"Daybreak" Poem Analysis

Prof. Kaushal Desai

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“Daybreak”

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Contents

About Poet

Title

Theme

Nine Rhyming Couplets - Analysis:

Poetic Devices

Figures Of Speech

Language, Diction, Mood, Structure

Conclusion

About Poet:

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was one of the greatest American Poets of the 19^th Century.  Born in Portland, marine in 1807, he became a national literary figure by the 1850s and world famous personality by the time of his death in 1882.  After retirement he devoted to literature only.  His famous works are “Voice of the Night”, “Evangeline” and “The song of Hiawatha”.  His poetry is known for its lyrical quality.

His works shows the lively element that gives human mind a fruit to live peacefully and independently with enthusiastic thoughts. He often used folk and mythical stories as material for his poetry.  He also did translation from Spanish and Italian into English.  The poem “Daybreak” is taken from “Birds of Passage”, a collection of his poem.

☺ Title:

Title of the present poem suggests the pointing out on an object. Here it said the ‘day’, the prominent figure is used for the life to observe while the proclaimed work is yet left so readers must find the clue in it and poem describes zeal and zest about work to be done so the work ‘daybreak’ is used here to highlight on the very keep aspect of show. Various types of elements also support the title to understand and that is why the title of the poem is very appropriate.

☺ Theme:

In literature theme is a blueprint of the work. So here we observe very fine themes that give the idea of background work to understand this poem. 

Here poem gives the idea of alive life and be ready for challenges and opportunities to grab it. Past is past but the lively present is there with us to cherish it with full enthusiasm.

From today’s perspective we can take one line from the movie “Dear Zindagi” to understand more about the present perspectives. 

“Don't let the past blackmail your present ... to ruin a beautiful future”

☻ Nine Rhyming Couplets - Analysis:

A wind came up out of the sea,
And said, "O mists, make room for me."

Actually, the first thought which makes the urging mood to determine the first aspect with wind, and here winds generally flow from the sea to the land at day and the vice versa happens at night. But the another aspect and the use of word ‘O mists’ which derived phenomena of something is there to be clarify so poet explaining with eagle eye to clarify your goal to archive in life. Because this is one life and once in a while we live and we live with fully enthusiastically and our work must get done.

It hailed the ships, and cried, "Sail on,
Ye mariners, the night is gone." 

By using this lines poet elaborate to keep positive mindset and keep on working with true zest. It is in haste and wants to make all awake.  So it requests the mists not to obstruct it.  It first sees the ships anchored.  But they should be set free from their anchor as the sun rises and darkness is over.

And hurried landward far away,
Crying, "Awake! it is the day." 

Asking from the life that we are living the day is here to make a move. Here, we comes with another lines that makes very much impact to see how to go far to the active the glory that one can think of it and dream for it to became. So poet uses word ‘awake’ ad this is the time and asking for go further and make fulfill your dream and don’t be fearful in life. Life is giver so you can live with fully and requesting tone here poet enchants.

It said unto the forest, "Shout!
Hang all your leafy banners out!" 

By this lines poet says, it blows over the distant lands and calls the forest to unfold its leaves, twigs and branches fully and freely. Don’t be in worried mood, enjoy the day with full love that you have in life.

It touched the wood-bird's folded wing,
And said, "O bird, awake and sing." 

It uses the phrase that good happens with the virtuous ones. So make it flow your way is there, visible and so grab it and experienced it with full passion. It also tells the wood birds to wake up and starts singing. Their song will announce the beginning of the day.  It prompts the domestic cocks to herald the day.

And o'er the farms, "O chanticleer,
Your clarion blow; the day is near."

The light of the sun is the source of life to plants of the field.  They are looked after and nourished by it.  They should be grateful to the sun.  So the wind tells them to bow down their heads and express their gratitude.  The sixth couplet describes the surrounding and the time by adding the fact that the wind encourages the rooster to below her clarions as it is the arrival of day.

It whispered to the fields of corn,
"Bow down, and hail the coming morn." 

By using this couplet poet explores the real sense of time and he is telling that the time is now so grab your opportunity. Make your way with this coming chance. But by using a word whispered poet uses a metaphoric sense to understand that how that can be taken as. But in the very nest line gives the idea of it which makes compulsion of passion and healing the way and the way you can make, and by these very enthusiastic lines archive the goal of heart and mind to be concern.

It shouted through the belfry-tower,
"Awake, O bell! Proclaim the hour." 

With a full determination voice, poet explores the second last stanza that the high time consideration is now. And standing from the belfry-tower it sough to the new land with starting of new avtar and new expedition of your journey. By the words proclaim the hour is simply shows the high time. Shifts to the merry journey of the wind and makes the corn fields’ bow to the morning.  It makes the church bell ring and thus makes it announce the arrival of the hour, that of the early morning.

It crossed the churchyard with a sigh,
And said, "Not yet! in quiet lie."

Actual aspect of life and ultimate glory s here with this last couplet and also the whole phrase is with the wind arrives at the graveyard of the church but here the message of wind is changed.

“And said, "Not yet! in quiet lie."

It is the day but the line comes I mind with “miles to go..” and same phrase is here and it says, It signs sadly for the dead and softly tells them to sleep on because it is not yet the judgment day.

♣ Poetic Devices:

Rhyme scheme:

The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB and it is a melodic couplet with musical element. 

Alliteration:

The use of several words together that begins with the same sound or letter in order to make a special effect;

Figures Of Speech

Language, Diction, Mood, Structure

• Poet is uses very melodic language with nine couplets very enthusiastic and lyrical poem. Language of the present poem shows the real optimistic aspect and it also shows the positive tone and gives passion for the life.  

• Diction of the poem is clear with work has to done with our life that we got. It also admires the aspects and objects of heartily truth and admiration of life with full enchanting nature.

• The moods of each of the couplets are explanation of life and what one has to do in life that is Godly blessed and human life is a boon for so poet is uses positive mood to write down all and each couplets here.

• The structure of the poem is not complex to analyze. It has nine very lyrical couplets. The poet gives us an imagery of wind.  The poet describes wind’s activity in the morning; the wind also starts its activity.  We find the picture of morning. There is “Sea and land”, “Man and birds”, “tower and ship”, “Churchyard and forest”.  The idea of the poet is to cover the universe.  The touch of the wind makes everything leaving and active.  The wind is the speaker here and the objects are the listener.  So the conversation style is seen here.  That’s why we have address ‘O’ in the poem.  Like, ‘O mist’ O bird, O Chanticleer’ and ‘ O bell’.  There is a remarkable use of exclamatory mark (!) that shows enthusiasm, eagerness and awareness of the wind.  It shows happy mood of the wind.

♀ Conclusion:

In a nut shell, one can pen it all with positive vibes and what human shall do in the life that he got is very clear here. The central idea of the poem is urging for work. Keeping in mind the flow of the wind the poet applies a breezy style to the poem.  It seems that we move on with the wind from one place to another. The poet successfully catches the mood and atmosphere of the earth at daybreak. Daybreak itself is a calm phrase of doing something and here poet explores the idea of it and make it very crystal clear.