'A Grammarian's Funeral' by Robert Browning
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SHORTLY AFTER THE REVIVAL OF LEARNING IN EUROPE.
Let us begin and carry up this corpse,
Singing together.
Leave we the common crofts, the vulgar thorpes
Each in its tether
Sleeping safe on the bosom of the plain,
Cared-for till cock-crow:
Look out if yonder be not day again
Rimming the rock-row!
That's the appropriate country; there, man's thought,
Rarer, intenser,
Self-gathered for an outbreak, as it ought,
Chafes in the censer.
Leave we the unlettered plain its herd and crop;
Seek we sepulture
On a tall mountain, citied to the top,
Crowded with culture!
All the peaks soar, but one the rest excels;
Clouds overcome it;
No! yonder sparkle is the citadel's
Circling its summit.
Thither our path lies; wind we up the heights:
Wait ye the warning?
Our low life was the level's and the night's;
He's for the morning.
Step to a tune, square chests, erect each head,
'Ware the beholders!
This is our master, famous calm and dead,
Borne on our shoulders.
Sleep, crop and herd! sleep, darkling thorpe and croft,
Safe from the weather!
He, whom we convoy to his grave aloft,
Singing together,
He was a man born with thy face and throat,
Lyric Apollo!
Long he lived nameless: how should spring take note
Winter would follow?
Till lo, the little touch, and youth was gone!
Cramped and diminished,
Moaned he, ``New measures, other feet anon!
``My dance is finished?''
No, that's the world's way:(keep the mountain-side,
Make for the city!)
He knew the signal, and stepped on with pride
Over men's pity;
Left play for work, and grappled with the world
Bent on escaping:
``What's in the scroll,'' quoth he, ``thou keepest furled?
``Show me their shaping,
``Theirs who most studied man, the bard and sage,---
``Give!''---So, he gowned him,
Straight got by heart that hook to its last page:
Learned, we found him.
Yea, but we found him bald too, eyes like lead,
Accents uncertain:
``Time to taste life,'' another would have said,
``Up with the curtain!''
This man said rather, ``Actual life comes next?
``Patience a moment!
``Grant I have mastered learning's crabbed text,
``Still there's the comment.
``Let me know all!Prate not of most or least,
``Painful or easy!
``Even to the crumbs I'd fain eat up the feast,
``Ay, nor feel queasy.''
Oh, such a life as he resolved to live,
When he had learned it,
When he had gathered all books had to give!
Sooner, he spurned it.
Image the whole, then execute the parts---
Fancy the fabric
Quite, ere you build, ere steel strike fire from quartz,
Ere mortar dab brick!
(Here's the town-gate reached: there's the market-place
Gaping before us.)
Yea, this in him was the peculiar grace
(Hearten our chorus!)
That before living he'd learn how to live---
No end to learning:
Earn the means first---God surely will contrive
Use for our earning.
Others mistrust and say, ``But time escapes:
``Live now or never!''
He said, ``What's time?Leave Now for dogs and apes!
``Man has Forever.''
Back to his book then: deeper drooped his head
_Calculus_ racked him:
Leaden before, his eyes grew dross of lead:
_Tussis_ attacked him.
``Now, master, take a little rest!''---not he!
(Caution redoubled,
Step two abreast, the way winds narrowly!)
Not a whit troubled
Back to his studies, fresher than at first,
Fierce as a dragon
He (soul-hydroptic with a sacred thirst)
Sucked at the flagon.
Oh, if we draw a circle premature,
Heedless of far gain,
Greedy for quick returns of profit, sure
Bad is our bargain!
Was it not great? did not he throw on God,
(He loves the burthen)---
God's task to make the heavenly period
Perfect the earthen?
Did not he magnify the mind, show clear
Just what it all meant?
He would not discount life, as fools do here,
Paid by instalment.
He ventured neck or nothing---heaven's success
Found, or earth's failure:
``Wilt thou trust death or not?''He answered ``Yes:
``Hence with life's pale lure!''
That low man seeks a little thing to do,
Sees it and does it:
This high man, with a great thing to pursue,
Dies ere he knows it.
That low man goes on adding nine to one,
His hundred's soon hit:
This high man, aiming at a million,
Misses an unit.
That, has the world here---should he need the next,
Let the world mind him!
This, throws himself on God, and unperplexed
Seeking shall find him.
So, with the throttling hands of death at strife,
Ground he at grammar;
Still, thro' the rattle, parts of speech were rife:
While he could stammer
He settled _Hoti's_ business---let it be!---
Properly based _Oun_---
Gave us the doctrine of the enclitic _De_,
Dead from the waist down.
Well, here's the platform, here's the proper place:
Hail to your purlieus,
All ye highfliers of the feathered race,
Swallows and curlews!
Here's the top-peak; the multitude below
Live, for they can, there:
This man decided not to Live but Know---
Bury this man there?
Here---here's his place, where meteors shoot, clouds form,
Lightnings are loosened,
Stars come and go!Let joy break with the storm,
Peace let the dew send!
Lofty designs must close in like effects
Loftily lying,
Leave him---still loftier than the world suspects,
Living and dying.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, A Grammarian's Funeral by Robert Browning: A Journey Through Life and Death
As a literature enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the works of Robert Browning. The depth of his poetry and the way he seamlessly intertwines themes of death, love, and humanity are truly mesmerizing. One of his most renowned works, "Poetry, A Grammarian's Funeral," is a masterful piece that speaks volumes about the significance of poetry and its power to transcend life and death.
The Poem's Setting
The poem is set in a small Italian town where a group of people is gathered to attend the funeral of a grammarian. The mourners are described as being "dull-faced, grave-eyed" and their conversation is a reflection of their mundane lives. They discuss the life of the deceased and how he was a great scholar, yet lived a life of isolation, dedicating his entire existence to the study of language and grammar.
The Arrival of the Poet
Suddenly, a poet arrives and disrupts the mourners' monotony. He is described as a "morning-star" and a "glimmer of glory." The poet's presence creates a sense of excitement, and the people eagerly wait to hear what he has to say. The poet is not concerned with the deceased's scholarly achievements; instead, he is more interested in the power of poetry and its ability to transcend death.
The Power of Poetry
The poet begins to preach about the significance of poetry, and he does so with such passion and conviction that the mourners are left in awe. He speaks of how poetry is not constrained by logic and reason, and how it can evoke emotions that cannot be expressed through language. He also speaks of how poetry has the power to transcend time and can be appreciated by future generations.
The Poet's Credo
The poet's words are so powerful that they leave a lasting impression on the mourners. He preaches that poetry is the true essence of life and that it is more important than materialistic pursuits. He asks the mourners to let go of their mundane existence and to embrace the power of poetry. His words are inspiring and thought-provoking, and they leave the mourners questioning their own existence.
The Poem's Message
The poem's message is clear; it speaks of the power of poetry and how it can transcend life and death. The grammarian's life was dedicated to the study of language and grammar, but the poet questions the significance of such pursuits. He preaches that life is more than just the acquisition of knowledge and that poetry is the true essence of life.
The Poem's Structure
The poem is structured in six stanzas, each with its own rhyming pattern. The first two stanzas are written in iambic pentameter, while the last four stanzas are written in iambic trimeter. The varying rhyme and meter create a sense of rhythm and flow, which captures the essence of the poem's message.
The Poet's Voice
The poet's voice is strong and powerful. He speaks with conviction and passion, and his words are filled with emotion. He is not concerned with the norms of society or the expectations of the mourners; he speaks his truth and preaches about the power of poetry.
The Poem's Language
The language used in the poem is simple and easy to understand, yet it is rich in imagery and metaphor. The poet uses words such as "morning-star" and "glimmer of glory" to describe himself, and these words create a sense of brightness and hope. The poet's language is a reflection of his message, and it captures the essence of his passion for poetry.
The Poem's Themes
The poem's themes are numerous and varied, but the most prominent ones are the power of poetry, the significance of life, and the transcendence of death. The poet questions the significance of the grammarian's scholarly pursuits and preaches about the power of poetry. He also speaks of how life is more than just the acquisition of knowledge and that poetry is the true essence of life. Finally, he speaks of how poetry can transcend time and can be appreciated by future generations, which suggests that poetry has the power to transcend death.
The Poem's Significance
The poem's significance lies in its message and the way it captures the essence of life and death. It speaks of the power of poetry and how it can transcend life and death. It also questions the significance of materialistic pursuits and preaches about the true essence of life. The poem is a reflection of Browning's passion for poetry, and it captures the essence of his literary genius.
The Poem's Legacy
The legacy of the poem lies in its ability to inspire and provoke thought. It speaks of the power of poetry and how it can transcend life and death, and it challenges readers to question their own existence. The poem continues to inspire readers to this day, and it is a testament to Browning's literary genius.
Conclusion
"Poetry, A Grammarian's Funeral" is a masterful piece that captures the essence of life and death. The power of poetry and its ability to transcend time and death are themes that are expertly woven into the poem. The poem speaks of the true essence of life and challenges readers to question their own existence. It is a testament to Browning's literary genius and a legacy that continues to inspire readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry A Grammarian's Funeral: An Analysis
Robert Browning's "Poetry A Grammarian's Funeral" is a classic poem that explores the relationship between language, poetry, and death. The poem is a tribute to a grammarian who has passed away, and it is written in the form of a eulogy. The speaker of the poem is a fellow scholar who is mourning the loss of his friend, the grammarian. The poem is a reflection on the life and work of the grammarian, and it explores the role of language and poetry in human life.
The poem begins with a description of the grammarian's funeral. The speaker describes the scene in detail, noting the presence of other scholars and the solemnity of the occasion. The speaker then reflects on the life of the grammarian, noting his dedication to the study of language and his love of poetry. The speaker describes the grammarian as a man who was "all of language" and who "loved the language purely."
The poem then shifts to a discussion of the role of language in human life. The speaker notes that language is the "one thing needful" for human beings, and that it is through language that we are able to communicate with one another and express our thoughts and feelings. The speaker also notes that language is a "living thing," constantly evolving and changing over time.
The poem then turns to a discussion of the role of poetry in human life. The speaker notes that poetry is a form of language that is "higher" than ordinary language, and that it is through poetry that we are able to express the deepest emotions and thoughts. The speaker notes that the grammarian loved poetry, and that he saw it as a way to transcend the limitations of ordinary language.
The poem then concludes with a reflection on the grammarian's legacy. The speaker notes that the grammarian's work will live on, and that his dedication to the study of language and poetry will continue to inspire future generations. The poem ends with a final tribute to the grammarian, noting that he was a man who "loved the language purely" and who will be remembered for his contributions to the study of language and poetry.
Overall, "Poetry A Grammarian's Funeral" is a powerful poem that explores the relationship between language, poetry, and death. The poem is a tribute to a man who dedicated his life to the study of language and poetry, and it is a reflection on the role of language and poetry in human life. The poem is a reminder that language and poetry are essential to human existence, and that they have the power to transcend the limitations of ordinary language and express the deepest emotions and thoughts.
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