And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted- nevermore! EDGAR ALLAN POE. QUESTIONS FOR STUDY As you read each passage, try to see the force of the sounds of the words, by which the poet produces his especial weird effects. Make lists of alliterative words, that is, words used together in which the same sound is regularly repeated. Point out words that by their sounds are intended to affect the feelings. What was the poet's state of mind? (Lines 1-18.) Had this anything to do with the effect of the Raven's visit? Do you think the poet had any broader or deeper motive in this poem than to produce a "creepy" effect through the artistic use of words? If so, what was it? How does he make it plain? 1 WILLIAM WORDSWORTH su (1770-1850) About Wordsworth, as about Browning, there has always raged a controversy as to whether he is really a great poet or not. But as time passes the judgment is steadily crystallizing that he belongs in the class of great, or almost great, writers. Some of his writings are beautiful, even perb. Some are trivial and almost ridiculous. The latter are due to the fact that the poet was possessed of a theory which represented a "movement." He believed that poetry should be an exact statement of facts, and in some of his poems he described facts so trivial as to have no universal value. But 5 10 in such poems as The Ode on the Intimations of Immortality he showed his real greatness. In He lived among the hills and lakes of England, which he has put into so much of his verse. 1843 he was made Poet Laureate of England, a distinction of very doubtful value. The following three short poems show Wordsworth the poet, not the follower of a theory. One poem, the Daffodils, shows the poet's deep love of nature; another, She was a Phantom of Delight, is a beautiful tribute to womanhood at its best; the third, Ode to Duty, illustrates the elevating moral quality of Wordsworth's poetry. THE DAFFODILS I wandered lonely as a cloud A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Continuous as the stars that shine Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance, The waves beside them danced; but they A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed and gazed -but little thought For oft, when on my couch I lie, And then my heart with pleasure fills, WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. QUESTIONS FOR STUDY Line 1. Did you ever think of a solitary cloud, high in the heavens, as lonely? Line 4. Can you realize how to the lonely poet the crowd of golden daffodils were company? Line 16. What is the "jocund company" that makes the poet gay? Line 24. What is the meaning of the last stanza? ODE TO DUTY Stern Daughter of the Voice of God! 15 20 5 Thou, who art victory and law When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free; And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity! There are who ask not if thine eye 10 Be on them; who, in love and truth, Where no misgiving is, rely Upon the genial sense of youth: Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot 15 Oh! if through confidence misplaced They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power! around them cast. Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, 20 And joy its own security. And they a blissful course may hold Yet seek thy firm support, according to their need. 25 I, loving freedom, and untried; |