Art thou pale for weariness
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth,
Wandering companionless
Among the stars that have a different birth, -
And ever changing, like a joyless eye
That finds no object worth its constancy?
In the poem, To the Moon, by Percy Bysshe Shelley, it is being explained how the moon cannot compare to anything and is therefore being put on a pedestal. “Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth, Wandering companionless”, since it is on a pedestal, or ‘climbing heaven’, it is left with no one around it and is therefore without any companions. The point of comparing it to a star, and saying they are of ‘different birth’ is acknowledging that speaker is aware that the moon is indeed not a star. As well, gazing on the earth could possibly be mean looking down on the stars. What makes the moon grow weary in this poem is the fact that he has found nothing better than the stars.
Poetic devices are used, for instance “Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth” is a personification because it is referring to the moons activity. Secondly, the line “And ever changing, like a joyless eye” is a simile as it is comparing the moon to a ‘joyless eye’.
In my opinion, the message of this poem is that in the moon’s desire to be happy, he has lead himself to a path of unhappiness.
Interesting poem Paulina. Thematically, it seems as if it is comparing the fruitless quest to become happy to a socially distanced man in loneliness trying to find something of worth for himself, and failing. I liked it!
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I really like this poem. And is it maybe an apostrophe, since he's addressing the moon who won't reply? I might have made that up, but...The personification of the moon is really effective, and though the language isn't simple, it's still pretty easy to understand which is nice. Good job!
ReplyDeleteGreat analyzations!! I agree with you on the theme being one wanting to be happy by changing itself but making itself unhappy instead. There is also rhyme (ABABCC) Good job!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting poem choice Paulina. Your analysis of the poem was good, and as it was stated, the personification of the moon was really neat. I also liked how the poet said "Art thou pale for weariness", because it just so happens that the moon is actually pale in colour!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I really like this poem Paul! I like how the poet describes the pale moon as 'weary', especially since it has to stay up all night watching over the earth. The line "wandering companionless" evokes such a sad feeling of loneliness, it's almost chilling. And then it talks about the stars all being the same, almost like they're friends, and because the moon is different it is singled out. And I love the last line "no object worth its constancy" - we are not good enough to make the moon stay.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice, Paul!
I really love this poem. I love the images that the depictions evoke, and the loneliness that jumps out at you. You feel compassion for the moon, even though it is an inanimate object. I agree with Michelle ad I think that the last line makes you wonder about yourself as well. However, I think that in addition to talking about the moon, it could be talking about other things as well, and the moon is only a premise for the idea.
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
Great poem selection! I really like the way the moon is personified in this poem, it creates some vivid imagery and gives you something to think about. It was an interesting twist that the moon was unhappy because it was so alone, and because it had tried so hard to be happy.
ReplyDeleteThis poem makes the moon seem infinitely sad and pitiful, and gives it a complexity that just describing its beauty would have left out. Shelley personifies it in many different ways other than a dying woman, and each new way adds depth. Shelley also uses imagery, or the five senses, to describe the beauty of the moon which adds a whole new side to how I used to think about the purity in the moon.
ReplyDeleteI like the haunting atmosphere this poem creates. It leaves a lasting impression on the reader. I also like how the poet talks about the moon as if it's a person, because it makes the moon more relatable, and makes us care about it more than we would care if it was just another inanimate object. I think that you interpreted this poem in a very insightful way. Great job!
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Deletegreat poem choice paul!
ReplyDeleteThis poem uses complex wording to its advantage, it makes the imagery so strong that the reader barely notices how complex it really is.
I love the comparisons made in this poem and the adressing of the moon is really effective and different
good job, and great analysis
Good poem Paul! i really like the way the moon is described and the author's carefully selected word choice. Although this poem seems to be about a lonely moon who is searching for happiness, you can also easily relate it to a man who is really looking for his place in life, trying to find happiness. I also really like the imagery in this poem and I really like the last line as it creates a good twist with a rhetorical question, leaving the ending to the reader's own interpretation.
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