The Eagle by Alfred Lord Tennyson
would you agree that this poem is not a mere description of an eagle?support your argument with close reference to the poem "The Eagle"
the poem 'The Eagle' by Alfred Lord Tennyson, divulges the swiftness agility strength as well as the destructive nature of powerful forces by taking the image of an eagle as the poem material. The title itself alerts us to the authoritative power of a dominant ruler since the bird eagle itself is known as the 'king of birds' thus the poet presents with graphical images, the power exercised by autocrat leaders over their citadel through the actions of the powerful and colossal bird; eagle.
though the title mentions the material of the poem as an eagle, throughout the poem, the pronoun 'he' is used to refer the bird. thus, Tennyson personifies the bird to bring human qualities in the poem.
"he clasps the crag with crooked hands
close to the sun in lonely lands..."
Tennyson demonstrates how the eagle observes his immediate environment, perched on the summit of a sky high mountain. the phrase "crooked hands" defines the twisted talons of the bird and it promotes the image with a wilderness, roughness and a destructive nature. "hands" are associated with human world. thus, the poet draws the image of the eagle parallel with the autocrat leaders of the human world. in this way, through the mere image of an eagle, the poet peeps in to the reality of the human world. the phrase "close to the sun in lonely lands..." suggests the elevated position of the eagle. nonetheless, it also magnifies the detachment and inaccessibility of human rulers. it suggests the unlimited power of such dominant leaders over their masses. the sun is the primary source of energy to the whole world. thus, the poet implies the authoritative power of such autocrat leader by elevating them to a position which is closer to the sun. further, "lonely lands" the remorse of the bird and consequently the human rulers. even though they have unlimited power and authority, they are not closer to people. these people are emotionally and spiritually detached from the normal world. this is because of the higher position they hold and the enormous power comes with it. none can be compared to the mindset of a ruler since for a kingdom, there is only one ruler.
through out the poem Tennyson draws parallel the qualities of an eagle with an authoritative leader.
" the wrinkled sea beneath him crawls..."
because of the elevated position of the eagle, it appears that the waves of the sea are like intricate patterns. thus, Tennyson describes the movement of the ocean in a peculiar manner as "wrinkled", in front of the eagle. this further glorifies the image of eagle and magnifies the the power it exercises over nature. simultaneously, the poet suggests the uncontrollable power and freedom pf human rulers. nothing and none can reach them and even the most powerful people bow before them.
"and like a thunderbolt he falls..."
this can be considered the climax of the poem. the eagle is a very vigilant creature and it continuously look around for preys. whenever it glimpses a prey, it descends down on it with great, plashing speed and strength. this also can be compared to another facet of human leaders. as an eagle who watches over it's prey, the human rulers watches over their masses in the same way based on different reasons.
on the other hand the poetic technique; simile, employed in the above line enhances the the great speed, strength and agility of this colossal bird. Tennyson compares the sudden descend of the bird to a thunderbolt. a thunderbolt is a powerful force of nature accompanied by lightning and explosion. thus, the poet implicitly enhances the strength of the eagle and thrusts a a powerful image with both visual and auditory impacts to the mind of the reader. this defines the destructive and vindictive nature of human rulers. because of the enormous power they exercise, their every action has a great impact on the masses.
in this way the whole poem comprised collectively reveals different dimensions of the nature such as majestic power, freedom, strength and agility by relating to the bird eagle, who can be considered a powerful force of nature. further Tennyson reveals the qualities of human leaders underscoring the remorse, detachment, power, and freedom they experience, by juxtaposing the bird eagle to such authoritative leaders. though the poem revolves around the behavior and action of an eagle, in a deeper sense the eagle can be considered a mere symbol employed by the poet to manifest, magnify and enhance the reality of human world rulers.
the poem 'The Eagle' by Alfred Lord Tennyson, divulges the swiftness agility strength as well as the destructive nature of powerful forces by taking the image of an eagle as the poem material. The title itself alerts us to the authoritative power of a dominant ruler since the bird eagle itself is known as the 'king of birds' thus the poet presents with graphical images, the power exercised by autocrat leaders over their citadel through the actions of the powerful and colossal bird; eagle.
though the title mentions the material of the poem as an eagle, throughout the poem, the pronoun 'he' is used to refer the bird. thus, Tennyson personifies the bird to bring human qualities in the poem.
"he clasps the crag with crooked hands
close to the sun in lonely lands..."
Tennyson demonstrates how the eagle observes his immediate environment, perched on the summit of a sky high mountain. the phrase "crooked hands" defines the twisted talons of the bird and it promotes the image with a wilderness, roughness and a destructive nature. "hands" are associated with human world. thus, the poet draws the image of the eagle parallel with the autocrat leaders of the human world. in this way, through the mere image of an eagle, the poet peeps in to the reality of the human world. the phrase "close to the sun in lonely lands..." suggests the elevated position of the eagle. nonetheless, it also magnifies the detachment and inaccessibility of human rulers. it suggests the unlimited power of such dominant leaders over their masses. the sun is the primary source of energy to the whole world. thus, the poet implies the authoritative power of such autocrat leader by elevating them to a position which is closer to the sun. further, "lonely lands" the remorse of the bird and consequently the human rulers. even though they have unlimited power and authority, they are not closer to people. these people are emotionally and spiritually detached from the normal world. this is because of the higher position they hold and the enormous power comes with it. none can be compared to the mindset of a ruler since for a kingdom, there is only one ruler.
through out the poem Tennyson draws parallel the qualities of an eagle with an authoritative leader.
" the wrinkled sea beneath him crawls..."
because of the elevated position of the eagle, it appears that the waves of the sea are like intricate patterns. thus, Tennyson describes the movement of the ocean in a peculiar manner as "wrinkled", in front of the eagle. this further glorifies the image of eagle and magnifies the the power it exercises over nature. simultaneously, the poet suggests the uncontrollable power and freedom pf human rulers. nothing and none can reach them and even the most powerful people bow before them.
"and like a thunderbolt he falls..."
this can be considered the climax of the poem. the eagle is a very vigilant creature and it continuously look around for preys. whenever it glimpses a prey, it descends down on it with great, plashing speed and strength. this also can be compared to another facet of human leaders. as an eagle who watches over it's prey, the human rulers watches over their masses in the same way based on different reasons.
on the other hand the poetic technique; simile, employed in the above line enhances the the great speed, strength and agility of this colossal bird. Tennyson compares the sudden descend of the bird to a thunderbolt. a thunderbolt is a powerful force of nature accompanied by lightning and explosion. thus, the poet implicitly enhances the strength of the eagle and thrusts a a powerful image with both visual and auditory impacts to the mind of the reader. this defines the destructive and vindictive nature of human rulers. because of the enormous power they exercise, their every action has a great impact on the masses.
in this way the whole poem comprised collectively reveals different dimensions of the nature such as majestic power, freedom, strength and agility by relating to the bird eagle, who can be considered a powerful force of nature. further Tennyson reveals the qualities of human leaders underscoring the remorse, detachment, power, and freedom they experience, by juxtaposing the bird eagle to such authoritative leaders. though the poem revolves around the behavior and action of an eagle, in a deeper sense the eagle can be considered a mere symbol employed by the poet to manifest, magnify and enhance the reality of human world rulers.
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