Housmans To an Athlete Dying Young - Essay Example

To An Athlete Dying Young - A. E. Housman. 1859 Introduction Lyric XIX in A Shropshire Lad, A. E. Housmans To an Athlete Dying Young, embraces, thepremature death of a young athlete as told from the point of view of a friend serving as pall bearer, as its main theme. The poem reveals the theory that those dying at the apex of their glory or youth are in truth quite lucky. Housman has attempted to convey the romantic ideal that youth, beauty, and glory can be conserved only in death. Analysis The background of the poem is the funeral of a young champion. Rather than grieve, Housman reflects on how fortunate the runner was to have died at the apex of glory. The poet recalls the time the runner won a race, gaining him the public’s admiration, "Man and boy stood cheering by; And home we brought you shoulder-high". The poet relates this happy time to the present, where "Shoulder-high we bring you home; And set you at your threshold down". With this couplet “he compares the race to the funeral procession. The honor of being held high was endowed the first time for victory, and the last time for homage. The "threshold" represents the grave of the athlete, his doorway into the life after death. The reader is forced to consider the inevitability of death. He asks himself that whether the athlete is to be envied for dying so soon after his achievements, rather than being pitied for his premature death. Housman portrays the premature death of the runner as something desirable. “Smart lad, to slip betimes away” The poets tone is satirical as he congratulates the runner on his death. Later on the mood becomes forlorn with “Eyes the shady night has shut……” In essence the poem can be seen as either providing solace to those left behind by the runner’s death, by dwelling on the fact that in death the runner has achieved a different kind of immortality. An immortality in which his glory is preserved and not overtaken by better achievements of athletes later on. Or it can be seen as a lament by the friends and co-achievers of the runner who were left behind to age and see their glories fade and their “laurels” wither. Housman has used simple two syllable words which convey complex meanings. His lyrics express a Romantic pessimism in a spare, simple style. The form of the poem is a couplet, for two lines work as a unit. An example would be: "The time you won the town the race/ We chaired you through the marketplace/ Man and boy stood cheering by/And home we brought you shoulder-high." Metaphors are in abundance such as "roses,""garland,"and "laurel”, representing the short life of both flowers and the runner. Paradoxically even though life is well praised in the poem, it is written from the point of view of death The reader is deeply affected by the sorrow of death, yet consoled that the deceased has gone to a place where he is immune from all the pain and strife of the living. Many whose loved ones have been ripped away from them in these turbulent times may take consolation from Housman’s lament. Friends and family of, war heroes, the victims of terrorist attacks, or those who for myriad reasons have died young, all will be deeply affected by this poem. The general reader is also impressed by Housman’s positive view of death and is forced to reflect on its implications. Conclusion The intention of the poet was to have a soothing effect on emotion under turmoil. The target audience was the emotionally disturbed family and friends. However the result would be dissimilar on different people. The mother would not be consoled by words as her grief can be overcome only by passage of time. Family would feel consoled that their loved one was preserved in youth forever by the hand of death, and friends would be fired to do something more by way of remembrance of the departed. The Road Not Taken - Robert Frost (1874–1963).   Introduction The poem is a gentle satire on Frosts best friend Edward Thomas. Thomas was the poet’s walking companion who would always procrastinate when having to choose between two paths. Later he would always regret that he had not taken a particular road. In the literal sense the poem describes the quandary faced by the traveler of choosing between two roads both of which “And both that morning equally lay /In leaves no step had trodden black” Analysis On a primary level The author has expressed the greatest dilemma of choosing the path on which a persons life will progress He sends a message to humanity that take whatever road you will there is no turning back, so why not travel the path that is unknown surely holding surprises both good and bad. On a deeper level Frost indicates that no one can know the outcome of his choices beforehand and once made these choices have to be lived with. These choices make all the difference in your life but whether this difference will be positive or negative only time will tell. Choices are difficult but they are inevitable throughout life. They are a test of endurance and knowledge. Will I regret my choices? It is a burning question that every person asks of himself and which only time can answer The mood of the poem is somber reflected by “sorry” and “sigh”. Frost impresses the reader that life’s decisions are not to be taken lightly. They must be given due thought and consideration for these decisions are life altering. The tone is reflective dwelling on unchangeable nature of decisions once made Robert Frosts inserts punctuation in several places. He tends to place the commas where he is describing the two roads. The commas, force the reader to read his poem with the intended pauses, evidently to indicate the idea that decision-making is not a swift and easy task to do. The semicolons are also used likewise with the commas; however, they provide a difference of images as well as the lengthening of the sentence, for example the road with the “bent in the undergrowth,” and “was grassy and wanted wear.” There is the one colon and dash in “Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” The colon indicates the change between the past and the future when the speaker tells of his past decision and how it will affect him in the future. The dash signifies a pause and provides for the repetition of “I” The repetition carries a hint of pride. Roads dont think, and therefore dont want but Frost personifies the road by describing it as road wanting wear he presents an antithesis to the traveler as he reaches the fork in the road, he wants to travel both. Within the existing theories of our physical world, this is a non possibility the traveler realizes this and straight away rejects the idea. He presents a paradox in the second stanza about the road less traveled. First its described as grassy and wanting wear, after which he turns to say the roads are actually worn about the same Conclusion The audience is the world at large and it sets the reader thinking that choice is inevitable. Of course perceptions differ and dissimilar audiences may view it differently. However it sets into motion a new way of thinking about choices and preferences. The poem cautions against making hasty decisions. In the end it imparts sound advice—Take risks but with proper weighing of the pros and cons, and the impact it will have on your future. Read More