Understanding a poem meticulously in its entirety is very important for a learner for scoring better in the exam. Efforts have been made to ensure a thorough critical and line by line analysis. Let us find ANSWERS AND ANALYSIS OF THE EVE OF WATERLOO ISE CLASS – XII – ENGLISH LITERATURE.
ABOUT
THE POET
·
George Gordon Byron (Popularly known as Lord Byron)
George Gordon Byron (Popularly known as Lord Byron)
·
Born – 27 January 1788, London
Born – 27 January 1788, London
·
Died – 19 April 1924, Misslolghi
Died – 19 April 1924, Misslolghi
·
Lord Byron was a great poet, politician, and
belonged to the Romanticism.
Lord Byron was a great poet, politician, and
belonged to the Romanticism.
·
Notable works-
Notable works-
i)
Heaven and earth (1821)
Heaven and earth (1821)
ii)
DON Juan (1819 -1824)
DON Juan (1819 -1824)
iii)
Prometheus (1816)
Prometheus (1816)
iv)
Hebrew melodies (1815)
Hebrew melodies (1815)
v)
She walks in Beauty (1814)
She walks in Beauty (1814)
ABOUT
THE EVE OF WATERLOO
(BACKGROUND)
“The Eve of Waterloo” is from Byron’s long poem “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage”. This poem talks about the scene and atmosphere of June 15, 1815. It is on the History of England. It was first published in 1912.
ABOUT
THE EVE OF WATERLOO
THE EVE OF WATERLOO
(The Poem in
Nutshell)
The poem talks about the changing mood in the ball on the evening of 15 June 1815. The poem takes us to the famous war in History between England, led by Duke of Wellington and France, led by Napoleon.
The poem shows how the ball amusement went on ignoring the advancing predicament. Later they become aware that their happy pleasure night is over and while parting from each other, they become morose.
Then we are taken to the war situation where gunshots and war cries are heard. After that, we get to see the bagpipes creating music which makes the war atmosphere scary.
Then the poet creates an imagery of the trees and grass and relates them to war heroes who would never return. At last, the poem concludes with a melancholic tune and we find the antiwar attitude of the poet when he exposes the devastation of war and futility of war.
STRUCTURE
OF THE EVE OF WATERLOO
OF THE EVE OF WATERLOO
“The Eve of Waterloo” is a perfect example of a narrative poem. The poem is written in Spenserian style. Mostly the poem is written in Iambic pentameter but there are usages of Iambic Hexameter as well.
The poem is of nine-line eight stanzas comprising total 72 lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ababbcbcb we find extensive use of imagery, Alliteration, metaphor, simile, personification etc.
THE
EVE OF WATERLOO
EVE OF WATERLOO
A
NARRATIVE POEM
NARRATIVE POEM
Narrative poetry acquaints us with a story with the help of the voices of the narrator and characters as well. The poem with the story is usually written metered verse. It is usually dramatic with objectives, diverse characters and metre.
“The Eve of waterloo” too belongs to the category of the narrative poem as it acquaints us with the story of the battle between France and England. We see the use of the voices of the characters to show their opinions and notions.
The poem is written in Iambic meter and of course the poem ends in the mournful outcome.
THE
EVE OF WATERLOO
EVE OF WATERLOO
-AN
ANTI WAR POEM
ANTI WAR POEM
Through the poem, Lord Byron reflected his condemnation against
the war. He refuted war through his imageries in which he showed how war brought killing, separation, bloodshed, destruction and how it is an evil for mankind. When he says –
the war. He refuted war through his imageries in which he showed how war brought killing, separation, bloodshed, destruction and how it is an evil for mankind. When he says –
He demands that war is not the way to solution; rather war gives birth to another war.
STANZA WISE
EXPLANATION OF THE EVE OF WATERLOO
EXPLANATION OF THE EVE OF WATERLOO
STANZA-1
At the outset we are transported to Brussels, the capital of
Belgium. It is the eve of the famous battle of Waterloo. We are acquainted with the night scene of gaily ballroom, with the sound of the revelry the British officers and their lady loves were dancing with their full mirth.
Belgium. It is the eve of the famous battle of Waterloo. We are acquainted with the night scene of gaily ballroom, with the sound of the revelry the British officers and their lady loves were dancing with their full mirth.
Bright lights falling over the men and women intensified their happy mood. As the volume of the music increased the love couples took on vibrant expressions of love with merry dancing.
They all turned merry as they become merry with the sound of the marriage bell. At this moment they heard a sound of a cannon shot which appeared as the church bell for the burial ceremony.
Poetic Devices in use in THE EVE OF WATERLOO–
a) Alliteration –
“hush! Hark!”, “sound strikes”
b) Antithesis –
“………….fair women and brave men”
c) Simile – “ And
all went merry as a marriage bell”
d) Personification –
“Her beauty and her chivalry”
STANZA -2
The second stanza begins with different opinions over the sound of the cannon shot. Some opined that it was nothing but the sound of the wind blowing hard. Others opined that it was the sound of the rattling of the car on the stony path.
They ignored and resumed their pleasure dance. With limitless joy, they continued their merry dance till dawn. And again they heard the deadly sounds of cannon shots.
They felt as if the clouds’ roaring is echoing repeatedly. Now the cannon shots are heard nearer, clearer, louder and deadlier. At this point now the confusion has ended and now they know the source and reason of the sound. Now comes the order to get ready to fight as the cannon shots declared war.
Poetic Devices in use
1) Alliteration-
“Stony street” ,”flying feet’’, “arm! Arm”
2) Personification –
“let joy be unconfined”, “when youth and pleasure meet”. “to chase the glowing colours with flying feet”
3) Simile – “as if
the clouds its echo would repeat”.
4) Repetition – “it
is – it is
5) Onomatopoeia –
rattling
STANZA – 3
In that big great windowed hall, it was Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick – Wolfenbuttel , the chieftain (chieftain – the head or chief of a class or tribe) first heard the deadly sound of the cannon amidst the festive pleasure, with that very sound he understood that his end in this war is inevitable.
He apprehended the peal i.e. the death sound as the same one which brought an end to the life of his father (His father was Charles William Ferdinand who fought the battle of Jena – Auerstadt as field marshal in which he received a wound which caused his demise.
Duke Frederick William too died in the battle of Quatre Bras by a gunshot on 16 June 1815) Remembering about his father’s death, his blood turned
furious and thought to avenge. He rushed into the field to smash his enemy.
furious and thought to avenge. He rushed into the field to smash his enemy.
Poetic Devices in use –
1) Alliteration –
‘high hall’, ‘his heart’, bloody bier’, ‘foremost fighting fell.”
2) Anaphora – ‘And caught’
‘and when’
3) Personification –
“ Death’s prophetic ear.”, “And when they smiled”
STANZA – 4
The fourth stanza acquaints us with a situation of pandemonium and hurly-burly. Everybody was found to rush for preparing them for the sudden war. Ladies had tears and they were trembling in utter shock and sorrow.
Their checks which were blushing a while ago now turned pale. A sudden adieu made them feel life out of young hearts. They feared the choking sighs would never return and might be the last one.
At this sudden turn, they were dubious whether their mutual eyes would ever meet. They could never believe that such a wonderful night might see such a horrible morning.
Poetic Devices in use
1) Anaphora – “And gathering ………….
“And cheeks ………..”
2) Alliteration –
“so sweet”
3) Simile –
“………………………such as press
The life from out young
hearts …………………”
hearts …………………”
4) Antithesis –
“since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise.”
STANZA – 5
All the soldiers were found to mount up on the horse in utmost haste. The soldiers climbed on their horses and gathered as per their ranks and squadron. Then one could hear the sounds of the artillery striding forward to demolish enemies.
They were moving with hasty speed. Even they could hear clearly from far the gunshots and the cannon fire. Then all could hear the alarming sound of the drum which aroused the citizens and the soldiers of the city before the rise of the morning star.
The citizens were all afraid and stood in a huddled up way and whispered that the enemy had come.
Poetic Devices in use –
1) Anaphora – “And swiftly ………..
And the deep
……………..
……………..
And near
…………………..”
…………………..”
2) Alliteration –
“Clattering car”, “thronged the “, “whispering with white lips………….”
3) Onomatopoeia –
“clattering, whispering’
STANZA -6
This stanza talks about war music and how the soldiers are inspired to that. The soldiers started to sing with passion the war son “Cameron’s gathering”. This was the war note of lochiel (1700 – October 1749) which have been sung in the Albyn’s hills and the song was even heard by the enemies of England.
At the midnight the bagpipe (Pibroch– or coel mor is an art music genre primarily associated with Scottish Highlands) creates music of shrill and thus makes it a savage one.
As the breath of the bagpipe pours in the mountain pipes, similarly the mountaineers are also filled with the native (inborn) daring or courage which instils the stirring memory of thousand years. And then they become aware of Eavan’s and Donald’s fame, the famous chieftains, and goes on talking about them.
Poetic – Devices in use
1)
Alliteration – “Have heard”, “have her”
2)
Personification – “………………her Saxon foes”
3)
Simile – “……………………but with the
breath …………..
Their ……………….,
so fill ……………..
so fill ……………..
……………………….native
daring……”
daring……”
STANZA – 7
This stanza is used to show the pessimistic reflection of nature over war. The forest of Ardennes waves above the marching soldiers her green leaves and thus sheds the dew drops which are compared here as the tear drops of nature as soon there will be loss and death.
Here the poet states that if ever the inanimate objects found grieving then here is the grieving as the brave soldiers will never return. Now the soldiers are walking over the green grass but before evening they will be over the grass in a trodden state (meaning dead).
And soon there will be again hushed green vegetation over their graves, and this will happen when these fiery brave soldiers who are moving towards their enemy with passion and hope, will turn low and cold.
Poetic devices in use …
1) Alliteration –
“And Andennes”, “high hope”
2) Personification –
“And Andennes waves above …………..
3) Simile- “ Ere evening to be trodden like the grass”
4) Antithesis – “which now beneath them but above shall grow
STANZA – 8
The last stanza shows the poet’s condemnation against the war. He gives a comparative picture of yesterday and today and the terrible end. Last noon the soldiers were spending a lusty life with their beloved.
At the midnight they heard the sound of the cannon giving a warning to the impending battle. In the morning they were armed and ready for the battle with a magnificent but stern look.
Then there was the thundering sound of the canon which created smoke covering them. When the smoke dispersed there had been the other clay i.e. dead bodies of the soldiers.
And ‘the other clay’ would soon be covered by the natural clay of nature. They will be in heap and huddle, with rider and horse, friend and foe and they will be all mixed and blended in one red burial.
Poetic devices in use. –
1. Anaphora –
a.
“Last……..
“Last……..
Last……..”
b.
“The midnight…
“The midnight…
The morn “
c.
The thunder….
The thunder….
The earth…..”
2. Alliteration –
a.
Lusty life, signal sound , The thunder , which when
, burial blent .
Lusty life, signal sound , The thunder , which when
, burial blent .
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well explained stanzas!
the stanzas have been explained very nicely .