EAGLE
Introduction to 'The Eagle'
Poem Title: 'The Eagle'
Poet: Alfred Lord Tennyson
Publication Year:
The Poem
"He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ringed with the azure world, he stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls:
He watches from his mountain walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls."
Why Poetry?
Appreciate Language: It allows for a deeper understanding and enjoyment of linguistic artistry.
Connect Emotions to Ideas and Words: Poetry serves as a medium to link feelings with abstract concepts and specific vocabulary.
Reading and Writing Becomes More Engaging: It transforms these activities into more captivating experiences.
Poetry Terminology
To discuss poetry effectively, it's important to know the proper language:
Title: The name given to the poem.
Poet: The author of the poem (e.g., Alfred Lord Tennyson).
Speaker: The voice narrating the poem, which is not always the poet themselves.
Stanza: A group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.
Line: A single row of words in a poem.
Free Verse: Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.
End-Stopped Lines: Lines where a grammatical pause and the physical end of the line coincide (e.g., with a period, comma, or semicolon).
Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break without a grammatical pause.
Rhyme: The repetition of similar sounds in the final stressed syllables of two or more words.
Simile: A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (using "like" or "as").
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Personification: The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.
Alliteration: The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
Tercet: A stanza of three lines in which each line ends with the same rhyme.
Structure: The way a poem is organized, including its stanzas, lines, meter, and rhyme scheme.
About Alfred, Lord Tennyson and 'The Eagle'
Birth/Death Dates: August – October
Famous For: Being one of the most popular Victorian poets in England.
Other Works: 'The Charge of the Light Brigade', 'Ulysses', 'The Lady of Shalott'.
Writing Style: Often explores themes of nature, heroism, and human emotions.
Overview of 'The Eagle' Poem
Published:
Theme: The majesty of nature and the power of the eagle, symbolising strength and freedom.
Poem Structure: Very short, with just two stanzas and a total of six lines.
Key Imagery: The eagle is the central image, depicted as majestic and powerful.
Overall Meaning: 'The Eagle' is Alfred, Lord Tennyson's short-but-forceful appreciation of a mighty predator. The poem’s speaker marvels at the grandeur of an eagle and at its stunning speed and strength as it swoops on its prey. The speaker has a face-to-face confrontation with the sheer awesome power of nature.
Understanding Eagles
Vision: Eagles have times sharper vision than humans.
Talons: An eagle's talons are stronger than those of most other predators.
Wingspan:
The Bald Eagle has a wingspan of up to feet.
The Golden Eagle can have a wingspan of around feet.
Flight: They are strong fliers and can glide at high altitudes for hours without flapping their wings.
Lifespan: Eagles can live up to years or more in the wild.
Diet: They are carnivores, eating fish, small mammals, and even other birds.
Bonds: Many species, including the Bald Eagle, form lifelong bonds with their mates.
Nests: Eagle nests are the largest of any bird.
Some can be up to feet across.
Can weigh as much as tons.
Built high in tall trees or on cliffs for safety.
Symbolism: Eagles are often seen as symbols of freedom, power, and courage, especially in the U.S. where the Bald Eagle is the national bird and symbol.
Conservation: Many eagle species face threats like habitat destruction, pollution, and poaching. Conservation efforts have helped some populations recover, but they still require protection.
Detailed Analysis of 'The Eagle'
To fully grasp the poem's meaning, a SIFT analysis (Symbolism, Imagery, Figures of Speech, Tone and Mood) can be applied line by line.
Stanza 1
Line 1: "He clasps the crag with crooked hands;"
Alliteration: The hard 'c' sound in "clasps the crag with crooked" creates a harsh, strong auditory effect, linking the eagle and the mountain as if they are one.
"Crooked hands" refers to the bent/twisted, knobbly talons of the eagle, emphasizing its tight grip.
Personification: Describing the eagle with "hands" makes it seem like a strange old man, creating a mysterious figure perched at the top of the mountain and evoking a sense of wonder.
Imagery and Symbolism: The eagle’s strong grip represents its immense power and dominance over its environment.
Vocabulary:
Clasp: To hold tightly or grip something.
Crag: A steep, rough rock or cliff.
Crooked: Not straight; bent or twisted.
Line 2: "Close to the sun in lonely lands,"
Imagery and Symbolism: This imagery depicts the eagle as isolated high above the world, symbolising its freedom and independence.
Line 3: "Ringed with the azure world, he stands."
Imagery and Symbolism: The eagle soaring above everything, surrounded by the vast blue sky, highlights its elevated position and mastery of its domain.
Vocabulary:
Azure: A bright, clear blue, like the sky on a sunny day.
Stanza 2
Line 4: "The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls:"
Imagery and Symbolism: The sea appears small and weak from the eagle's perspective, emphasising the eagle's superior strength and commanding presence.
Line 5: "He watches from his mountain walls,"
Describes the eagle's predatory gaze, observing its territory from its high vantage point.
Line 6: "And like a thunderbolt he falls."
Figures of Speech: This is a simile (using "like").
Imagery and Symbolism: The vivid comparison to a "thunderbolt" underscores the eagle's sudden, swift, and powerful descent, showcasing its predatory prowess.
Establishing Tone and Mood
Speaker's Feelings: How does the poet (or speaker) feel about the eagle and nature?
Reader's Feelings: What emotional response does the poem evoke in the reader?
Atmosphere Created: What kind of ambiance (e.g., awe, majesty, power) is established by the poem?
Diction: Which specific words contribute to the tone and mood? (Quote these words to prove your assertions).
Purpose: Why was this poem created? What does it aim to achieve or communicate?
Relation: How do you personally relate to the themes or imagery in the poem?
Key Takeaways and Consolidation
In Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem 'The Eagle', the poet celebrates nature's power and beauty.
The poem conveys the message that humans should face life's challenges with bravery and perseverance.
Relating to the poem: Consider how the eagle's strength, freedom, and decisive action in its environment can serve as a metaphor for human resilience and determination.
Personal Application: What lessons or inspirations can you draw from the eagle's depiction of majesty and power to apply to your own life?