'To Helen' by Delmore Schwartz
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(After Valery)
O Sea! ... 'Tis I, risen from death once more
To hear the waves' harmonious roar
And see the galleys, sharp, in dawn's great awe
Raised from the dark by the rising and gold oar.
My fickle hands sufficed to summon kings
Their salt beards amused my fingers, deft and pure.
I wept. They sang of triumphs now obscure:
And the first abyss flooded the hull as if with falling wings.
I hear the profound horns and trumpets of war
Matching the rhythm, swinging of the flying oars:
The galleys' chant enchains the foam of sound;
And the gods, exalted at the heroic prow,
E'en though the spit of spray insults each smiling brow,
Beckon to me, with arms indulgent, frozen, sculptured,
and dead long long ago.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"To Helen" by Delmore Schwartz: A Poetic Ode to Beauty and Love
Have you ever read a poem that leaves you with a sense of awe and wonder? "To Helen" by Delmore Schwartz is one such poem that captures the essence of beauty and love, and elevates the feminine ideal to a pedestal of admiration.
In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes and motifs of "To Helen", and delve deeper into the poetic devices and literary techniques used to create a masterpiece that has stood the test of time.
Context and Background of "To Helen"
Delmore Schwartz, an American poet and short story writer, was born in 1913, and died in 1966. He was a leading figure of the literary movement known as the "New York Intellectuals", which emerged in the 1930s and flourished in the post-war era.
"To Helen" was first published in 1937, when Schwartz was only 24 years old, in his debut poetry collection, "In Dreams Begin Responsibilities". The poem was inspired by the Greek myth of Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world, who was abducted by Paris, and caused the Trojan War.
However, Schwartz's poem is not a retelling of the myth, but an ode to a modern-day Helen, who represents the ideal of feminine beauty and grace. The poem is addressed to Helen, as if she were a real person, and expresses the poet's intense admiration and love for her.
Themes and Motifs of "To Helen"
The themes and motifs of "To Helen" are centered around beauty, love, and the idealization of the feminine. The poem celebrates the beauty of Helen, and elevates her to a goddess-like status, as a symbol of perfection and inspiration.
The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the work:
Helen, thy beauty is to me Like those Nicean barks of yore, That gently, o'er a perfumed sea, The weary, way-worn wanderer bore To his own native shore.
The comparison of Helen's beauty to "Nicean barks", which were ancient Greek ships, suggests that she is a timeless and classic beauty, who transcends time and space. The use of sensory imagery, such as "perfumed sea", creates a vivid and romantic atmosphere, and reinforces the idea of Helen as a muse who inspires the poet.
The poem also explores the theme of love, which is intertwined with the admiration and worship of beauty. The poet's love for Helen is expressed in lyrical and passionate language, which conveys his deep emotions and desire:
On desperate seas long wont to roam, Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face, Thy Naiad airs have brought me home To the glory that was Greece, And the grandeur that was Rome.
The use of alliteration, assonance, and rhyme, creates a musical and rhythmic quality to the poem, which adds to its emotional impact. The repetition of "thy" emphasizes the poet's devotion to Helen, and the use of mythological references, such as Naiads, adds to the romantic and dreamlike quality of the poem.
Another motif in "To Helen" is the idealization of the feminine, which is expressed through the use of elevated language and mythical allusions. Helen is described as a "Nymph", a "Fairy", and a "Goddess", which emphasizes her ethereal and otherworldly beauty.
The poet's admiration and worship of Helen is reminiscent of the Romantic tradition, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the human spirit. However, unlike the Romantics, Schwartz does not idealize nature, but elevates the feminine ideal to a pedestal of admiration and inspiration.
Poetic Devices and Literary Techniques in "To Helen"
"To Helen" is a masterful work of poetry, which employs a variety of poetic devices and literary techniques to create a lyrical and emotional impact. Some of these techniques include:
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, which creates a musical and rhythmic quality to the poem. Examples of alliteration in "To Helen" include:
Thy Naiad airs have brought me home To the glory that was Greece, And the grandeur that was Rome.
Oh, Memory! thou midway world 'Twixt earth and paradise, Where things decayed and loved ones lost In dreamy shadows rise.
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in words, which creates a musical and fluid quality to the poem. Examples of assonance in "To Helen" include:
Helen, thy beauty is to me Like those Nicean barks of yore,
And the sunlight clasps the earth, And the moonbeams kiss the sea—
Imagery
Imagery is the use of sensory details and descriptions to create a vivid and realistic picture in the reader's mind. Examples of imagery in "To Helen" include:
Like those Nicean barks of yore, That gently, o'er a perfumed sea, The weary, way-worn wanderer bore To his own native shore.
Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face, Thy Naiad airs have brought me home
Mythical Allusions
Mythical allusions are references to myths and legends, which add to the emotional and romantic quality of the poem. Examples of mythical allusions in "To Helen" include:
To the glory that was Greece, And the grandeur that was Rome.
A Nymph there is, and she is fair, Fairer than thee, thou art more fair: Innocent as flowing air She dances, laughs, and, like the breeze,
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood of "To Helen" are lyrical, emotional, and romantic. The use of elevated language, mythical allusions, and sensory imagery, creates a dreamlike and magical atmosphere, which conveys the poet's intense emotions and admiration for Helen.
The poem is also nostalgic and reflective, as the poet remembers the past and longs for the beauty and grace of Helen. The closing lines of the poem capture this sense of longing and yearning:
To the glory that was Greece, And the grandeur that was Rome. Ah, Psyche, from the regions which Are Holy-Land!
Conclusion
In conclusion, "To Helen" by Delmore Schwartz is a masterpiece of poetry, which celebrates the beauty and grace of the feminine ideal, and elevates it to a pedestal of admiration and inspiration.
The poem explores themes and motifs of beauty, love, and idealization, and employs a variety of poetic devices and literary techniques to create a lyrical and emotional impact.
Through its use of elevated language, mythical allusions, and sensory imagery, "To Helen" captures the essence of Romanticism, and expresses the poet's intense emotions and admiration for the beauty and grace of Helen.
If you haven't read "To Helen" yet, I highly recommend it. It's a work of art that will leave you with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty and power of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To Helen: A Poem That Captures the Essence of Beauty and Love
Delmore Schwartz's poem "To Helen" is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and romantic poem that captures the essence of beauty and love. The poem is a tribute to the beauty of a woman named Helen, who is the embodiment of all that is beautiful and desirable. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its significance and relevance even today.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing Helen, "Helen, thy beauty is to me / Like those Nicean barks of yore." The speaker compares Helen's beauty to the ancient Greek ships that sailed the seas of Nicaea. The use of this metaphor is significant as it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The ships of Nicaea were known for their beauty and grace, and the speaker is saying that Helen's beauty is just as magnificent.
The speaker goes on to say, "That gently, o'er a perfumed sea, / The weary, way-worn wanderer bore / To his own native shore." Here, the speaker is saying that Helen's beauty is like a ship that carries a traveler back to his homeland. The use of the word "perfumed" suggests that the sea is calm and peaceful, and the traveler is at ease. The speaker is saying that Helen's beauty has a calming effect on him, and it brings him back to his own "native shore."
The next stanza of the poem is where the speaker really begins to express his love for Helen. He says, "On desperate seas long wont to roam, / Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face, / Thy Naiad airs have brought me home / To the glory that was Greece." The speaker is saying that Helen's beauty has brought him back to the glory of ancient Greece. The use of the word "desperate" suggests that the speaker has been lost at sea for a long time, and he has finally found his way home thanks to Helen's beauty.
The use of the word "hyacinth" to describe Helen's hair is significant. In Greek mythology, Hyacinth was a beautiful youth who was loved by the god Apollo. When Hyacinth died, Apollo turned his blood into a flower, which was named after him. The use of this word suggests that Helen's beauty is not just physical but also has a mythological significance.
The speaker goes on to say, "To the temple where thy votaries wore / Their wreaths of roses, not a few." Here, the speaker is saying that Helen's beauty is like a temple where people come to worship. The use of the word "votaries" suggests that Helen's beauty is something that people worship and admire. The use of the word "roses" suggests that Helen's beauty is not just physical but also has a spiritual significance.
The next stanza of the poem is where the speaker expresses his desire for Helen. He says, "In thy beauty's earthly course / Is there no danger or distress; / But naught can steal thy strong resource / Of wild and passionate loveliness." The speaker is saying that Helen's beauty is so strong that nothing can steal it from her. He is expressing his desire for her and saying that he wants to be with her forever.
The use of the word "passionate" suggests that the speaker's desire for Helen is not just physical but also emotional. He is saying that he loves her not just for her beauty but also for who she is as a person.
The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker expresses his love for Helen. He says, "And when thy heart is laid to rest, / Beneath the violet, the rose; / In tears may they not be expressed, / For thou shalt find thyself in prose." The speaker is saying that even after Helen's death, her beauty will live on in prose. He is expressing his love for her and saying that even after she is gone, her beauty will continue to inspire others.
The use of the words "violet" and "rose" suggests that Helen's beauty is not just physical but also has a spiritual significance. The use of the word "prose" suggests that Helen's beauty will live on in literature and art.
In conclusion, Delmore Schwartz's poem "To Helen" is a beautiful and romantic tribute to the beauty of a woman named Helen. The poem captures the essence of beauty and love and has a timeless quality that makes it relevant even today. The use of metaphors, imagery, and literary devices such as alliteration and repetition make the poem a masterpiece of literature. The poem is a reminder that beauty is not just physical but also has a spiritual significance that can inspire and uplift us.
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