Ode to Evening

Tuesday, March 6, 2007 Ode to eve William collins Introduction Ode to eve, is one among the most enduring metrical compositions of William collins. It is a beautiful song of fifty-two lines, addressed to a goddess bet representing evening. This nymph, or maid, who personifies dusk, is chaste, reservd, and meek, in communication channel to the bright-h telephone circuitd sun, a male figure who with buy the farms into his tent, making way for night. indeed evening is presented as the transition between light and darkness. Collins formula of eve Collins slowly constructs eve as an allegorical figure with many attri whole whenes, and many aural and visual characteristics.Collins piles up epithets Eve is chaste, reserved, composed, quieten, meekest her ear is modest. The figure of Eve so far is save yet a sketch, but her attributes add up to the idea of an attr fighting(a), calm woman who is non restless or forcefully active. Contrast of Evening with the Daytime According to the poet, Evening possesses solemn springs and dying gales Daytime employment gives way to calm as the wind literally often dies stamp out in the evening. Some activity straight supplements our see of Eve. The gentle movements of weewee and the air ensure that her figure is not static.Eves blood line with the daytime world is even more(prenominal) obvious when Collins comp atomic number 18s her to the put sun. The glaring bright-haired sun sits regally in his tent of clouds, the skirts or edges of which be to be made of many-colored braided cloth. This ethereal (heavenly) cloth evokes a contrive of a vivid sunset the sun is descending to its wavy bed, fuck an ocean or lake. The day is almost done, and the sun not at the height of vigor (he is in his tent), but the implication is that he rests moreover after an active day. The Journey of the Pilgrim into the world of EveningAfter the sunset, at twilight, the world is not yet attuned to Eves mood. The air is hushed, ne vertheless for some annoying estimables the bats short shrill shrieks and sound of the beetles small but sullen horn. The bats weak eyes and leathern wing are not pleasant, nor are the many beetles as they are borne (by the a breeze, I assume) up against the pilgrim on his sacred journey. The beetles horns together can be characterized a making a busyness noise in any case they are heedless of the headache they cause. The Poet in a Prayerful Mood Up until now, Collins has merely been addressing Evening.The grammatical unit of the opening of the poem is not completed until cablegram 15 forthwith teach me. The mood of this verb is not imperative, but prayerful. In the drama of the poem, the speaker is at first unsure of himself but in stages gains confidence. Evening has finally arrived darkening, still, genial, cheering, vital, and beloved. The poet prays for Eve to teach him to write a poem which praises her. This is Collins way. Description of Evening Now the poem blossom s. Collins begins to var. up, not a literal picture of Evening, but a picture of the allegorical figure of Evening composed of details which evoke more of her attributes.A political machine or processional vehicle is being disposed(p) for Eve in which she can progress through the evening contact by her attendants. The picture Collins gives us of a ceremonial car would have been more familiar to his audience than to us. Her attendants add to her characterization. Her car is vigilant by The Hours (goddesses who order the seasons and are given to adorn things), and accompanied by sprightly elves who sleep in flowers, river goddesses wreathed in sedge and shedding freshening dew, and pensive Pleasures. These are active and by-and-large beautiful figures, without being at all bustling or too dazzling.They all embellish the figure of Eve, delicately balancing her qualities active yet calm, beautiful and cheerful yet chaste and reserved. The Spirit of Evening Collins then asks Evening to lead on as she progresses to this pin-up days end. She moves from the lowly heath, lighted now only by a reflection of a totally calm lake. Moving upwardly where Evening can be seen for the last time, the lakes light cheers an ancient building and an upland field. Note that Eve is addressed a votress presumptively like the poet she worships the spirit of Evening. The Other side of Evening Collins now expands on his definition.So far, his description of Evening has been calm and beautiful. But Collins Evening is not just beautiful. She also includes chill blustering winds and tearaway(a) rain. When he cannot walk almost, the poet hopes to look out from a hut on a mountainside, rather like the place from which many Claude scenes are viewed. He will see wild scenery and flooding rivers, as healthful as the poems first traces of ordinary civilization hamlets brown, and dim-discovered spires. Now night falls as Eves dewy fingers draw / The gradual dusky veil. Evening as seen through the Whole form Collins then takes Evening through the year.As before, some of the associations are not pleasant. Spring is nicely associated with both water and the movement of air (showers and breathing tresses), Summer with sport and half-light. Autumn is less lovely (sallow), but is generous with leaves. Winter is nasty, yelling through the troublous air and struggle Eves train (of attendants? of her dress? ) and even rending her robes. Evening can be attacked and is vulnerable, but she is not defeated. Collins characterization leads us from the beautiful picture of the poems first 32 lines to a picture of Evenings strength to endure through good and braggart(a).All in all, Collins has accomplished what he evidently set out to docatch lovely time of day in all its passing aspects. Evening as a State of Mind Lessons from Evening From the ancestry Collins has asked Evening to lead him on, to infuse his heart and mind with the readiness to see her and write about her. T he progress in the poem has not just been the gradual unfolding of Evening, but the gradual education of the poet about what Evening isfrom the early visions of shadowy beauty to the qualities that endure through bad weather.These qualities have obvious human analogues. In short, Evening becomes, not only a time of day, but a severalize of mind that develops in the pilgrim/poet by contemplating and experiencing and writing about the literal evening. Literal evening is not just associated with but actually helps cause this wonderful calm, happy, contemplative, intelligent, happy, open, creative, sympathetic state of mind, the state that feeds Fancy (as in the writing of this poem), Friendship, Science (that is knowledge and learning), and for that issuing physical, and by extension mental, health.It is no surprise that these qualities sing a anthem of praise to Eveninga hymn that is a sharp production line to the yelling of winter a few lines before. 21 Conclusion This poem point s ahead. He is enabled by this state of mind and moves forward. Ode to Evening is one of the masterpieces of Collins. Collins odes, do not point morals. Rather they dramatically define their subject by building up a personified and vividly pictured allegorical character. it is the outstrip of the mid-century odes and provides a good bridge to the great Romantic poets. With due acknowledgements to Prof. George Soule