Orpheus with His Lute literature class 6

 

"Orpheus with His Lute"

Stanza 1

“Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain tops that freeze,
Bow themselves, when he did sing:
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung; as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.”

Elaboration and Analysis:

This stanza paints a picture of the mythical figure Orpheus, a musician so talented that his music had supernatural effects. The poet says that when Orpheus played his lute and sang, even trees and frozen mountain tops would "bow themselves"—in other words, his music moved even the silent, unfeeling parts of nature. This is a powerful image of art’s reach: even the cold, distant mountain tops are moved and respond respectfully to the beauty of his music.

Then, the stanza says that wherever Orpheus played, "plants and flowers ever sprung; as sun and showers there had made a lasting spring." Here, the poet’s metaphor suggests that Orpheus’s music had the same life-giving effect as sunshine and rain in creating spring: wherever he played, flowers would always bloom, and the world would stay evergreen and alive. There is an idea of endless renewal, joy, and freshness brought by the presence of beautiful music—it makes the world seem perpetually young, fertile, and harmonious.

The use of the phrase "lasting spring" represents an eternal period of growth, warmth, and beauty—almost heavenly. The poet wants us to imagine a world where the positive effects of Orpheus's music never fade.

Stanza 2

“Everything that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art,
Killing care and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or hearing, die.”

Elaboration and Analysis:

The second stanza widens Orpheus’s influence from the land to the sea: "Everything that heard him play, / Even the billows of the sea, / Hung their heads, and then lay by." The "billows of the sea" refers to the large, powerful ocean waves. This personification—the waves "hanging their heads" (as if bowing in respect) and then lying calm—shows that even the wild, uncontrollable forces of nature are soothed and subdued by Orpheus’s music. This imagery heightens the magical quality of his music: it brings stillness and peace to even the most restless and powerful things.

The stanza ends by making the message explicit: “In sweet music is such art, / Killing care and grief of heart / Fall asleep, or hearing, die.” The poet explains the effect of truly beautiful music: it has the power ("art") to “kill” (end/soothe) worries (“care”) and sorrows (“grief of heart”). The word "fall asleep" suggests that anxieties are lulled away, and "die" means that deep sadnesses can even disappear entirely. The poem credits music—when it is "sweet" or pure—as a healing force for human emotions, capable of calming and curing even the deepest hurts.

Poetic Devices and Artistic Choices

• Personification: Nature (trees, mountain tops, sea waves) is described as if it has human emotions and responses: they "bow," "hang their heads," and become still.
• Imagery: The poem is full of strong, visual pictures—the bowing trees and mountain tops, the restless sea becoming calm, and endless spring with blooming flowers—all of which help the reader feel the story’s magic.
• Metaphor: Music is compared to natural forces like sun and rain, essential for life and beauty.
• Hyperbole: The effects described are exaggerated (waves calming, eternal spring) to emphasize the extraordinary power of music.
• Alliteration and Rhyme: Repetition of sounds and the musical quality of the rhyme reflect the theme of music itself.

Themes and Significance

• The Power of Art: True art, especially music, is shown as a force stronger than nature, capable of bringing peace, life, and healing.
• Universal Harmony: The poem expresses a wish that art could calm and unite all of creation, soothing both the natural and the human world.
• Healing: The idea that music can soothe troubles and grief is central. It offers comfort, hope, and relief from the burdens of life.
• The Myth of Orpheus: Using a figure from Greek mythology symbolizes the age-old belief in the supernatural, divine power of art.

Summary and Reflection

"Orpheus with His Lute" is a celebration of the magical, transforming power of music. Through the legend of Orpheus, the poem shows how music can reach into the heart of the world—stirring forests and calming seas, bringing forth eternal beauty, and most importantly, healing the sorrows and worries of the human heart. It is a poem filled with admiration for the arts and a longing that their beauty would always bring harmony and comfort to everyone.