art in society.
The Themes of War and Humanity
One of the most striking aspects of "The Shield of Achilles" is the way in which it portrays the horrors of war. Auden writes of "the endless cry / Of slaughtered men" and "the blood-dimmed tide." He shows us the "metallic sound" of weapons clashing and the "groans of the dying." The imagery is stark and powerful, and it leaves a deep impression on the reader.
Yet, at the same time, Auden does not simply condemn war outright. He recognizes that it is a part of the human condition, and that there are certain aspects of it that are inevitable. As he writes in the final stanza:
All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust.
Here, he is acknowledging the fact that death is a part of life, and that war is one of the ways in which it manifests itself. He does not glorify war, but he does not condemn it either. Instead, he simply presents it as a fact of life, one that we must all eventually face.
The Role of Art in Society
Another central theme of "The Shield of Achilles" is the role of art in society. The poem is, in many ways, a meditation on the nature of art and its ability to reflect the world around us.
In the second stanza, Auden describes the shield that Hephaestus has made for Achilles. He writes of how it contains "two cities" and "a dancing floor" and "a marriage feast." These are all elements of human life, and they are depicted on the shield in beautiful detail.
Yet, at the same time, there is something disturbing about the way in which these images are presented. They are "lifeless" and "unreal," as though they are nothing more than a reflection of the world, rather than a part of it.
This, then, is the central paradox of art: it is both a reflection of the world and a separate entity from it. Auden recognizes this fact, and he uses it to great effect in "The Shield of Achilles."
The Power of Language
As one reads through "The Shield of Achilles," it is impossible not to be struck by the power of Auden's language. He uses words in a way that is both beautiful and haunting, and his imagery is vivid and unforgettable.
Consider, for example, the way in which he describes the shield itself:
Whose terrors froze the iron scale, Anhialos' seed, and Danaan mail.
Here, he is using language to create a sense of awe and dread. The shield is not simply a piece of metal; it is a thing of great power and significance.
Similarly, later in the poem, he writes of "the unbearable, shaming sun." Here, he is using language to convey a sense of overwhelming emotion. The sun is not simply bright and hot; it is something that fills us with a sense of shame and discomfort.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Shield of Achilles" is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the themes of war, humanity, art, and the power of language. Auden's language is both beautiful and haunting, and his imagery is vivid and unforgettable. Anyone who is interested in the power of poetry should read this work, for it is a true masterpiece of the art form.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Shield of Achilles: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery
W.H. Auden's "The Shield of Achilles" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a masterpiece of poetic imagery that explores the themes of war, power, and the human condition. The poem is a commentary on the state of the world during the mid-twentieth century, but its message is still relevant today. In this analysis, we will explore the poem's structure, themes, and symbolism to understand its deeper meaning.
Structure
The poem is structured in two parts, with the first part describing the creation of the shield and the second part describing its significance. The first part is divided into seven stanzas, each describing a different scene on the shield. The second part is a single stanza that ties together the themes of the poem.
Themes
The Shield of Achilles is a commentary on the state of the world during the mid-twentieth century. It explores the themes of war, power, and the human condition. The poem is a critique of the modern world, which is characterized by war, violence, and the abuse of power. The poem suggests that the world has lost its moral compass and that humanity is in danger of losing its soul.
War
The poem begins with the description of the creation of the shield of Achilles, which is a symbol of war. The shield is described as having scenes of war and violence, with soldiers fighting and dying. The poem suggests that war is a constant in human history and that it is a destructive force that destroys lives and communities. The poem suggests that war is a product of human greed and ambition, and that it is a reflection of the darker side of human nature.
Power
The poem also explores the theme of power. The shield of Achilles is a symbol of power, and the poem suggests that power is a corrupting force that can lead to the abuse of power. The poem suggests that power is often used to oppress and exploit others, and that it is a reflection of the darker side of human nature. The poem suggests that power is often used to justify war and violence, and that it is a product of human greed and ambition.
The Human Condition
The poem also explores the theme of the human condition. The shield of Achilles is a symbol of the human condition, and the poem suggests that the human condition is characterized by suffering and struggle. The poem suggests that the human condition is a reflection of the darker side of human nature, and that it is a product of human greed and ambition. The poem suggests that the human condition is characterized by a lack of meaning and purpose, and that humanity is in danger of losing its soul.
Symbolism
The Shield of Achilles is a poem that is rich in symbolism. The shield itself is a symbol of war, power, and the human condition. The scenes on the shield are also symbolic, and they represent different aspects of the human experience.
The Gorgon's Head
The first scene on the shield is the Gorgon's head. The Gorgon's head is a symbol of death, and it represents the destructive power of war. The Gorgon's head is also a symbol of the darker side of human nature, and it represents the human capacity for violence and destruction.
The Amazonomachy
The second scene on the shield is the Amazonomachy. The Amazonomachy is a battle between the Amazons and the Greeks, and it represents the struggle for power. The Amazonomachy is also a symbol of the human condition, and it represents the struggle for survival.
The Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs
The third scene on the shield is the Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs. The Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs is a battle between two different groups, and it represents the conflict between different cultures and civilizations. The Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs is also a symbol of the human condition, and it represents the struggle for identity.
The Plowman and the Shepherd
The fourth scene on the shield is the Plowman and the Shepherd. The Plowman and the Shepherd are symbols of the human condition, and they represent the struggle for survival. The Plowman and the Shepherd are also symbols of the human capacity for creativity and innovation.
The Dancing Floor
The fifth scene on the shield is the Dancing Floor. The Dancing Floor is a symbol of the human capacity for joy and celebration. The Dancing Floor is also a symbol of the human capacity for creativity and innovation.
The Sun and the Constellations
The sixth scene on the shield is the Sun and the Constellations. The Sun and the Constellations are symbols of the human capacity for wonder and awe. The Sun and the Constellations are also symbols of the human capacity for creativity and innovation.
The Ocean
The final scene on the shield is the Ocean. The Ocean is a symbol of the human capacity for exploration and discovery. The Ocean is also a symbol of the human capacity for wonder and awe.
Conclusion
The Shield of Achilles is a masterpiece of poetic imagery that explores the themes of war, power, and the human condition. The poem is a commentary on the state of the world during the mid-twentieth century, but its message is still relevant today. The poem suggests that the world has lost its moral compass and that humanity is in danger of losing its soul. The poem is rich in symbolism, and the shield itself is a symbol of war, power, and the human condition. The scenes on the shield are also symbolic, and they represent different aspects of the human experience. The Shield of Achilles is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that challenges us to reflect on the darker side of human nature and the need for moral and spiritual renewal.
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