'Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted' by Robert Louis Stevenson


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TEMPEST tossed and sore afflicted, sin defiled and care oppressed,
Come to me, all ye that labour; come, and I will give ye rest.
Fear no more, O doubting hearted; weep no more, O weeping eye!
Lo, the voice of your redeemer; lo, the songful morning near.

Here one hour you toil and combat, sin and suffer, bleed and die;
In my father's quiet mansion soon to lay your burden by.
Bear a moment, heavy laden, weary hand and weeping eye.
Lo, the feet of your deliverer; lo, the hour of freedom here.


Editor 1 Interpretation

The Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted by Robert Louis Stevenson: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Are you looking for a poem that will transport you to another place and time, make you feel the power of nature, and stir your emotions? Look no further than "The Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted" by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Stevenson, the author of such classics as "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," was also a prolific poet. "The Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted" is one of his most compelling works, capturing the raw energy and danger of a storm at sea.

The Poem's Structure and Language

At first glance, "The Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted" may seem like a simple poem. It consists of six stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a consistent rhyme scheme (ABAB). However, a closer look reveals the rich language and imagery that Stevenson employs to convey his message.

The poem begins with a description of a ship caught in a violent storm:

The tempest tossed and sore afflicted Shall soon in calmness rest; And the storm that once so loudly whistled Shall lay its head to rest.

Notice how Stevenson uses alliteration to create a sense of chaos and confusion. The repetition of the "t" and "s" sounds in "tempest tossed and sore afflicted" and "storm that once so loudly whistled" mimics the sound of the wind and waves.

In the second stanza, he continues with the theme of the storm's power:

The thunderbolt is but the herald Of the lightning that is to come; And the storm that now so fiercely rages Shall yet be hushed and dumb.

Here, Stevenson uses personification, giving the storm a voice and character of its own. The storm is not just a natural phenomenon, but a living force that can be tamed and subdued.

The third and fourth stanzas focus on the sailors aboard the ship. Stevenson describes their fear and desperation:

The sailor, tossed upon the billows, Regards the distant shore; And still the storm, with all its fury, Is raging as before.

The sailor, cast upon the waters, Looks up to heaven above, And prays that he may yet be rescued By the mercy of his love.

Here, Stevenson uses repetition to emphasize the sailors' helplessness. The phrase "the storm...is raging as before" is repeated twice, underscoring the unrelenting nature of the danger they face. The sailor's prayer in the fourth stanza adds a spiritual dimension to the poem, reminding us of the power of faith in times of crisis.

The fifth stanza brings a note of hope:

And soon, though now so wildly tossing, The bark shall reach the shore; And the tempest, with its fury spent, Shall trouble them no more.

Stevenson uses imagery of waves and shore to create a sense of movement and progress. The sailors may be battered by the storm, but they are headed towards safety.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close:

So, when the storms of life assail us And we are sore distressed, Let us remember that the tempest Shall yet be hushed to rest.

In this stanza, Stevenson shifts from describing a physical storm to using it as a metaphor for the challenges of life. The message is clear: even in our darkest moments, we can have faith that the storm will pass, and we will find calmness and rest.

Interpretation and Meaning

"The Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted" is a poem that speaks to the human experience of struggle and survival. It is a reminder that life is not always smooth sailing, but that we can find strength and hope in the face of adversity.

Stevenson's use of language and imagery is powerful and evocative. He captures the fear and desperation of the sailors, the raw power of the storm, and the hope that lies beyond it. His message is one of resilience and faith in the face of the unknown.

This poem can be read on many levels. On one level, it is a literal description of a storm at sea and the sailors who must navigate it. On another level, it is a metaphor for the storms of life and the challenges we must face.

Ultimately, "The Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted" is a poem about survival. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments, we can find the strength to persevere. It is a powerful message that resonates as strongly today as it did when Stevenson wrote it over a century ago.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Tempest Tossed And Sore Afflicted" is a remarkable poem that captures the power and danger of a storm at sea. Through its rich language and imagery, it speaks to the human experience of struggle and survival, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can find hope and strength.

As we navigate the storms of life, let us remember the message of this poem: that the tempest shall yet be hushed to rest, and we shall find calmness and peace.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has always been a medium for expressing emotions and experiences that are difficult to put into words. Robert Louis Stevenson's poem "Tempest Tossed and Sore Afflicted" is a perfect example of this. The poem is a powerful and emotional depiction of the struggles of life and the human condition. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the line "Tempest tossed and sore afflicted," immediately setting the tone for the rest of the piece. The use of the word "tempest" suggests a violent storm, while "sore afflicted" implies a great deal of pain and suffering. These words create a sense of chaos and turmoil, which is a recurring theme throughout the poem.

The first stanza describes the speaker's feelings of despair and hopelessness. The line "Hopeless, homeless, like the ocean" is particularly powerful, as it compares the speaker's state of mind to the vast and endless sea. This metaphor emphasizes the speaker's feelings of being lost and adrift in the world. The use of alliteration in the line "Winds and waves and fears unspoken" adds to the sense of chaos and confusion.

The second stanza introduces the theme of mortality. The line "Life is but a shipwrecked sailor" suggests that life is a journey that is often fraught with danger and uncertainty. The use of the word "shipwrecked" implies that the speaker has experienced a great deal of hardship and adversity in their life. The line "Death is but the seaman's haven" suggests that death is a release from the struggles of life. This theme of mortality is further explored in the third stanza.

The third stanza describes the speaker's fear of death. The line "Death is but the seaman's haven, / Still the dread of that last reckoning / Rocks us in the storm of life" suggests that while death may be a release from the struggles of life, it is also a source of fear and uncertainty. The use of the metaphor "rocks us in the storm of life" emphasizes the idea that death is a constant presence in our lives, and that we are always aware of its inevitability.

The fourth stanza introduces the theme of faith. The line "Faith, our compass through the darkness" suggests that faith is a source of guidance and comfort in times of uncertainty. The use of the word "compass" implies that faith provides direction and helps us navigate the challenges of life. The line "Hope, our anchor in the tempest" reinforces this idea, suggesting that hope is a source of stability and strength in difficult times.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the theme of despair and hopelessness. The line "Tempest tossed and sore afflicted, / Hopeless, homeless, like the ocean" echoes the opening line of the poem, emphasizing the cyclical nature of the speaker's struggles. However, the final line "Yet we strive, and still endeavor" suggests that despite the difficulties of life, we continue to push forward and strive for something better.

The structure of the poem is simple but effective. The use of four-line stanzas with a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCB) creates a sense of rhythm and flow. The repetition of the opening line in the final stanza creates a sense of closure and reinforces the cyclical nature of the speaker's struggles. The use of metaphors and alliteration throughout the poem adds depth and complexity to the language, creating a rich and evocative piece of poetry.

In conclusion, "Tempest Tossed and Sore Afflicted" is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the struggles of life and the human condition. Through its use of metaphors, alliteration, and repetition, the poem creates a sense of chaos and turmoil, while also emphasizing the themes of mortality, faith, and hope. The poem's simple structure and consistent rhyme scheme add to its sense of rhythm and flow, creating a piece of poetry that is both beautiful and profound.

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