What could be the theme of this poem? What I would like to know is the subject matter and also what could be the author's commentary on the poem.
Sonnet - Silence
by: Edgar Allen Poe
There are some qualities- some incorporate things,
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence- sea and shore-
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o'ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name's "No More."
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!Sonnet - Silence
by: Edgar Allen Poe
There are some qualities- some incorporate things,
That have a double life, which thus is made
A type of that twin entity which springs
From matter and light, evinced in solid and shade.
There is a two-fold Silence- sea and shore-
Body and soul. One dwells in lonely places,
Newly with grass o'ergrown; some solemn graces,
Some human memories and tearful lore,
Render him terrorless: his name's "No More."
He is the corporate Silence: dread him not!
No power hath he of evil in himself;
But should some urgent fate (untimely lot!)
Bring thee to meet his shadow (nameless elf,
That haunteth the lone regions where hath trod
No foot of man,) commend thyself to God!
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Here is a commentary about the poem. There are others, if this one is not satisfactory:
http://www.eliteskills.com/c/3694
I want to understand the view Poe had of his poems message to others. Please help me on this.
P.S. We can only HELP but not DO the work for you. Here are some more sites for you to visit and after you write your analysis someone will be glad to critique it.
http://www.sonnets.org/poe.htm
I am curious. Why did you write the same poem twice? Did Poe really write it that way?
To analyze the theme of a poem, it is important to consider the subject matter and the author's commentary on that subject. In the case of Edgar Allan Poe's sonnet "Silence," the subject matter revolves around the concept of silence itself and its different manifestations.
The poem starts by introducing the idea of qualities that have a "double life," symbolizing the duality of silence. It goes on to describe a two-fold silence, one being the silence found in natural elements like the sea and shore, and the other being the silence within oneself, the silence of the soul. The poem suggests that these two forms of silence represent a twin entity that emerges from both physical matter and metaphysical light.
Poe portrays the silence dwelling in lonely places, overgrown with grass, as having certain qualities: solemn graces, human memories, and tearful lore. This depiction gives the impression that this particular manifestation of silence is not to be feared, as it is rendered "terrorless." The silence in this context is associated with peace and perhaps even a sense of solace, as indicated by the phrase "his name's 'No More.'"
The author's commentary on the poem can be inferred through the poem's concluding lines. Poe suggests that while this form of silence, the "corporate Silence," has no inherent evil, it is still important to be cautious when encountering its shadow. He refers to this shadow as a "nameless elf" that haunts the regions where no human foot has tread. This may imply that the silence found in uninhabited places holds an unknown and potentially dangerous aspect that one should commend themselves to God when faced with.
Regarding your question about repeating the poem, it seems to be an unintentional duplication in the provided text. It is not part of the original poem, and it is advisable to consult credible sources to ensure accuracy when referring to poems and literature.