Biographical and Historical: William Cullen Bryant was born in 1794 in Western Ma.s.sachusetts. His education was carried on in the district school.
At home he had the use of an exceptionally fine library, for that period, and he made the most of its opportunities. In 1816 he secured a license to practice law, and journeyed on foot to Plainfield, Ma.s.s., to look for a place to open an office. He felt forlorn and desolate, and the world seemed big and cold. In this mood, while pausing on his way to contemplate the beauty of the sunset, he saw a solitary bird wing its way along the horizon. He watched it until it was lost in the distance. Then he pursued his journey with new courage and on arriving at the place where he was to stop for the night, he sat down and wrote this beautiful poem of faith and hope.
Notes and Questions.
What lines tell you the time of day?
Which stanza do you like best? Why?
What lines give you the most beautiful picture?
What does the poet learn from the waterfowl?
Note that the rhythm gives the impression of the bird"s flight.
Words and Phrases for Discussion.
"thy solitary way"
"rosy depths"
"thin atmosphere"
"the fowler"s eye"
"long way"
"welcome land"
"that toil shall end"
"tread alone"
"boundless sky"
"last steps of day"
"certain flight"
"lone wandering but not lost"
"chafed ocean-side"
"pathless coast"
"the abyss of heaven hath swallowed up thy form"
THE SKYLARK
JAMES HOGG.
Bird of the wilderness, Blithesome and c.u.mberless, Sweet be thy matin o"er moorland and lea!
Emblem of happiness, Blest is thy dwelling place,-- O to abide in the desert with thee!
Wild is thy lay and loud, Far in the downy cloud, Love gives it energy, love gave it birth.
Where on thy dewy wing, Where art thou journeying?
Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth,
O"er fell and fountain sheen, O"er moor and mountain green, O"er the red streamer that heralds the day, Over the cloudlet dim, Over the rainbow"s rim, Musical cherub, soar, singing, away!
Then, when the gloaming comes, Low in the heather blooms, Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be!
HELPS TO STUDY.
James Hogg was born in Ettrick, Scotland, in 1770, and was known as "the Ettrick Shepherd," because he followed the occupation of a shepherd until he was thirty. The beautiful selection here given was doubtless inspired by the poet"s early communion with Nature.
Notes and Questions.
From this poem what can you tell of the home of the skylark? Of its nature?
Why is the lark called an emblem of happiness? Name something that might be called an emblem of strength; of sorrow.
What pictures do the following words make to you: "wilderness," "moor,"
"lea," "fell," "heather-bloom"?
What is the "red streamer that heralds the day"?
What does the word "dewy" suggest as to the habits of the bird?
What do "matin" and "gloaming" signify?
In the poem what tells you the nest is near the ground?
Why is "downy" used to describe "cloud"?
What makes lines 13 and 14 so musical?
Indicate the rhythm of the first six lines by writing them in groups as shown in the following curves:
___________ _____________ / / Bird of the wil-der-ness
TO A SKYLARK
PERCY BYSSHE Sh.e.l.lEY
Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!
Bird thou never wert, That from Heaven, or near it, Pourest thy full heart In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.
Higher still and higher From the earth thou springest Like a cloud of fire; The blue deep thou wingest And singing still dost soar, and soaring ever singest.
In the golden lightning Of the sunken sun, O"er which clouds are bright"ning, Thou dost float and run; Like an unbodied joy whose race is just begun.
The pale purple even Melts around thy flight; Like a star of heaven, In the broad daylight Thou art unseen,--but yet I hear thy shrill delight,