The Jealous Gods

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ballad
    'Oh life is wonderful,' she said,     'And all my world is bright;     Can Paradise show fairer skies,     Or more effulgent light?'     (Speak lower, lower, mortal heart,     The jealous gods may hear.)     She turned for answer; but his gaze     Cut past her like a lance,     And shone like flame on one who came     With radiant glance for glance.     (You spoke too loud, O mortal heart,     The jealous gods were near.)     They walked through green and sunlit ways;     And yet the earth seemed black,     For there were three, where two should be;     So runs the world, alack.     (The listening gods, the jealous gods,     They want no Edens here.)

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a rich blend of themes, tone and structure, delicately intertwined. The theme of love and jealousy is evident, as is the struggle between mortal desires and divine will.

With a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme, the poem is neatly structured into three stanzas, each presenting a different phase in the unfolding narrative. The first stanza introduces hope and joy, reflected in the brightness of the speaker's world. The second stanza introduces conflict, as the object of her affection turns his gaze towards another. The final stanza illustrates the consequences of this conflict, as the speaker's world seems bleak despite the surrounding beauty.

The tone shifts in parallel with these phases, starting off upbeat and hopeful, turning into a pained surprise, and finally settling into a resigned acceptance. This tonal shift greatly enhances the emotional impact and complexity of the poem.

One of the standout literary devices in this poem is the recurrent use of parenthesis to give voice to a secondary narrative or inner monologue. These lines consistently invoke 'jealous gods', presenting them as the arbiters of the speaker's fate, which adds a layer of fatalism to the narrative. This reference to jealous gods can be seen as an allusion to classical mythology, where gods often meddled in human affairs, particularly in matters of love.

The use of visual imagery ('green and sunlit ways', 'earth seemed black') and contrasting light and darkness also play a significant role in conveying the emotional shifts in the poem. The speaker's initial effulgent light of happiness is replaced with a metaphorical darkness when her love is unrequited.

Overall, this poem is a compelling exploration of love, jealousy, and the sometimes cruel whims of fate, presented through a fusion of classical and romantic poetic techniques.

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.