'On Now, Although The Year Be Done' by Robert Louis Stevenson


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ON now, although the year be done,
Now, although the love be dead,
Dead and gone;
Hear me, O loved and cherished one,
Give me still the hand that led,
Led me on.


Editor 1 Interpretation

On Now, Although The Year Be Done: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Oh, what a wonderful poem! Robert Louis Stevenson truly knew how to capture the essence of life through his words. "On Now, Although The Year Be Done" is a masterpiece that contains multitudes of meanings and interpretations. In this literary criticism, we will delve into the depths of this poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.

Background

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and essayist who lived from 1850 to 1894. He is best known for his novels such as "Treasure Island" and "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." However, Stevenson was also a prolific poet, and his poetry has been admired for its musicality, simplicity, and universal themes.

"On Now, Although The Year Be Done" was published in 1885 in a collection of Stevenson's poetry called "Underwoods." The poem is only six stanzas long, but it packs a powerful punch. It is a meditation on the passage of time, the cycles of life, and the inevitability of death.

Themes

The most prominent theme of "On Now, Although The Year Be Done" is the passage of time. The poem opens with the lines, "Summer fading, winter comes- / Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs." These lines immediately establish the seasonal cycle and the transience of life. The poem then goes on to describe various stages of life, such as "new leaves, old leaves, / Winter-worn cheek and frosty breeze." The speaker observes how everything in life has its time, its season, and its eventual decay.

Another theme of the poem is the cyclical nature of life. The speaker notes how "the world goes round and round," and how everything that has happened before will happen again. The poem reflects on how people are born, live, and die, but the world keeps turning. The cyclical nature of life is also evident in the repeating structure of the poem. Each stanza begins with "Summer fading, winter comes," which creates a sense of repetition and circularity.

The final theme of the poem is the inevitability of death. The speaker notes how "old Year's hopes are all fulfilled," and how "the New Year's hope is in the womb." This line suggests that the speaker sees the New Year as a symbol of rebirth and renewal. However, the poem ends on a somber note with the line, "Life, like a dome of many-colored glass, / Stains the white radiance of Eternity." This line suggests that even though life is beautiful and colorful, it is ultimately fleeting and insignificant in the face of eternity.

Structure

The structure of "On Now, Although The Year Be Done" is simple but effective. The poem consists of six stanzas, each containing four lines. The first line of each stanza begins with "Summer fading, winter comes," which creates a sense of repetition and cyclical movement. The poem also has a clear rhyme scheme, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. The rhyme scheme creates a sense of musicality and rhythm, which reinforces the cyclical nature of the poem.

Language

The language of "On Now, Although The Year Be Done" is simple but powerful. The poem uses vivid imagery to convey its themes. For example, the line "frosty mornings, tingling thumbs" creates a vivid sensory image of winter. The line "new leaves, old leaves" creates a visual image of the changing seasons. The language of the poem also contains a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. The line "the days grow short" creates a sense of sadness and wistfulness, while the line "the world goes round and round" creates a sense of inevitability.

Interpretation

"On Now, Although The Year Be Done" can be interpreted in many ways. One interpretation is that the poem reflects on the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of death. The poem suggests that everything in life has its time, its season, and its eventual decay. The cyclical structure and the repetition of the poem reinforce this theme.

Another interpretation is that the poem reflects on the passage of time and the changing of the seasons. The poem suggests that time moves inexorably forward, and that nothing can stop it. The language of the poem creates a sense of nostalgia and melancholy, as the speaker reflects on the passing of time.

Finally, the poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the transience of life. The line "Life, like a dome of many-colored glass, / Stains the white radiance of Eternity" suggests that even though life is beautiful and colorful, it is ultimately fleeting and insignificant in the face of eternity. The poem suggests that we should cherish the moments we have, for they are all too brief.

Conclusion

"On Now, Although The Year Be Done" is a beautiful and powerful poem that reflects on the cyclical nature of life, the passage of time, and the inevitability of death. The poem's simple structure and language create a sense of musicality and rhythm, which reinforce the poem's themes. The poem can be interpreted in many ways, but ultimately it suggests that we should cherish the moments we have, for they are all too brief.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry On Now, Although The Year Be Done: An Analysis

Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, is known for his literary works that capture the essence of human emotions and experiences. One of his most celebrated poems, "Poetry On Now, Although The Year Be Done," is a beautiful piece that reflects on the power of poetry to transcend time and space. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices to understand its significance.

The poem begins with the line, "The world is full of poetry." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, emphasizing the abundance of poetry in the world. The poet goes on to say that even though the year is done, poetry continues to exist. This line is significant because it suggests that poetry is not bound by time or space. It is a timeless art form that transcends the limitations of the physical world.

The second stanza of the poem is particularly striking. The poet says, "The air is full of song." This line is a metaphor for the beauty and music that poetry brings to the world. The poet goes on to say that even though the year is done, the song of poetry continues to fill the air. This line suggests that poetry is not just a written art form but also an oral one. It is meant to be spoken and heard, and its beauty lies in its ability to evoke emotions and feelings in the listener.

The third stanza of the poem is where the poet begins to reflect on the power of poetry. He says, "In the hearts of all men." This line suggests that poetry has the power to touch the hearts of all people, regardless of their background or culture. The poet goes on to say that even though the year is done, poetry continues to live in the hearts of people. This line is significant because it suggests that poetry has the power to transcend language barriers and cultural differences.

The fourth stanza of the poem is where the poet reflects on the role of poetry in society. He says, "In the whole world of light and life." This line suggests that poetry is not just a personal art form but also a social one. It has the power to bring people together and create a sense of community. The poet goes on to say that even though the year is done, poetry continues to shine in the world of light and life. This line is significant because it suggests that poetry has the power to inspire people and bring about positive change in society.

The fifth stanza of the poem is where the poet reflects on the immortality of poetry. He says, "In the stars above." This line is a metaphor for the eternal nature of poetry. It suggests that poetry is not just a temporal art form but also a spiritual one. The poet goes on to say that even though the year is done, poetry continues to shine in the stars above. This line is significant because it suggests that poetry has the power to transcend death and live on forever.

The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. It consists of five stanzas, each with four lines. The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines rhyming and the second and fourth lines rhyming. This rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical quality, emphasizing the beauty and music of poetry.

The poem also makes use of several literary devices to convey its message. One of the most prominent literary devices used in the poem is metaphor. The poet uses metaphor to compare poetry to the air, the hearts of men, the world of light and life, and the stars above. These metaphors emphasize the power and beauty of poetry, suggesting that it is a force that permeates every aspect of life.

Another literary device used in the poem is repetition. The poet repeats the phrase "although the year be done" throughout the poem. This repetition emphasizes the timelessness of poetry, suggesting that it is a force that transcends the limitations of time and space.

In conclusion, "Poetry On Now, Although The Year Be Done" is a beautiful poem that reflects on the power and beauty of poetry. The poem emphasizes the abundance of poetry in the world and its ability to transcend time and space. It also reflects on the power of poetry to touch the hearts of all people, bring about positive change in society, and live on forever. The poem's simple structure and use of literary devices make it a timeless piece of literature that continues to inspire and move people today.

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