The Albatross

By Charles Baudelaire

Ballad
    Often, to amuse themselves, the crew of the ship     Would fell an albatross, the largest of sea birds,     Indolent companions of their trip     As they slide across the deep sea's bitters.     Scarcely had they dropped to the plank     Than these blue kings, maladroit and ashamed     Let their great white wings sink     Like an oar dragging under the water's plane.     The winged visitor, so awkward and weak!     So recently beautiful, now comic and ugly!     One sailor grinds a pipe into his beak,     Another, limping, mimics the infirm bird that once could fly.     The poet is like the prince of the clouds     Who haunts the storm and laughs at lightning.     He's exiled to the ground and its hooting crowds;     His giant wings prevent him from walking.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
The poem presents a striking allegory of the poet's condition, drawing a parallel between the poet and the albatross. The beginning of the poem provides vivid imagery of the sea bird, once majestic and free, now brought down by the crew for their amusement, reflecting the theme of human cruelty and thoughtlessness. It is not just the bird's downfall but the ridicule it faces that serves as a powerful metaphor for the poet's plight, often misunderstood and mocked by society.

The tone of the poem is largely melancholic, underscored by the stark contrast between the albatross's former glory and its present, pitiful state. This shift in tone is mirrored in the poem's structure, which moves from a description of the bird's fall to the comparison with the poet in the final stanzas. The poet is depicted as a 'prince of the clouds' exiled to the ground, his 'giant wings' becoming his shackles, much like the albatross. Noteworthy literary devices such as similes and metaphors enhance the imagery and emotional resonance of the poem. This piece is a poignant commentary on society's often dismissive and derisive treatment of artists, highlighting their isolation and struggle to fit into societal norms.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.