'Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child' by Arphra Behn
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
This Little, Silent, Gloomy Monument,
Contains all that was sweet and innocent ;
The softest pratler that e'er found a Tongue,
His Voice was Musick and his Words a Song ;
Which now each List'ning Angel smiling hears,
Such pretty Harmonies compose the Spheres;
Wanton as unfledg'd Cupids, ere their Charms
Has learn'd the little arts of doing harms ;
Fair as young Cherubins, as soft and kind,
And tho translated could not be refin'd ;
The Seventh dear pledge the Nuptial Joys had given,
Toil'd here on Earth, retir'd to rest in Heaven ;
Where they the shining Host of Angels fill,
Spread their gay wings before the Throne, and smile.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child: A Heart-Wrenching Piece of Poetry
Arphra Behn, a renowned English playwright, poet, and novelist of the Restoration period, penned down a heart-wrenching piece of poetry called "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child." The poem narrates the sorrowful story of a mother who lost her beloved child and now mourns his demise. Behn's poem is a classic example of elegiac poetry and a testament to her poignant writing style.
Analysis of Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child
The poem starts with an inscription on a tombstone, marking the final resting place of a child. The epitaph reads, "Ere Sin could blight or Sorrow fade, / Death came with friendly care; / The opening bud to Heaven conveyed, / And bade it blossom there." The opening lines of the poem are laden with emotions and set the tone for the rest of the poem. The words "Sin" and "Sorrow" in the first line portray the idea that the child passed away before experiencing the hardships of life.
As the poem progresses, Behn describes the mother's grief, who is now left all alone after losing her child. The mother is depicted as a grieving figure who is deeply affected by her child's death. She is heartbroken and inconsolable, and her sorrow is evident from the following lines, "But, ah! how changed the scene below! / Since thou, my dear, art gone; / The cheerful sun, the gloomy show, / All wears one aspect now."
Behn's choice of words portrays the mother's anguish and despair. The line "The cheerful sun, the gloomy show," is an oxymoron and highlights the mother's conflicting emotions. She is torn between the memories of her child and the harsh reality of his death, which has cast a dark shadow over her once-happy life.
The third stanza of the poem is a reflection of the mother's feelings of helplessness and despair. She cries out to God, "Oh! Might those sighs and tears return, / Or swell the parent's eyes, / The mother would no longer mourn, / Nor weep the father's sighs!" Behn's use of repetition in "sighs and tears" and "mourn and weep" reinforces the mother's hopelessness and her desire to turn back time.
The final stanza of the poem is a culmination of the mother's grief and the epitaph on the tombstone. Behn describes how the child's soul was taken away to heaven before it could be corrupted by the sinful ways of the world. The lines "So, the short space 'twixt heaven and thee, / No thought was given to sin; / Heaven, in that childish soul, did see / No fault to purge within" highlights the purity of the child's soul, which was taken away by death to preserve its innocence.
Interpretation of Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child
Behn's "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child" is a poignant tribute to a lost child. The poem is a reflection of the grief and sorrow felt by the mother after losing her beloved child. The poem is a testament to Behn's writing style, which is both poignant and emotive. Behn's use of language and imagery in the poem captures the mother's anguish and desperation, making the reader feel her pain.
The poem can also be interpreted as a commentary on the fleeting nature of life. The child's death is a reminder that life is short and can be taken away at any moment. The mother's grief, too, is a reflection of the harsh reality of life, where death is an inevitable part of the human experience.
Moreover, Behn's poem is a reflection of the Christian belief in the afterlife. The poem suggests that the child's soul has gone to heaven, where it will remain pure and unblemished by the sins of the world. The poem can be seen as a message of hope for those who have lost loved ones and believe in the concept of an afterlife.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child" is a heart-wrenching piece of poetry that captures the pain and grief of a mother who has lost her beloved child. Behn's use of language and imagery is both poetic and emotive and captures the mother's feelings of helplessness and despair. The poem is a commentary on the fleeting nature of life and a reflection of the Christian belief in the afterlife. Behn's poem is a testament to her poetic skills and remains a classic example of elegiac poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child: A Heartbreaking Poem by Aphra Behn
Poetry has the power to evoke emotions and touch the deepest corners of our hearts. One such poem that has stood the test of time and continues to move readers is the "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child" by Aphra Behn. This classic poem, written in the 17th century, is a poignant reflection on the fragility of life and the pain of losing a child.
Aphra Behn was a prolific writer and playwright who lived in the 17th century. She was one of the first women to make a living through writing, and her works were known for their wit, humor, and social commentary. However, it is her poem "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child" that has become one of her most enduring works.
The poem is a short, four-line epitaph that reads:
"Here lies a child, and with him, half of my heart: Buried under this cold marble stone, Alas, how soon we're forced to part, Weeping I write, this, and yet weep alone."
The poem is a reflection on the death of a child, and the pain and grief that comes with it. The first line, "Here lies a child, and with him, half of my heart," is a powerful statement that captures the depth of the poet's loss. The image of half a heart buried with the child is a poignant reminder of the bond between a parent and child, and the pain of losing that bond.
The second line, "Buried under this cold marble stone," is a stark reminder of the finality of death. The child is no longer with the poet, but is now buried under a cold, unfeeling stone. The use of the word "cold" emphasizes the harshness of death, and the sense of loss that comes with it.
The third line, "Alas, how soon we're forced to part," is a reflection on the brevity of life. The poet laments the fact that life is so short, and that we are often forced to say goodbye to those we love too soon. The use of the word "forced" emphasizes the sense of helplessness that comes with death, and the fact that it is often beyond our control.
The final line, "Weeping I write, this, and yet weep alone," is a powerful statement of grief. The poet acknowledges that she is weeping as she writes this epitaph, but also that her grief is a solitary one. The use of the word "alone" emphasizes the sense of isolation that comes with grief, and the fact that it is often a deeply personal experience.
Overall, the "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child" is a powerful reflection on the pain of losing a child. The poem captures the depth of the poet's grief, and the sense of loss that comes with death. It is a reminder that life is fragile, and that we should cherish the time we have with those we love.
In conclusion, the "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child" is a classic poem that continues to move readers today. It is a powerful reflection on the pain of losing a child, and the sense of grief and loss that comes with it. Aphra Behn's words are a reminder that life is precious, and that we should cherish the time we have with those we love.
Editor Recommended Sites
Developer Lectures: Code lectures: Software engineering, Machine Learning, AI, Generative Language modelFlutter Book: Learn flutter from the best learn flutter dev book
Blockchain Remote Job Board - Block Chain Remote Jobs & Remote Crypto Jobs: The latest remote smart contract job postings
Developer Painpoints: Common issues when using a particular cloud tool, programming language or framework
Learn Devops: Devops philosphy and framework implementation. Devops organization best practice
Recommended Similar Analysis
my sweet old etcetera... (X) by e.e. cummings analysisWhat Is Life? by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Serenade by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Invictus by William Ernest Henley analysis
I'm ceded-I've stopped being Theirs by Emily Dickinson analysis
Forgetfulness by Hart Crane analysis
Words by Sappho analysis
Dust of Snow by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Waltzing Matilda by Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson analysis
Karma by Edwin Arlington Robinson analysis