The narrator questions where the waterfowl is going and questions his motives for flying. He warns the waterfowl that he could possibly find danger, traveling alone. But this waterfowl is not alone; it is being led by some Power. As the waterfowl disappears out of the narrator's sight, the narrator reflects on God's guidance in his own life. The narrator is sure that God has led this waterfowl, and that the waterfowl had faith in the narrator. Now, the narrator's faith is strengthened. He knows that God is guiding him as well.[1]
As the narrator sees God directing the waterfowl, the narrator is reminded of God's guidance in his own life. Through his observance in nature, the narrator is reconnected with his faith in God.[2]
Composition and publication historyedit
Bryant wrote the poem in July 1815.[3] He was inspired after walking from Cummington to Plainfield to look for a place to settle as a lawyer. The duck, flying across the sunset, seemed to Bryant as solitary a soul as himself, and he wrote the poem that evening.[4]
"To a Waterfowl" was first published in the North American Review in Volume 6, Issue 18, March 1818.[5] It was later published in the collection Poems in 1821.[1]
"To a Waterfowl" is written in iambic trimeter and iambic pentameter, consisting of eight stanzas of four lines. The poem represents early stages of American Romanticism through celebration of Nature and God's presence within Nature.
Bryant is acknowledged as skillful at depicting American scenery but his natural details are often combined with a universal moral, as in "To a Waterfowl".[6]
metaphor: last steps of day (comparison of the day to a creature that walks).
anaphora: repetition of soon (lines 21, 22, 24). Anaphora is the repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of word groups occurring one after the other. Examples: (1) Give me wine, give me women and give me song. (2) For everything there is a season . . . a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.—Bible, Ecclesiastes.
personification: The speaker addresses the waterfowl as if it were a person, saying it has taught a lesson; he also refers to other waterfowls as fellows (line 23).
apostrophe: The speaker addresses the waterfowl as if it could respond back
metaphor: on my heart / deeply hath sunk the lesson (comparison of the heart to the intellect)[1]
^Muller, Gilbert H. William Cullen Bryant: Author of America. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2008: 21. ISBN978-0-7914-7467-9
^The American Spirit in Literature: A Chronicle of Great Interpreters, Bliss Perry, Yale University Press, 1918
^ abThe chronology of American literature: America's literary achievements from the colonial era to modern times, Daniel S. Burt, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004
^Ruland, Richard and Malcolm Bradbury. From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature. New York: Viking, 1991: 75–76. ISBN0-670-83592-7
External linksedit
The full text of To a Waterfowl at Wikisource
To a Waterfowl at Project Gutenberg
"On Bryant's 'To a Waterfowl'", by John M. Grondelski, Crisis Magazine, December 3, 2018
February 15, 2024
waterfowl, poem, american, poet, william, cullen, bryant, first, published, 1818, first, page, published, north, american, review, march, 1818, contents, summary, composition, publication, history, critical, response, analysis, figures, speech, references, ext. To a Waterfowl is a poem by American poet William Cullen Bryant first published in 1818 The first page of To a Waterfowl as published in The North American Review March 1818 Contents 1 Summary 2 Composition and publication history 3 Critical response 4 Analysis 4 1 Figures of speech 5 References 6 External linksSummary editThe narrator questions where the waterfowl is going and questions his motives for flying He warns the waterfowl that he could possibly find danger traveling alone But this waterfowl is not alone it is being led by some Power As the waterfowl disappears out of the narrator s sight the narrator reflects on God s guidance in his own life The narrator is sure that God has led this waterfowl and that the waterfowl had faith in the narrator Now the narrator s faith is strengthened He knows that God is guiding him as well 1 As the narrator sees God directing the waterfowl the narrator is reminded of God s guidance in his own life Through his observance in nature the narrator is reconnected with his faith in God 2 Composition and publication history editBryant wrote the poem in July 1815 3 He was inspired after walking from Cummington to Plainfield to look for a place to settle as a lawyer The duck flying across the sunset seemed to Bryant as solitary a soul as himself and he wrote the poem that evening 4 To a Waterfowl was first published in the North American Review in Volume 6 Issue 18 March 1818 5 It was later published in the collection Poems in 1821 1 Critical response editMatthew Arnold praised it as the best short poem in the language 5 and the poet and critic Richard Wilbur has described it as America s first flawless poem citation needed The narrator in George du Maurier s Peter Ibbetson calls it the most beautiful poem in the world citation needed Analysis edit To a Waterfowl is written in iambic trimeter and iambic pentameter consisting of eight stanzas of four lines The poem represents early stages of American Romanticism through celebration of Nature and God s presence within Nature Bryant is acknowledged as skillful at depicting American scenery but his natural details are often combined with a universal moral as in To a Waterfowl 6 Figures of speech edit alliteration While Whither lines 1 2 depths dost line 3 their thou thy lines 3 distant do darkly lines 6 7 metaphor last steps of day comparison of the day to a creature that walks anaphora repetition of soon lines 21 22 24 Anaphora is the repetition of a word phrase or clause at the beginning of word groups occurring one after the other Examples 1 Give me wine give me women and give me song 2 For everything there is a season a time to be born and a time to die a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted Bible Ecclesiastes personification The speaker addresses the waterfowl as if it were a person saying it has taught a lesson he also refers to other waterfowls as fellows line 23 apostrophe The speaker addresses the waterfowl as if it could respond back metaphor on my heart deeply hath sunk the lesson comparison of the heart to the intellect 1 References edit a b c Cummings Michael J To a Waterfowl Cummings Study Guides N p 2008 Web 8 Feb 2010 lt http www cummingsstudyguides net Guides4 Waterfowl html Top gt Cummings Michael J To a Waterfowl Cummings Study Guides N p 2008 Web 8 Feb 2010 lt http www cummingsstudyguides net Guides4 Waterfowl html Top gt Muller Gilbert H William Cullen Bryant Author of America Albany NY State University of New York Press 2008 21 ISBN 978 0 7914 7467 9 The American Spirit in Literature A Chronicle of Great Interpreters Bliss Perry Yale University Press 1918 a b The chronology of American literature America s literary achievements from the colonial era to modern times Daniel S Burt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2004 Ruland Richard and Malcolm Bradbury From Puritanism to Postmodernism A History of American Literature New York Viking 1991 75 76 ISBN 0 670 83592 7External links edit nbsp The full text of To a Waterfowl at Wikisource To a Waterfowl at Project Gutenberg On Bryant s To a Waterfowl by John M Grondelski Crisis Magazine December 3 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title To a Waterfowl amp oldid 1086840232, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
