Author: Matthew Arnold
In his cool hall, with haggard eyes, The Roman noble lay; He drove abroad, in furious guise, Along the Appian way. He made a feast, drank fierce and fast, And crowned his hair with flowers No easier nor no quicker passed The impracticable hours. The brooding East with awe beheld Her impious younger world. The Roman tempest swelled and swelled, And on her head was hurled. The East bowed low before the blast In patient, deep disdain; She let the legions thunder past, And plunged in thought again. So well she mused, a morning broke Across her spirit grey; A conquering, new-born joy awoke, And filled her life with day. "Poor world," she cried, "so deep accurst That runn'st from pole to pole To seek a draught to slake thy thirst Go, seek it in thy soul!" She heard it, the victorious West, In crown and sword arrayed! She felt the void which mined her breast, She shivered and obeyed. She veiled her eagles, snapped her sword, And laid her sceptre down; Her stately purple she abhorred, And her imperial crown. She broke her flutes, she stopped her sports, Her artists could not please; She tore her books, she shut her courts, She fled her palaces; Lust of the eye and pride of life She left it all behind, And hurried, torn with inward strife, The wilderness to find. Tears washed the trouble from her face! She changed into a child! Mid weeds and wrecks she stood a place Of ruin, but she smiled!
Type of Poem: Narrative Poem
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: This poem is a historical allegory, weaving a tale of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. The Roman noble signifies the power and indulgence of Rome, depicted through images of feasts, imperial symbolism, and references to Roman geography like the Appian Way. The 'East' is an emblem of introspection, patience, and spiritual awakening, constantly juxtaposed against the 'West's' relentless pursuit of power and materialism.
The tone varies from the initial grandiosity and arrogance of the Roman noble, to the calm disdain of the East, and finally to a sense of redemption and renewal. The structure of the poem is consistent, following a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme, which lends a certain inevitability to the narrative, as though the fall of Rome and the ascendance of the East were predestined.
The poet uses a variety of literary devices, such as personification, to give life and personality to the East and the West, and powerful, evocative imagery, like the 'brooding East' and the 'imperial crown'. The poem ends on a note of transformation and hope, as the East, once 'torn with inward strife', finds peace and 'smiles' amid ruin. This could be seen as a call for introspection and spiritual awakening over materialistic pursuits, a theme that resonates even in contemporary times.
Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.
Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:
From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.